Leveraging an 'impressive breadth and depth of experience' in the financial services sector, Baker McKenzie can provide 'responsive and efficient' advice to banks, investment managers, broker-dealers and insurance companies across a wide range of regulatory issues impacting their Hong Kong/Greater China operations. Karen Man, who heads up the non-contentious arm of the practice, exemplifies this wide-ranging approach, being conversant as she is 'across the regulatory aspects of different banking and investment products', as well as in the context of the thriving fintech space. Notably, she recently advised Chinese investment manager Harvest Global Investments on the establishment of one of the first retail crypto exchange traded funds (ETFs) in Hong Kong. The contentious side of the practice is headed up by Cynthia Tang and is particularly active guiding large investment banks and European-based private banks through various probes by Hong Kong regulators (often acting in unison with other global regulators), running the gamut from alleged market misconduct through to AML infractions. The 'very client-oriented' Bryan Ng is noted for his enforcement expertise and also leads the team's work in dawn raids by regulators. Other key practitioners include Grace Fung and the 'extremely diligent, dedicated and reliable' Jannice Lau.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The breadth and depth of their experience in the financial services sector is very impressive.'
- 'Karen Man has deep knowledge and experience in the financial services sector, across the regulatory aspects of different banking and investment products and different client segments, from retail banking to private banking.'
- 'Karen Man is responsive, efficient and always able to go the extra mile to meet the clients' needs.'
- 'Jannice Lau is extremely diligent, dedicated and reliable. She strikes a good balance between being hands-on and giving opportunities to slightly more junior team members.'
- 'Bryan Ng is very client-oriented.'
Key clients
- China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited
- Gaw Capital Partners
- Victory Securities
- UBS AG
- Harvest Global Investments Limited
- Taiko Labs
- MicroBit Capital Management Limited
Work highlights
- Assisted Harvest Global Investments Limited (HGI) in: (1) the authorisation and successful listing of Harvest Bitcoin Spot ETF and Harvest Ether Spot ETF (HGI ETFs) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK) and (2) in securing approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to provide Type 9 virtual asset (VA) asset management services.
- Assisted a large Chinese bank in the core role of structuring their eCNY services in Hong Kong.
- Assisted a large Chinese bank in two major work streams: 1) advisory piece in relation to Hong Kong, US and PRC regulatory requirements applicable to the client in offering US securities trading services; 2) documentation piece including preparation and review of the full suite of customer documentation to cater for the new service offering and for its execution broker and custodian's agreements.
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Practice head
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Cynthia Tang, Karen Man