‘Always willing to go the extra mile’, Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow represents funds managers and institutional investors on the gamut of fund formation, structuring and regulatory mandates, showcasing demonstrable expertise in the formation of real estate funds, in addition to private equity and venture capital funds. Counting venture capital funds and corporate venture capital investors in Southeast Asia among his key roster of clients, Kelvin Poa jointly leads the team alongside ‘critical thinker’ Derek Kwan, who stands out for his experience in private real estate funds formation matters. Assisting clients with the establishment of closed-end funds and private investment vehicles, Jens Carle is another key contact in the group.

The practice at Clifford Chance counts regional and international fund managers, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors among its key roster of clients, showcasing demonstrable expertise in private funds, as well as domestic and foreign retail funds in Singapore and funds-related regulatory mandates. US-qualified Kai-Niklas Schneider advises on the formation of and investment in private equity funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds and credit funds, while Daryl Liu handles primary fundraisings, fund secondaries and restructurings, fund investments, co-investments and advisory matters. Schneider and Liu jointly lead the team alongside Hong Kong-based Matthias Feldmann. Other key contacts in the group include Luke Chen and Chloe Cheng.

Praised for its ‘quick, efficient and high quality service’, the ‘client-oriented and solution-driven’ practice at Dechert showcases stellar expertise in private funds, including private equity and private credit funds, with additional experience in fund secondaries and restructurings, and ESG-related fund products. Dean Collins leads the team and on the structuring and establishment of private equity investment funds, secondary transactions, carried interest and co-investment plans, team spin-outs and co-investments, while ‘knowledgeable and commercial’ Thomas Kim acts for private equity, venture capital and other alternative fund managers on the structuring and establishment of investment funds.

Regional and international fund sponsors and investors turn to Gibson Dunn for its stellar expertise in high-end fundraisings, GP-led secondary fund transactions and debut fundraises, in addition to advising fund sponsors targeting institutional investors on the formation of Singapore VCCs. The team, which is well-placed to collaborate with the firm’s offices in Hong Kong and the US, is led by ‘market-leading veteran of the industry’ John Fadely, who acts for well-established and first-time fund sponsors on the establishment and structuring of funds platforms, with additional experience in forming funds investing throughout Asian markets. Xuanyi Liu, who advises on GP-led secondaries in China, India, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, is another key contact in the group.

Akin’s ‘dedicated and knowledgeable’ team in Singapore is well-placed to collaborate with the firm's offices globally, servicing institutional asset managers, established and emerging private equity fund managers, new entrants and sovereign wealth funds, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, in addition to private equity fund sponsors in India. Olivia Chung maintains a leading hedge funds practice, handling the formation of tailored funds-of-one, negotiating Separate Managed Accounts (SMAs), and investments into funds, with additional experience in the formation of closed-end private funds, including private credit funds, private equity funds, and real estate funds. Chung jointly leads the team alongside John Holton, who relocated to Singapore in November 2023 and is noted for his expertise in the launching of private funds.

Jones Day counts regional and international alternative investment fund managers, sponsors and investors among its key roster of clients, advising on the formation and management of technology and infrastructure funds, with notable expertise in the formation of real estate funds. Dennis Barsky leads the team in Singapore and represents sponsors and investors in the formation of private equity funds, hedge funds and real estate funds, while Zack Oswald acts for institutional investors in their investments into funds, in addition to assisting fund sponsors with co-investments and secondary transactions. Ben Witherall splits his time between the firm's Singapore and London offices.

The practice at King & Wood Mallesons ‘consistently provides timely and accurate advice’ on cross-border fundraising mandates, with a strong focus on infrastructure, real estate and private equity funds and investment structures. Will McCosker leads the team and specialises in open-ended and closed-ended funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds, infrastructure funds and ETFs, while Indraneil Ghosh acts for GPs and cornerstone investors, including sovereign wealth funds, fund of fund investors and pension funds, on the establishment of private investment funds. Emily Travers-Jones is another key contact in the group.

Praised for its ‘remarkable dedication’, Linklaters represents sponsors in Asia on the establishment of private investment funds, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure, hedge and special situations funds, with additional experience in ESG-related funds and sustainable strategies. Commended as ‘one of the most knowledgeable funds lawyers in Singapore’, Joel Seow leads the practice and maintains an enviable track record in the structuring, establishment and management of private investment funds. Seow is regularly supported by Kylee Zhu, who is noted for her expertise in hedge, private equity and mutual funds.

The team at Sidley Austin LLP in Singapore is well-placed to collaborate with the firm's offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and Sydney on fund formation mandates, showcasing notable expertise in private equity funds and hedge funds. Based in Hong Kong, Effie Vasilopoulos leads the APAC investment funds group. Key contacts on the ground include Josephine Law, who focuses on registered fund transactions and regulatory matters, and Patrick Liu, whose relocation to Singapore strengthens the team's private equity fund formation offering.

Simmons & Simmons counts global asset managers, hedge funds in Europe and the US, private fund managers and institutional investors among its key roster of clients, showcasing demonstrable expertise in hedge funds, private equity funds, digital assets funds, retail funds, and exchange-traded funds. Jek-Aun Long, who stands out for his experience in private and retail funds, jointly leads the practice alongside Benedict Tan, who assists on the the launch of onshore and offshore open-ended and closed-end collective investment schemes. Other key contacts in the group include Joshua Heng and Melvin Ng.

Praised as ‘efficient, responsive, and commercially focused’, Ashurst ADTLaw advises fund sponsors across a range of investment strategies, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure and hedge funds, with additional experience in advising institutional investors on fund investments. ‘Knowledgeable’ Danny Tan leads the team and stands out for his expertise in fund formation and restructuring, in addition to fund investments and regulatory mandates.

Well-placed to collaborate the firm’s offices elsewhere, namely Hong Kong, the team at Cooley LLP in Singapore is noted for its expertise in private equity, venture capital and growth equity fund formation in South and Southeast Asia. Sean Murphy spearheads the investment funds offering in Singapore and focuses on the formation and operation of private funds across venture capital, growth equity, buy-out, special situations, real estate and infrastructure strategies.

Representing fund managers, first-time funds, spin-out managers and joint-venture GPs, the practice at Goodwin showcases demonstrable expertise in private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure and credit funds. Chair of the firm's Singapore office, Gregory Barclay leads the team and has considerable experience in structuring and establishing international private investment funds. Matthew Nortcliff’s ‘in-depth, comprehensive knowledge of investment funds is exceptional’, and Manish Ranjan’s ‘turnaround is lightening fast with no compromises on the quality of output’.

The ‘knowledgeable and approachable’ team at K&L Gates Straits Law LLC was strengthened by the arrival of Jason Nelms from Morrison Foerster (Singapore) in January 2024, who has considerable experience in acting for both managers and investors in the formation and operation of private investment funds, including private equity, venture capital and real estate funds. Nelms jointly leads the practice alongside Edward Bennett, who advises development finance institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds on their investments and sponsor stakeholder interests in Asia-based funds.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is noted for its expertise in the structuring, formation and capital raising for impact funds and LP representation in impact funds, in addition to advising institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds on their investments in private funds. Divya Thakur leads the team and handles a range of fund formation mandates, encompassing private equity, venture capital and hedge funds, as well as matters involving Indian and US Law. Other key contacts in the group include managing director at Morgan Lewis Stamford LLC Wai Ming Yap and Andrew Deas.

The team at Morrison Foerster (Singapore) is noted for its experience in open-ended real estate funds, in addition to advising fund managers and investors on the formation and operation of private equity funds and venture capital funds. Following the departure of Jason Nelms in January 2024, Tabitha Saw is the key contact in the group.

The ‘top notch’ practice at Reed Smith LLP was strengthened by the arrival of eminent practitioner Han Ming Ho from Sidley Austin LLP in October 2023, who has considerable experience in assisting clients with the structuring and formation of a range of investment funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds, and real estate funds. Ho leads the team and represents leading fund sponsors and managers, in addition to investment banks, financial institutions, family offices, venture capitalists and institutional investors. Shawn Tan, who joined the team in January 2024, is another key contact in the group.