Allen & Gledhill LLP has devoted considerable resources and expertise to the investment funds field. It has stood as a dominant force in collective investment schemes and REITs, and is also widely rated for the listing of exchange traded funds (ETFs). Beyond its historical fortes, the firm routinely advises clients on private equity and private real estate fund launches. Managing partner Jerry Koh leads the REITs and investment funds practices, and is a titan in the market. Jonathan Lee has a focus on private funds, REITs and business trusts, including the formation of private funds and investments by limited partners funds. Sarah Teo and Lai Shieh Lin are experienced figures in handling collective investment schemes.

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP is a leader in the formation of private funds, having focused on the area for over 25 years. It has extensive regulatory expertise, focused on licensing and ongoing regulation for fund managers. The firm’s client base represents a significant market share of licensed and registered fund managers that conduct fund management business in Singapore. It has also played a pivotal role in the development of Singapore’s variable capital company (VCC) regime. Anne Yeo is at the pinnacle of the market, with Philip Yeo and Jasmine Chew also recognised as top practitioners. Arnold Tan is a doyen of the Singapore investment funds market.

Dentons Rodyk reinforced its practice with the hire of highly-rated private funds specialist Emily Low from Atlas Asia Law Corporation in July 2022. She joins a team that has an impressive legacy practice that includes private equity, venture capital and fund launches under the VCC structure. Along with assisting asset managers with fund launches the firm also represents institutional investors. I-An Lim is an immensely experienced funds specialist with extensive experience in VCC structures and new fields such as cryptocurrency-related products. S Sivanesan is another key partner, rated for venture capital funds.

Drew & Napier LLC has an established and well-developed investment funds practice, particularly in the open-ended funds space. It has extensive regulatory experience including interactions with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Ron Cheng heads the investment funds team, advising on a range of alternative investment funds establishments, including those under the umbrella VCC structure. He has driven further growth in cryptocurrency and private credit funds, among other burgeoning areas. Former partner Petrus Huang has retired.

Shook Lin & Bok LLP is a major force in the Singapore investment funds market, thanks in part to the presence of Tan Woon Hum, who is highly rated by international peers and clients, and is further noted for his regulatory expertise. The wide-ranging practice covers listed REITs, retail unit trusts, and private and hedge funds. Fluent Mandarin speakers provide additional access to Chinese investors and fund managers. The broader client base includes international and boutique fund managers, large institutional investors, and family offices and high-net-worth individuals. Andrea Ng has a background in trust, asset and wealth management matters and has a fine record in REITs.

WongPartnership LLP has a longstanding association with the private equity sector, including the establishment of funds. It advises some of the biggest private equity houses in the world. The firm also has a broader investment funds practice covering hedge funds, infrastructure funds, real estate funds, fund-of-funds and other collective investment schemes. It has achieved further prominence in REITs. Fully aligned with industry trends, the firm has made a further impression in social and environmental impact funds, along with data centre development funds. Low Kah Keong heads the asset management and funds practice, which includes private funds specialist Felicia Marie Ng.

BTPLaw is a boutique law firm specialising in VCCs. Having launched in December 2020, the firm has built a significant market share of VCC fund formations, over 190 as of 31 March 2023. The young firm, headed by ‘Mr VCC‘ Brandon Tee, has experience of other fund structures, including the formation of cryptocurrency/Web3 funds domiciled in Jersey. It has now built a sizeable client base of local, regional and international fund managers.

CNPLaw LLP continues to inhabit the investment funds world with some considerable success. The team has a background in hedge funds, private equity funds, mutual funds, venture capital funds and commodity funds. It has continued to advise on the launch of high-value private equity funds and a large number of VCC structured funds. English lawyer Bill Jamieson is co-head of the department alongside Amit Dhume.

Eng and Co. LLC’s team has a background in investment funds, primarily through Colin Ong, who was previously the co-head of REITs at WongPartnership LLP. Ong and Rachel Eng have attracted an impressive number of asset managers as clients and are routinely advising on investment fund formations in Singapore under the VCC regime. The team has experience with private equity funds, hedge funds, real estate funds and climate-focused funds.

Withers KhattarWong LLP’s specialisation in investment funds coupled with its deep tax experience, makes it well-equipped to advise clients on open-end and closed-end funds. Clients include family offices, private equity funds, hedge funds, venture capital funds, real estate managers and investors. It is particularly rated for funds structuring in the family office arena. More broadly, the team is well-suited to tax structuring, regulatory advice, fund formation and downstream investment. It has been especially active in the establishment of VCC structures and is also noted for technology and digital assets-related funds. Daniel Yong leads the investment funds team, splitting his time between funds formation engagements and private equity and M&A transactions. Eric Roose provides extensive tax expertise.