Cooley LLP is a world leader in start-up and venture capital work. It has built a significant team in Singapore and has become a major player in Southeast Asia. The group is active in seed funding and early stage financings, right through to later-stage funding rounds; in 2023, it advised on a number of Series D and E financings, despite the challenging conditions. Working with colleagues in the US and around the world, it frequently represents global venture funds in their investments in Southeast Asia. Ferish Patel is very much part of the start-up and venture capital environment in Singapore, Southeast Asia and India. Andrew Harline is also well known in the sector in Singapore and Southeast Asia.

Dentons Rodyk has demonstrated a strong commitment to the start-up and growth company sector, often representing the companies themselves in seed funding, growth stage financings, pre-IPO financings, trade sales and IPOs. It also advises a range of venture investors. It has continued to advise on a number of seed financings and early-stage funding rounds for key clients. Sunil Rai leads the venture tech and emerging growth companies practice group and has an outstanding record in early to late stage funding rounds. Li Chuan Hsu (‘very responsive and goes out of his way to provide timely and quality advice’) has a background in emerging growth company work, including blockchain, notably also for Chinese clients. Ray Chiang (‘a standout in the field’) is another key partner in this area, along with S Sivanesan.

Gunderson Dettmer LLP is another global titan in start-up and venture capital work, drawing on its Silicon Valley routes and its deep commitment to Singapore, Southeast Asia and India-related transactions. The Singapore office has gained considerable traction over the years, working with start-ups, growth companies and venture capital funds on seed funding right through to late-stage funding rounds and exits. It continues to represent many global venture capital and growth equity investors on their Southeast Asia and India-related deals and advises many prominent growth technology companies in the two regions. Singapore managing partner Jonathan Pentzien is a recognised leader in the field, ‘an excellent and brilliant lawyer with a very good grasp of the business economics underpinning a transaction’. David He has experience of working in Silicon Valley, New York and Singapore with an extensive record in venture financings.

A&O Shearman’s Singapore office has a strong focus on Southeast Asia, India and the technology sector, bringing it a wealth of engagements in the start-up and venture capital sector. It advises a range of start-ups, emerging companies and investors. The firm has developed an impressive record in fintech, digital assets, digital health, infratech and energytech among other sectors. It has made an impression in early-stage to later-stage fundraisings, along with growth company M&A transactions. Tom Jokelson has a background in M&A, growth capital and private equity transactions. Caryn Ng provides additional expertise in venture fundraisings.

Bird & Bird ATMD LLP has developed an impressive institutional client base, advising the likes of ABC Impact, Korea Investment Partners and ACA Investments. The Singapore team has made a further impression in impact and sustainability investing, including wind, solar and other renewable projects. It continues to represent clients in seed and early-stage funding, right through to trade sales and IPOs on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Marcus Chow heads the corporate team in Singapore, often working alongside colleagues in London on English law matters and on cross-border deals involving the UK. Counsel Jolie Giouw is another key member of the team.

CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang (Singapore) LLP is closely associated with venture capital investments and start-up transactions. The firm’s strong focus on individual sectors, such as TMT, energy transition and climate change, and healthcare and life sciences has made it a significant player in the start-up and venture capital field. It has continued to advise a range of start-ups and growth companies on their fundraising activities, along with a number of M&A transactions. Toby Grainger heads the corporate practice and has an extensive background with early-stage and start-up companies. Babita Ambekar provides additional knowledge of the Southeast Asia and India markets, particularly in technology, consumer and renewable energy. Gerald Licnachan, who joined from Reed Smith LLP in November 2023, also has a strong focus on representing founders and investors in early stage and growth equity deals.

Dechert has an established reputation in representing venture capital funds and other investors in their capital investments in Southeast Asia. The Singapore office also advises a range of start-ups and growth companies, often in deals involving Indonesia, the broader Southeast Asia region, and India. It has continued to advise on multiple acquisitions of growth companies, along with early to late-stage fundraisings. Siew Kam Boon is the head of the private equity group, frequently advising on deals involving start-ups and growth companies in Southeast Asia and India. Timothy Goh departed in January 2025.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP’s sizeable commitment to Singapore and its significant presence across Asia Pacific, brings it a wealth of engagements, including Indonesia, Thailand, China and Australia-related transactions; the Singapore team works particularly closely with colleagues in Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung in association with Herbert Smith Freehills in Indonesia. It also has a significant focus on the Indian start-up and growth company market. It represents a mixture of regional and international investors, along with a growing number of start-ups and emerging companies across Asia Pacific. Qualified in Singapore and the UK, Victor Chiew has a major focus on start-up and venture capital work, noted in particular for Singapore, Indonesia and India deals.

Latham & Watkins LLP has a global focus on start-up and venture capital work, which includes a major presence in Silicon Valley and other key centres. The Singapore team works closely with colleagues in the US and other international offices, with the key partners having a background in corporate and M&A and private equity buyouts, right down to seed and early-stage funding rounds. The group features both Singapore and international lawyers, covering the full spectrum of technology and life sciences deals, along with other key growth company segments. James Clayton-Payne has a background in venture capital and growth company business, as does Singapore and UK-qualified Farhana Sharmeen. Private equity and venture capital specialist Amy Beckingham splits her time between Singapore and Hong Kong.

Pinsent Masons MPillay has a technology-focused corporate team that is deeply entrenched in the start-up and venture capital world. It has a particularly strong record in the fintech and medtech sectors, along with foodtech and aviation. The Singapore team routinely works on seed financings and early-stage funding, right through to later stage-funding rounds and exits; it has continued to advise a series of Southeast Asian growth companies on pre-IPO fundraisings and potential listings on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Nicholas Hanna leads the Asia Pacific corporate team and has a background in technology deals. Mark Tan heads the technology, science and industry group.

Reed Smith LLP has earned recognition for its focus on venture capital investments in fast-growth companies. The Singapore team has a background in fintech, TMT and other key start-up sectors, representing both investors and companies. It remains especially active in early stage fundraisings. Bryan Tan is an experienced figure in TMT transactions and is further noted for his expertise in cybersecurity, data protection, and digital trade facilitation. Hagen Rooke is noted for fintech transactions.

Sidley Austin LLP has built a fine reputation in venture and growth capital, bringing it into the heart of the start-up and emerging company sector in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia Pacific region. It covers every stage of the investment lifecycle, representing some of the biggest global and regional investors in the sector. The core team is also backed by established fintech regulatory experts in Singapore. Parthiv Rishi is an experienced private equity specialist with a background in early-stage venture financings through to trade-sales and exits. Eldon Chan impresses at associate level.

Simmons & Simmons has built an impressive record in early to late-stage fundraisings, trade sales and exits. It has built a sizeable client base of start-ups and venture-backed companies, along with venture capital and other investment funds. The firm is closely associated with numerous venture capital funds, including global and Asia-specific funds, particularly in relation to early-stage fundraisings by start-ups. Dax Lim specialises in representing growth companies, venture capital funds and growth equity funds; he has a background in venture fund structuring and investments. Yingyu Wang is noted for expertise in blockchain and NFTs.