Financial Services (International Firms)

Herbert Smith Freehills possesses a fully integrated practice with a strong reputation for contentious regulatory work in the financial services sector. It leverages a strong regional reputation for its investigations practice and advises on both domestic and international regulatory and internal investigations, with its Hong Kong office often acting in collaboration with its Singapore and London offices. The firm also provides a variety of compliance training programmes and often engages on policy development in this sphere. The team houses trusted advisers on regulatory changes related to the SFC's 'manager in charge' and 'professional investor' regimes. Herbert Smith Freehills is increasingly involved in advising fintech clients on matters including cryptocurrency exchanges, licensing and initial coin offerings. The firm counts the Alternative Investment Management Association and Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association among its clients.

Herbert Smith Freehills advised Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association in relation to a range of key regulatory developments, including digital assets regulation mapping and 'Know Your Client' practices.

Kyle Wombolt remains a top choice for global and regional clients for their contentious regulatory matters. He is regularly called on to advise investors dealing with SFC investigations.

Hannah Cassidy is head of Herbert Smith Freehills' Hong Kong financial services regulatory team, offering a broad practice spanning advice for financial services firms on misconduct investigations, internal investigations for fintech clients and advice on SFC applications. "Hannah is really reliable. She responds almost instantly to emails, and is really robust and thorough in the advice she gives."