Startups & Emerging Companies | Asia-Pacific

Allen & Gledhill has an esteemed venture capital practice housing an impressive bench of experienced lawyers in Singapore. The firm is well known for acting for both emerging companies and investors on corporate and financing transactions, particularly early and late-stage financings. It works closely with its market-leading capital markets and TMT teams to offer holistic advice to startups. The team is notably experienced in representing startups in the payment and digital services space. Clients benefit from the firm's network of offices in South-East Asia, especially in relation to deals involving Indonesia. Sequoia Capital, GGV Capital and Wavemaker Pacific are examples of clients recently represented by the team.

Cooley is a leading law firm for startups and emerging companies' legal work globally, and the firm established an office in Singapore in January 2020. It houses Silicon Valley-experienced partners who are well known for advising major venture capital investors and assisting startups throughout their life-cycle, with clients benefiting from its extensive network. Its client base includes a number of notable young companies and investors in the technology, life sciences and fintech sectors, including Google International, Alerzo and Kredivo.

Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigan in Singapore leverages substantial experience in emerging company legal work for both startups and investors, with clients benefiting from the strength of its US offices. Originally founded in Silicon Valley, the firm opened its Singapore office in 2016 and also offers venture capital capability in Beijing. It regularly advises venture capital and growth equity firms on investments in a range of sectors, including e-commerce, healthtech and biotech. Also, the team acts for venture-backed companies, advising on every stage of a company's life-cycle. Clients include Amaana Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Asia Partners.

WongPartnership's impressive legal practice assists companies and investors at the forefront of the technology industry in Singapore, including in the life sciences, food and beverage, and fintech spaces, such as Biofourmis Holdings and Hangry. The team is well versed in the full range of startup financings, from seed funding and investments to IPOs. It also advises startups on data protection, employment and regulatory issues. The department offers experience acting for some of the largest startups and venture capital investors active in South-East Asia, including Openspace Ventures.

A&O Shearman's impressive full-service corporate law group in Singapore offers extensive experience acting for growth corporates on financings. The firm assists investors and startups with the full life-cycle of investment work, from initial investments and fundraising rounds to exits and IPOs. Clients benefit from the firm's international network, and the group is particularly active across the ASEAN region, including in Indonesia. General Atlantic, Growsari Enterprise and Neuron Mobility are among its clientele. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Dechert is a well-regarded law firm that regularly handles matters in the startups and emerging companies space in Singapore. It has strong capabilities acting for private equity funds and other investors on mid and late-stage investments. The team is particularly well versed in technology sector mandates and has notable strength in cross-border matters, including in India. Carsome and Square Peg Capital are clients of Dechert.

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson's full-service legal team in Singapore is regularly active assisting a range of startups, including those in the tech and fintech spaces, with financings and other transactions as well as general corporate issues throughout their life-cycle. The firm acts for a range of venture capital-focused investors, with clients benefiting from access to the firm's global network. It regularly advises on cross-border deals, with recent experience advising on investments relating to Indonesia and India. Clients include Shinhan Venture Investment, Maven Capital Partners and NextBillion.ai.

Drawing upon extensive global resources, particularly its highly rated US venture capital group, Latham & Watkins' legal team in Singapore is well experienced in serving tech and growth capital companies. Particularly active for unicorns based in South-East Asia, it has recent experience advising a number of high-profile South-East Asian startups on their fundraising rounds. The department works closely with the firm's impressive M&A and capital markets teams to provide clients a full-service offering. The firm is active on financings and is able to assist both venture capital firms and their portfolio companies through the investment life-cycle. Clients include Warburg Pincus, Citi Ventures and Silicon Box.

Linklaters' impressive team of lawyers in Singapore covers all stages of the tech investment life-cycle, including recent experience advising on early and late-stage investments and venture capital as well as corporate advisory mandates. The group acts for both startup and high-growth companies, as well as major investors in the region. The department works closely with its impressive TMT team, which offers extensive experience of TMT-related deals as well as advising clients, such as fintech companies, on regulatory and licensing issues. Clients also benefit from the integration of the firm's corporate, financial regulation and employment practices. Clients include the Qatar Investment Authority, L Catterton Asia Advisors and Actis.

Morrison Foerster's notable team of lawyers in Singapore advises startups at every stage of their investment life-cycle, from formation and financing to late-stage and IPOs, alongside SPAC investments. The team is also able to advise emerging companies on market entry, joint ventures and regulatory issues. The firm acts for an impressive range of international funds and multinational corporates on venture capital investments. It works closely with its investment funds team to provide a holistic offering to VC-focused funds, and offers experience in fintech and life sciences deals.

Rajah & Tann Singapore is a full-service law firm that is well known for its activity in the startup space. The firm represents a range of venture capital funds and private equity investors in startup financing matters, with further capabilities acting for companies on early-stage fundraising rounds. The team has particular expertise in technology-sector mandates, such as e-commerce, while clients also benefit from the firm's M&A, TMT and intellectual property practices as well as its extensive network of regional offices. Clients include Doctor Anywhere, Women's World Banking Asset Management and K3 Ventures.

Shook Lin & Bok is well regarded in Singapore's legal market for its activity in the startups space. The firm acts for emerging companies and private equity and venture capital investors on seed to late-series fundraisings, as well as corporate transactions. It advises clients across the consumer goods and technology growth sectors, including fintech and healthtech. Clients benefit from holistic advice through the firm's capital markets and finance teams, as well as its strong capabilities in cross-border mandates, with particular expertise in Indonesia. Clients include Intudo Ventures, Opontia and Astro Technologies.

Baker McKenzie has a strong legal practice in the startups space in Singapore, representing emerging companies and investors in the full range of financings. It regularly acts for funds and startups on fundraising transactions. Active in growth sectors, including TMT, food and beverages, and renewable energy, clients benefit from its extensive international network. The team handles deals across various jurisdictions, including India, Indonesia and Thailand.

Bird & Bird's impressive corporate law group in Singapore has experience advising startups and SMEs on financing transactions, while also advising venture capital and corporate clients on investments into emerging and growth companies. The firm advises clients from various industries, including the fintech, healthcare and transportation sectors. Clients benefit from the firm's network of offices, and it is well placed to advise on cross-border transactions. The department works closely with its impressive tech team to provide holistic advice to clients. It counts EV Growth, East Ventures and ST Engineering Ventures among its clientele.

Pinsent Masons in Singapore often works with venture capital investors, startup accelerators and growing businesses at all stages of development. The firm is noted for its expertise across all aspects of formation and financing, as well as for its strength in a range of corporate matters, including regulatory issues. The team is particularly active advising fintech and technology startups, with clients such as CloudSEK Research and Eezee.

Reed Smith's Singapore-based lawyers are noted in the market for their startup and venture capital knowledge. The team is experienced in representing companies in the fintech and technology sectors, including in venture capital investments, such as Series A fundraising.

Withers KhattarWong is recognised in Singapore's legal market for its activity in the startups space. Its experienced team offers dedicated advice to venture capital funds and investors, as well as startups and emerging companies, on early-stage fundraising mandates. The team is active in a range of growth sectors, including logistics and fintech, as well as food. The team is particularly knowledgeable about regulations affecting digital assets. It is well placed to handle cross-border matters, with particular expertise in representing Indonesian startups. Tokocrypto, Altara Ventures and Credibook are examples of the team's clientele.

Singapore-based firm Aquinas Law acts mainly for startups and is particularly strong at seed and early-stage funding. The team also assists with commercial contracts and regulations concerning cryptocurrency. It regularly acts for clients in the technology and fintech sectors, with recent examples including TRIREC VC, Finku Technologies and Brick.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a global law firm with an office in Singapore which mobilises the strengths of its TMT and transactional teams to assist clients in the startups space. It provides solid experience to international investors and high-growth companies in financing rounds, from early and late-stage fundraisings to pre-IPO. The team offers particular expertise in technology sector mandates, from tech-enabled logistics and education to fintech. Clients benefit from its collaboration with the Hong Kong office as well as the wider South-East Asia team. Warburg Pincus, PayPal and Wego are examples of clients represented by the team.

Morgan Lewis Stamford's startups legal practice in Singapore is capable of advising emerging companies on issues such as regulatory and IP. The team is also experienced in advising corporations and venture capital firms on investments and financings in the startup sector. It has notable capabilities in the technology sector, including healthtech and fintech. The team is well equipped to handle cross-border mandates across the region. Totm Technologies and W Capital Private Equity VCC are among its clients.

Quahe Woo & Palmer is a Singapore-based full-service firm with notable experience advising startups and lead investors on early-stage investments and alternative funding structures. The team is active in a wide range of technology-related sectors, including fintech and digital services and assets. Key clients of the firm include Vertex Ventures, SuperMom and Iterative Capital.

Full-service law firm Sidley Austin handles early to late-stage fundraisings from its Singapore office. The team draws on its transactional experience in the M&A space to assist both investors and emerging companies with investments. Its roster of clients includes Sequoia Capital, Hillhouse Capital and Jungle Ventures.

Yuen Law's team of lawyers in Singapore focuses on serving startups and emerging companies as well as SMEs. It offers further capabilities in advising angel investors, venture capital and investment funds on financings in emerging and growth companies. The team assists with the full range of matters, from investments and financing matters to capital markets and regulatory advice. It regularly assists in high-growth industries such as technology, fintech and property.