Law Firm Catering To Tech Titans Seeks Grade A Singapore Office
SINGAPORE – Sources revealed that Han Kun Law Offices, a leading China-based law firm that caters to tech giants, is looking to establish a presence in Singapore in a bid to find new transactions and to support the growth of its existing customers in Southeast Asia, reported Bloomberg on Thursday afternoon (16 June, SGT).
Specifically, people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity disclosed that the company is looking for a Grade A office space in the Singapore’s financial district measuring at least 400 sq m (4,300 sq ft).
Notably, the law firm specialises in financial and business transactions, particularly cross-border deals, fundraising in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), as well as private equity and venture capital.
Han Kun Law Offices’ clientele includes electric vehicle manufacturer Nio, food delivery giant Meituan, and Tencent Music Entertainment Group.
The law firm is the latest among a large number of high-profile funds and firms intending to allocate resources in Singapore, as the regulatory crackdown in China leads to more capital outflows into Southeast Asia.
Moreover, firms are lured by Singapore’s low taxes and relative safety, on top of a flourishing venture and startup scene.
One of the sources said Han Kun Law Offices intend to assign under 10 employees here, although it could expand further based on demand. The law firm has yet to choose a final location for its office, shared the insiders, while Han Kun stated in an email that plans to open a Singapore office are preliminary.
As per its website, Han Kun Law Offices has over 700 staff working across offices including in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing.
The law firm’s planned expansion comes as Singapore has witnessed an influx of new firms and wealth. For instance, Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s Horizons Ventures announced in May that it was opening an office here to find new deals. Ray Dalio’s family office is also hiring investment professionals in Singapore as it builds out its Asian operations.
As of the end of 2020, the overall value of assets under management (AUM) being overseen by companies based in Singapore hit S$4.7 trillion.
