Gerald Lam
Biography
Gerald Lam is a special counsel in Baker McKenzie’s Investigations, Compliance and Ethics Group, and specializes in international risk and investigations. He is also a member of the Firm's Asia Pacific ESG Advisory Working Group.
Qualified in the U.S. and Hong Kong, Gerald focuses on investigations and regulatory compliance matters relating to anti-bribery and corruption, economic sanctions, ESG, money laundering and white-collar fraud. In addition, he also regularly acts as specialist compliance counsel in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financing and lending arrangements and other corporate transactions.
Earlier in his career, he was seconded to Gilead Sciences as regional legal and compliance counsel for two years.
Gerald is recognized as a "Key Lawyer" in Regulatory: White-collar, Compliance and Investigations, Hong Kong – Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024-2025), and was recently named by Global Investigations Review (GIR) to its “40 under 40” list of the world’s leading young investigations specialists in 2024.
Among his other professional commitments, Gerald is a panel member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Practice Focus
Representative Legal Matters
Compliance and Regulatory Counselling
- Advised DigitalBridge, GIP, Davidson Kempner, CMC Capital, Nexus Point and Coatue as international compliance counsel on their private equity growth investments in Asia.
- Advised Altimeter Growth Capital (Nasdaq: "AGC"), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), as international risk compliance counsel on its merger and plan to take Grab Holdings public in the US. This transaction was named "Equity Market Deal of the Year (Premium)" in the ALB Southeast Asia Law Awards 2022.
- Advised Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK), a leading global real estate services firm, as compliance counsel in the formation of a new asset services company with Vanke Service.
- Advised SF REIT as international risk counsel in relation to its global offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
- Advised MiCare HealthTEC Holdings (a subsidiary of Zuellig Pharma) as international compliance counsel on the USD 60 million strategic investment by Mitsui & Co. and International Finance Corporation.
- Advised Apax Partners as international risk counsel in relation to the acquisition of a controlling stake in Healthium Medtech, a leading India-based medical devices company; this is the first unitranche financing for an Asia leveraged buy-out.
- Advised GLP Pte. Ltd. and the consortium offeror comprising the Fung family and GLP on sanctions and international risk in the proposed privatization of Li & Fung, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE: 494).
- Advised a prominent asset investment firm on international anti-corruption and sanctions risks in relation to a controlling investment in an infrastructure investment trust in India.
- Advised Subway as global compliance counsel on its master franchise agreement with Shanghai Fu-Rui-Shi Corporate Development Co., Ltd. (FRS), the largest master franchise agreement in Subway history, to expand its presence in Mainland China.
Corporate Investigations
- Assisted a global insurance company listed on the LSE/NYSE/HKSE on an investigation into whistleblower allegations of significant systemic financial irregularities and fraud relating to its global digital platform business in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
- Conducted an internal investigation into whistle-blower allegations of financial irregularity and fraudulent misconduct relating to its portfolio investments in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in relation to an asset management services platform established by a NY-listed global investment firm.
- Conducted multiple anti-bribery, books and records/internal controls investigations for a major U.S.-listed pharmaceutical, medical devices, and consumer goods manufacturer in Indonesia, Thailand, and Japan relating to allegations of fabricated documentation; inappropriate interactions with government officials; third party distribution risks; and inappropriate involvement in the preparation of an investigator-initiated clinical research scientific protocol.
- Conducted a major investigation for a leading financial services company jointly-listed on the NYSE and the TSX relating to its operations multiple whistleblower allegations of significant fraud and bribery allegations in respect of several long-term exclusive agreements in Vietnam amounting to USD 445 million.
- Conducted an FCPA and fraud investigation on behalf of a global management consulting firm relating to public allegations of bribery and corruption, bid-rigging, and collusion with respect to its participation in various government projects in China. Additionally assisted the company with making representations to various governmental authorities in the country.
- Led an internal investigation on behalf of a leading Hong Kong SFC-regulated Japanese investment bank on an internal investigation into allegations of conflicts of interest, outside business activity, internal control breaches, and breaches of regulatory disclosure obligations, and represented the bank in its dealings with the regulator.
- Led an internal investigation on behalf of an LSE-listed FTSE 250 component global food and beverage industrial supplier relating to a large scale post-integration FCPA/UKBA/PRC anti-corruption risk assessment and whistleblower allegations relating to significant kickbacks, conflicts of interest, and other corruption allegations in its China business.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong - Member
- New York State Bar Association - Member
- The Law Society of Hong Kong - Member
- The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong - Financial Services Committee member
- McMaster Alumni Association of Hong Kong - Chairman
Admissions
- New York~United States (2024)
- Hong Kong (2013)
Education
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (P.C.LL.) (2011)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (J.D.) (2010)
- McMaster University (Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Honors) (2006)
Languages
- Cantonese
- English
- Mandarin