Darren Yang

Darren advises a wide range of financial institutions, including banks, brokerage firms, fund managers, stock exchanges and insurers, as well as fintech companies and start-ups like robo-advisers, and payments and crypto firms. He helps them navigate the complex regulatory landscape in Singapore, and in doing so regularly interacts with the Monetary Authority of Singapore on various matters, such as licence applications and ad-hoc consultations.

With a deep understanding of the local legal framework and regulatory environment, Darren is able to provide “out of the box” strategies and advice to clients who are faced with novel and/or convoluted regulatory issues. He is also adept at identifying potential regulatory pitfalls and risks, and provides commercial solutions to address them so that business objectives are not compromised.

• Advised StashAway with, among other things, the launch or proposed launch of new services and products, including a portfolio offering which confers high-net-worth customers’ exposure to private credit investments, as well as the preparation of an intra-group services agreement to enable StashAway affiliates to offer the same to their customers.
• Advised as Singapore counsel for Sumitomo Life Insurance Company (“SLIC”) in relation to SLIC’s acquisition of all of the remaining shares in Singapore Life Holdings, the parent company of Singapore Life Ltd, a leading insurer in Singapore. SLIC, which is one of Japan’s largest life insurance companies, previously held a minority stake in Singapore Life Holdings.
• Advised an American multinational financial services company on its exit of the Singapore retail market, and the implementation of a cross-border arrangement under the SFA to allow its US entity to provide brokerage services to high-net-worth individuals in Singapore.
• Advising various entities within a social media company on payments licensing and regulatory issues across the different platforms operated by the group, including its e-commerce and online creator platforms. The platforms involve payment licensing and regulatory considerations arising from the collaboration model between the platform operator and the payment service provider, as well as other features such as cashback coupons and the issuance of coins which can ultimately be converted to cash/cash-based remuneration.
• Advised the first digital exchange in Singapore with its application to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to become (i) an exempt financial adviser under the Financial Advisers Act 2001 for advising on and arranging life policies; and (ii) an exempt insurance broker under the Insurance Act 1966.
• Advising a Taiwanese bank licensed by the MAS to set up its private banking unit ("PB") in Singapore, including providing regulatory advice on the requirements it would need to satisfy to operationalise the PB Unit, as well as the ongoing business conduct requirements that would apply to the client and its representatives in course of carrying on the PB business. Also assisting the client with the preparation of customer terms and conditions, account opening forms, various regulatory documentation as well as internal policies and manuals required for the PB Unit.
• Advised a financial technology company in relation to the transitioning of its operations in Singapore to its Singapore subsidiary and its licence application to the MAS under the Payment Services Act 2019 ("PS Act") to provide payment services, as well as on the attendant conduct of business and compliance requirements.
• Advised a global private investment house on the formation of a managed investment platform for a major insurance group. We advised on the regulatory implications of managing a variable capital company (VCC) fund, as the VCC was a new structure to the client. We also provided complex advice relating to the scope of services that could be performed under this novel structure. 
• Advised iCapital Advisors, LLC on a significant number of fund offerings in Singapore from a financial services regulatory perspective, as well as offers of fund-related products/services such as its award-winning white label platform that empowers alternative investment providers with digital solutions.
• Advised the Singapore branch of a leading insurance company in Canada on its proposed collaboration with licensed distributors in Dubai and Hong Kong to market and distribute its life insurance products to prospective investors in Dubai and Hong Kong respectively.

• Singapore Academy of Law - Member
• Law Society of Singapore - Member