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Cheng De Ko

Registered Foreign Lawyer (Singapore)
Senior Associate
Hong Kong
About

Cheng De is a Senior Associate in the Intellectual Property and Technology practice. He regularly advises businesses across the technology, telecommunications, financial services, and media sectors on complex technology and commercial matters, with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region.

His practice spans IT infrastructure implementation and outsourcing, AI governance, digital transformation, software licensing and development, e-commerce platforms, data-related matters and market expansion strategies. He helps clients navigate legal and business risks with a practical and results-oriented approach.

Before joining DLA Piper, Cheng De practiced at regional and international law firms in Singapore spent over three years as lead legal counsel for a regional media services business across multiple markets. His in-house experience, including working closely with procurement teams and business stakeholders, gives him a strong understanding of the operational and commercial considerations that shape legal decision-making. He was also seconded to a financial services institution to advise on key technology contracts for the establishment of a digital bank's technology stack.

Areas of FocusTechnologyIntellectual PropertyData, Privacy and CybersecurityArtificial Intelligence and Data AnalyticsTelecomsFinancial ServicesMedia and Entertainment
Professional QualificationsAdvocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore
Education
  • University of Birmingham, LL.B (Hons) (2017)

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a leading artificial intelligence company on its global service terms, including developing baseline terms aligned with financial services and outsourcing regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions, and preparing negotiation playbooks.
  • Advising a global management consulting firm on a data migration initiative, including cross-border data hosting and localisation strategy.
  • Advising an artificial intelligence agent platform on its services arrangements, including compliance with telecommunications regulatory requirements.
  • Advising a global technology communications company on regulatory requirements for machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity services.
  • Advising a telecommunications provider on its regulatory, data protection, and cybersecurity compliance obligations.
  • Advising a global toy manufacturer on supply chain strategy, including reviewing of its logistics and supply chain agreements.
  • Advising a major Asian bank on regulatory compliance for third-party service providers supporting critical financial functions, with a focus on operational continuity.
  • Advising a global outdoor recreation brand on the launch of its e-commerce platform, including cross-border personal data transfer requirements.
  • Advising a global bank on establishing a digital bank in Singapore, focussing on contracts relating to its technology stack.*
  • Advising a global digital infrastructure and data center provider on the applicability of critical information infrastructure (CII) laws and equivalent regimes to its global operations.*
  • Advising global media companies on the regulatory landscape for subscription video-on-demand OTT streaming services across Asia, covering licensing, data protection, cybersecurity, and consumer protection requirements.*
  • Advising multiple companies on the full data breach management lifecycle, including notification obligations across jurisdictions, regulatory investigation strategy and submissions, and remediation measures to strengthen data protection compliance.*

* Selected experiences prior to joining DLA Piper.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Commendation List (Singapore Bar Examinations (Part A), 2018) – Top performing candidate

Connect

Phone

+852 2103 0804
(Work, Hong Kong)
+852 9385 1126
(Mobile)
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