Jen Lee
AssociateJen is a member of the Intellectual Property and Technology Group based in DLA Piper's Hong Kong office.
Jen advises financial services providers, fintech companies and Web3 participants on their securing of requisite licences, token structuring, asset tokenisation projects, and strategic expansion into the APAC and the UAE. Her current practice focuses on regulatory compliance and licensing advice to digital asset exchanges, custodians, issuers and market makers on the provision of services involving digital assets and the use of emerging technologies. Jen has also supported on matters involving digital assets funds formation, data privacy compliance and cross-border mergers and acquisitions involving fintech companies.
Jen is a core member of the DLA Piper team that advised the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) on the creation of its virtual assets specific regulatory framework.
Jen has worked with tier-1 financial institutions, governmental bodies and universities on multi-jurisdictional fintech related projects and partnerships prior to joining the legal practice.
EXPERIENCE
- Advised the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) on the creation of the Emirate’s virtual assets specific regulatory framework.
- Advised a leading digital asset market making firm on regulatory and commercial issues in digital asset transactions in the context of liquidity provision arrangements, and regulatory treatment of its proposed product offerings from a Hong Kong laws perspective.
- Advised a global Web3 payments and onboarding infrastructure provider on regulatory compliance and licensing requirements for its strategic expansion into the APAC, conducting regulatory assessments of its proposed financial services and virtual assets related activities.
- Acted as an exclusive legal advisor for a global consulting firm in an inaugural e-HKD pilot programme organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in particular, supporting on the legal and regulatory aspects of the pilot titled “tokenised property-backed secured lending with ring-fenced usage” aimed at leveraging potential features of e-HKD to address pain points associated with secured lending.
- Advised a global digital assets exchange on regulatory compliance and licensing requirements in connection with its product offerings and commercial activities in the APAC and the EU.
- Advised a Hong Kong based technology company on its licensing application to become a virtual asset trading platform (VATP) under the regulatory regime of the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
- Advised a technology and Software-as-a-Service provider headquartered in Singapore on regulatory compliance requirements in its strategic expansion into Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi.
- Acted on behalf of a Hong Kong-based smart solutions provider to liaise with the HKMA on the proposed transfer of its stored value facilities (SVF) licence as part of a broader business initiative.
- Acted on behalf of a global Fintech-as-a-Service company in the acquisition of a Hong Kong company offering an international trading platform for businesses, conducting corporate due diligence and adivsing on data privacy, licensing and regulatory compliance related matters.
- Advised a Hong Kong-based hedge fund manager and its spun-off entity on digital assets fund structuring and formation.
- Advised a UK-based e-commerce company on the provision of its online shopping services in the PRC, reviewing and drafting its commercial agreements.
- Advised a video streaming platform on the issuance and governance of new tokens with a view to address key legal and regulatory risks from a Hong Kong laws perspective.
- Advised a US-based asset manager in conducting corporate due diligence for a potential acquisition of a Hong Kong SFC licensed entity.
- Advised a global game publisher in conducting data privacy and intellectual property due diligence for its acquisition of Hong Kong entities.
- Advised a global healthcare group on the sale of its healthcare services business valued at US$1.2 billion.
- Advised an international bank on its global data privacy compliance project, preparing requisite documentation to be implemented by its entities in the APAC.
- English
- Korean
- University of Hong Kong, PCLL
- University of Hong Kong, BSS(GL) and LLB
Bylines
- Reimagining a Future Empowered by e-HKD, Tokenised Deposits and Stablecoins, 19 March 2024 (co-author)
- SFC issues proposed regulatory requirements for licensed virtual asset trading platforms, 30 March 2023 (co-author)
- SFC's climate-related risks and enhanced ESG disclosure requirements for fund managers, 8 August 2022 (contributor without authorship)
- SFC and HKMA Joint Circular on intermediaries' virtual asset-related activities, 28 February 2022 (contributor without authorship)
- Cyberfrauds and Cyberattacks: Remote Working Posing Increased Risks and How to Stay Protected, 14 December 2020 (contributor without authorship)
