Venture Capital

CMS assists on a variety of deals in Asia’s venture capital ecosystem and is amongst the most active firms in advising on the establishment of, and investments into, Private Equity and Venture Capital funds. There is huge breadth to the practice, from advising on fund investments totalling over US$12bn (since 2016) to working with established, first time and spin-out fund managers on the launch of new funds. We advise on funds established across all major jurisdictions, including Singapore where our recent focus has been advising on the launch of funds established as variable capital companies (VCCs). We provide Singapore funds regulatory advice, including advising on the establishment of fund management businesses and on VCFM, RFMC and LFMC licence applications.

Our team acts for venture capital and angel investors, early-stage companies and business founders on multiple rounds of financing. Our lawyers draw on a wealth of experience of transactions across a variety of sectors, with a primary focus on technology, financial services, media and telecoms but including retail, utilities, mining and natural resources and energy. Our team understands market norms and positions, the importance of commercial flexibility to our clients, and also importantly, the pitfalls that lead to legal disputes.

We are ranked as a Leading Firm in Singapore by Legal 500 for Investment Funds, Corporate M&A and TMT and by Chambers for Investment Funds, TMT and Startups and Emerging Companies.

We advise on:

• Fund structuring
• Fundraising
• Management buy-outs and buy-ins
• Business restructuring
• Startup expertise
• Fund regulatory
• Shariah compliant funds