Bernita is a senior associate in the Corporate Group of our Hong Kong office, with a focus on financial services regulatory, fintech and compliance matters. She regularly acts for international banks, crypto exchanges, fintech companies, Chinese financial institutions, wealth managers, and payment services providers in licensing, compliance, and general regulatory matters.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Advising clients on licensing, approvals, and exemptions applicable to financial institutions in Hong Kong.
Advising on change of control issues in the context of M&A and other corporate transactions such as global business reorganisations.
Advising financial institutions on HKMA and SFC inspections and investigations.
Representative Experience
Advising clients on licensing, approvals, and exemptions applicable to financial institutions in Hong Kong.
Advising on change of control issues in the context of M&A and other corporate transactions such as global business reorganisations.
Advising financial institutions on HKMA and SFC inspections and investigations.
Drafting and reviewing investment management agreement and advising on fund management models.
Advising international banks on the regulatory aspects of the launch of new products and services in Hong Kong, and drafting the relevant terms and conditions.
Advising an international bank on its global business reorganisation.
Advising on the closure of multiple regulated branches in Asia of a financial institution, involving due diligence, advising on the transfer, assignment, termination of contracts with governing laws spanning various jurisdictions.
Advising and reviewing multi-jurisdictional regulatory surveys.
Advising on the sale of banking business, including advising on asset/business transfer and ensuring all outstanding contracts were novated or terminated.
Advising a payment service provider on obtaining both a money lending service licence and a stored value facilities licence in Hong Kong.
Advising on the features of mobile apps of financial institutions, such as adding suitability assessments, assessing whether investors fall into vulnerable categories, adding relevant features to suit different types of clients, data privacy issues.
Advising various multinational banks on regulations in relation to factoring.
Credentials
Education
Education
- City University of Hong Kong, 2014, PCLL
- City University of Hong Kong, 2013, J.D.
- Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, 2012, MSc, Investment Management Risk Management
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2010, MSc, Corporate Finance
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2009, MSF, Wealth Management
- University of Nottingham, 2007, B. Eng, Mechanical Engineering, Hons
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- Hong Kong
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
- Member of the Law Society of Hong Kong