Simon Hawkins is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the Corporate Department and Financial Institutions Group. Mr. Hawkins serves a leading role in handling the firm's non-contentious financial regulatory work in Asia and is Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Digital Assets & Web3 Practice.

Mr. Hawkins advises clients on financial regulation, including licensing matters, prime brokerage arrangements, securities dealing, financial market regulations, intermediary and distribution arrangements, product development and structuring, and fintech. Mr. Hawkins also advises on the regulatory aspects of capital markets and M&A deals involving financial institutions, and he has particular experience in structuring and negotiating bancassurance arrangements.

Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Hawkins worked in the London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong offices of a leading international law firm.

Mr. Hawkins' experience includes advising:

  • A global asset manager specializing in alternative investment strategies in connection with the establishment of its distressed debt trading platform in Hong Kong
  • A private bank in Singapore on the establishment of its bespoke investments business platform for its Hong Kong private banking business 
  • A leading investment bank in connection with the establishment of its Hong Kong Stock Exchange designated specialist program
  • A leading investment bank on Asia Pacific regulatory considerations relating to the Asia Pacific launch of its investible indices product
  • A leading investment bank on its acquisition of a minority stake in a Hong Kong based fintech company
  • A leading investment bank on the design and launch of its Liquidity Investment Solutions platform (part of the Global Liquidity and Cash Management business) in Hong Kong
  • A leading blockchain software technology company to create Singapore’s first licensed tokenized securities trading platform, 1 Exchange 
  • A Hong Kong-headquartered global capital markets and investment group on the establishment of a tokenized securities exchange in Singapore
  • A leading Chinese tech giant in connection with its subsidiary company’s successful application to the HKMA for a virtual banking licence
  • A leading crypto platform in South Korea, on international aspects of its global initial coin offering
  • A blockchain platform on Hong Kong, PRC, Singapore, and Korean regulatory and securities law aspects of its offering of Stacks Tokens, conducted via the first ever SEC-approved Reg A+ offering of cryptographic tokens

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)
  • Hong Kong (Solicitor)

Education

  • LPC, BPP Law School, London, 2007
  • BA in Chinese & Asia Pacific Studies, University of Leeds, 2005
    joint honours
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December 2, 2022Recognition

Latham Earns Top Fintech Rankings Globally

Chambers and The Legal 500 recognize Latham’s deep global fintech capabilities and track record of landmark mandates; firm earns Band 1 ranking in Chambers’ inaugural US Crypto-Asset Disputes category.