Jason Chan
Partner
| Direct | +852 2803 3781 |
| Mobile | +852 6693 1639 |
| Fax | +852 2803 3618 |
| [email protected] | |
| Jurisdictions | Hong Kong |
| Languages | English, Mandarin, Cantonese |
Profile
"Jason Chan is an exceptional lawyer who will go above and beyond for his clients. He is very responsive, supportive and committed to providing excellent services." Client testimonial in Legal 500 2025 Jason's practice focuses on investment funds, non-contentious financial regulatory advice and virtual assets. Jason advises on a wide range of private fund formation transactions, including hedge funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, crypto funds and tokenized funds. He also has experience in advising clients on the establishment, authorization applications and ongoing compliance obligations of SFC-authorised retail funds and ETFs. Jason also regularly advises on a diverse range of ongoing compliance, legal and regulatory matters related to the financial services industry in Hong Kong, including regulated activities, cross-border fund and services activities and marketing, data protection, professional investor regime, disclosure of interests and anti-money laundering (AML). He also has experience assisting financial institutions on licensing applications with the Hong Kong Securities and Future Commission (SFC). Jason is one of the few lawyers in Hong Kong who has practical experience advising on the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for participants in the virtual asset ecosystem and a variety of virtual asset projects. He assisted a fund manager in securing one of the first regulatory approvals from the SFC to manage 100% virtual asset portfolios, as well as establishing cryptocurrency funds and tokenized funds. Jason is ranked "Up and Coming" for Fintech Legal (International Firms) in China by Chambers Fintech Guide 2024. He has been awarded "Rising Star Partner" in Investment Funds by IFLR1000 2024), "Rising Star" by Asian Legal Business Awards 2024 and "40 under 40" by LexisNexis 2024 Greater China. One of his matters was "commended" by Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia Pacific 2024 for the category of "Innovative Lawyers in Fintech and Digital Assets". Before joining Howse Williams, Jason worked at the funds and financial regulatory teams of various international law firms. He trained at Clifford Chance Hong Kong. He is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Experience
2023 Howse Williams
2021 Dechert
2019 Sidley Austin
2013 Clifford Chance
Education
2013 Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, City University of Hong Kong
2012 Bachelor of Laws, London School of Economics and Political Science
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
2023 Civil Celebrant, Hong Kong
2015 Hong Kong
Member, Law Society of Hong Kong
Member, Fintech Association of Hong Kong
Fintech Specialist, Financial Service Research Group of Hong Kong
Member, Digital Asset Working Group, Alternative Investment Management Association (2021 to 2023)
Member, Investment Products and Financial Services Committee, Law Society of Hong Kong (2019 to 2021)
Committee member, Young Leaders Group, Urban Land Institute (2020 to 2023)
Vice Chair, Leaders of Tomorrow Committee, China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and International Chapter (CRECCHKI) (2020 to 2023)
Funds Advising various international, Asia-based and Hong Kong fund managers and family offices on the formation of hedge funds, private equity funds, cryptocurrency funds, tokenized funds and real estate funds. Advising investors, including sovereign funds and a Hong Kong charity, in investments into private equity funds, hedge funds and mutual funds. Advising multiple SFC-authorised retail funds and ETFs in relation to establishment, SFC authorization applications and ongoing compliance obligations. Advised on seeding arrangements for both fund of fund managers and start up managers. Financial Regulatory Assisting financial institutions on SFC licence applications and ongoing compliance. Advising financial institutions and asset managers on a diverse range of legal and regulatory issues, including regulated activities, cross-border fund and services activities and marketing, fund manager code of conduct, suitability, data protection, professional investor regime, disclosure of interests, outsourcing and AML. Assist on a broad range of licensing applications, ongoing compliance and regulatory advice, including virtual banks, money lenders, trust and company service providers, insurance company and intermediaries, SVF, etc. Virtual Assets Advising various (including one of the first) virtual asset fund managers in securing regulatory approval from the SFC to manage 100% virtual asset portfolios, as well as establishing crypto and tokenised fund for these managers. Assisting SFC licensed corporations in applying for first-of-its-kind applications, including the first approval for tokenization of funds, distribution of virtual asset structured products, etc. Assisting an asset manager in Hong Kong on the formation and offer of Asia's first tokenized Bitcoin-themed quantitative fund. Assisting cryptocurrency exchanges in relation to regulatory investigations and cryptocurrency related legal and regulatory matters. Advising multiple ICO/STO-issuers in relation to deal structuring, regulated instrument categorization, marketing restrictions, AML and regulatory compliance.