The latest senior moves, appointments and personnel changes in the Asia-Pacific wealth management sector.

Charles Russell Speechlys
Charles Russell Speechlys, the international law firm, has appointed Gaven Cheong as partner within the funds team in Hong Kong.

Previously, Cheong served as head of investment funds for three years from 2021 at Tiang & Partners, where he was instrumental in establishing the investment funds practice. He has almost 20 years of fund formation and Hong Kong regulatory experience. Cheong’s practice covers establishing and structuring a wide range of collective investment schemes including hedge funds, real estate funds, private equity arrangements, hybrid funds and other private investment structures, and regulatory advice in relation to general investment management activity.

Cheong, who is a pioneer in the crypto fund formation and regulatory advice space, the law firm said, helped obtain the first regulatory licences in Hong Kong for the management of a fund of crypto funds and, shortly after that, a pure virtual assets fund. Qualified to practise in Western Australia, Hong Kong and England and Wales, Cheong is also fluent in English and Cantonese and is conversant in Mandarin.

“His hire significantly extends our reach in the hedge fund and private equity arena in Asia across both traditional finance and crypto, and his nearly two decades of experience strengthens our capabilities in an increasingly dynamic and complex area. Gaven’s experience in high-value fund formation work also perfectly complements our existing financial services regulation and funds practice and will bring value to clients in a range of jurisdictions,” David Collins, partner, who is responsible for the firm’s Business Advisory & Transaction Services Division, said.

“Gaven’s appointment marks our sixth partner hire across Hong Kong and Singapore since the start of last year and underlines our international growth ambitions,” Simon Green, partner and head of Asia, said. “His hire closely follows corporate partner Tun Zaw Mra joining at the start of January, and corporate and commercial partner Shirley Fu joining with her team in April 2024...Looking ahead to 2025, we will continue to grow and develop our international offices in Asia in line with market trends and client demand.”