Simon Hawkins

Simon Hawkins

Partner

About Me

I guide clients through complex regulatory landscapes with seasoned expertise and strategic insight.

I lead Latham’s financial regulatory and fintech practice in Asia and co-chair the firm’s Digital Assets & Web3 Practice. I specialize in advising financial institutions and fintech companies on a range of regulatory matters and transactions.

I provide comprehensive advice to a diverse client base, including traditional commercial and investment banks, private equity firms, broker/dealers, insurers, and innovative fintech companies such as payments companies, crypto exchanges, and token issuers.

Since moving to Hong Kong in 2009, I have developed robust relationships with all of Hong Kong’s financial services regulators, especially the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and I am able to leverage my knowledge of local law and regulation together with my understanding of how the regulators think and act in practice to guide clients through high-risk situations with confidence and seasoned judgment. I stay close to the industry too, actively participating in ASIFMA’s Fintech Working Group and the Fintech Association of Hong Kong, and I chair the Legal & Compliance Committee of crypto industry body Web3 Harbour.

During my career I have worked in London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and prior to that I spent time studying and working in parts of mainland China and Taiwan as an undergraduate studying Chinese. This diverse experience and deep knowledge and experience in Greater China gives me a unique cultural edge when advising our financial services and fintech industry clients.

Outside of work, I enjoy all manner of outdoor pursuits, travel, and coercing my two children to play 90’s and 00’s rock music with me in our family band.

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