Alexander Yap

Partner
Co-Head of the Firm’s FinTech Practice, Alexander focuses on the acquisition, divestiture, provision, sharing, and receipt, of technology and intellectual property-related services, assets (including cryptographic and digital assets), and data.
Alexander advises on intellectual property licensing, R&D and sponsorship arrangements, cybersecurity, collaborations, outsourcing, distribution and franchising, online gaming, and cloud and ‘as-a-service’ platforms. He is a key contact for data protection and privacy compliance matters and data breach management.
Alexander is recommended by Who’s Who Legal: Banking 2021, Who’s Who Legal: Data 2022 and Who’s Who Legal: Southeast Asia 2021. He is also recognised as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ in IFLR1000, and a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, where he is described as “a very knowledgeable and tech-savvy partner,” and “closely collaborative and engaging”.
Alexander contributed to the Personal Data Protection Commission’s PDP Digest, the Singapore chapter of Proskauer on Privacy published by the Practising Law Institute, and is co-author of the Singapore chapter of the International Encyclopedia of Agency Distribution Agreements published by Kluwer Law International.
Work Highlights
- Advised one of a consortium of financial institutions on the setting up of Climate Impact X, a market place and exchange that allows a customer to browse, compare and buy carbon credits directly from a curated selection of high-impact projects. The platform provides rich project information on carbon sequestration, risk factors and UN SDGs (including biodiversity and community benefits like health, education and employment).
- Advised the Government Technology Agency on Singapore’s national digital identity project and Singpass.
- Acted for various funds of Sequoia Capital India and SEA in relation to the purchase of various types of cryptographic tokens.
Publications
- MAS announces AI utility NovA! to unlock opportunities for green financing and combat greenwashing
- IMDA and PDPC launch Singapore’s first Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET) Sandbox to support businesses in piloting PET projects
- MAS to partner industry to pilot use cases in digital assets in Project Guardian
- PDPC issues Guide on Responsible Use of Biometric Data in Security Applications
- Singapore and UK Digital Economy Agreement enters into force
- Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams introduces E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings and Revised Technical Reference 76 on E-Commerce Transactions
- Singapore launches AI Verify to promote transparency and invites organisations to pilot
- Cyber Security Agency of Singapore issues Guidelines for CII Owners to Enhance Cyber Security for 5G Use Cases
- The Financial Technology Law Review (5th Ed, 2022)
- MAS participates in experimental multi-CBDC platform for international settlements developed by BIS Innovation Hub and other central banks
- Licensing framework for cybersecurity service providers under the Cybersecurity Act 2018 effective from 11 April 2022
- Singapore and UK conclude Digital Economy Agreement
- Personal Data Protection Digest: The Data Breach Notification Obligation and Case Studies for Financial Institutions and Employers
- The International Comparative Legal Guide to Digital Health 2022 (3rd Ed)
- Financial penalty cap for data breaches by organisations under Personal Data Protection Act 2012 to increase from 1 October 2022
- Update on FinTech trends in 2021
- MAS-led industry consortium publishes assessment methodologies for responsible use of AI by financial institutions
- MAS issues guidelines on the provision of digital payment token services to general public
- FinTech developments and initiatives announced at Singapore FinTech Festival 2021
- Regulations and advisory guidelines under Personal Data Protection Act 2012 amended to provide for how business contact information of data protection officers may be set out
- Singapore Cybersecurity Strategy 2021 launched
- CSA consults on licensing framework for cybersecurity service providers under Cybersecurity Act: Proposed licence conditions and regulations
- Singapore launches SGTraDex to digitalise supply chain ecosystem
- Protection from Harassment Court operational from 1 June 2021
- The Financial Technology Law Review (4th Ed, 2021)
- Escrow for Crypto-Assets: Bridging the Trust Gap
- MAS issues infographic on Strengthening AML/CFT Controls of Digital Payment Token Service Providers
- IMDA conducts second consultation on draft Code of Practice for Competition in the Provision of Telecommunication and Media Services
- Practical Law Cross-border Commercial Transactions: Confidentiality Q&A - Singapore
- Electronic Transactions Act amended on 19 March 2021 to include electronic transferable records
- Practical Law Cross-border Commercial Transactions - Sponsorship Q&A: Singapore
- Singapore-led initiatives on data management framework, model contractual clauses for cross border data flows and information exchange mechanism approved at first ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting
- Three key FinTech trends in 2020
- Practical Law FinTech Global Guide: FinTech in Singapore - Overview
- Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill passed to provide for electronic transferable records and electronisation of negotiable instruments, documents of title and bills of lading
- Personal Data Protection Digest: Civil Proceedings Under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012
- Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill tabled for first reading: New provisions on electronic transferable records and electronisation of negotiable instruments, documents of title and bills of lading
- Payment Services (Amendment) Bill passed in Parliament to mitigate money laundering and terrorist financing risks and to impose measures on digital payment token service providers
- Non-bank financial institutions to have access to FAST and PayNow
- MAS launches Singapore Financial Data Exchange to enable more effective financial planning by Singaporeans
- Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2020 gazetted, PDPC issues draft advisory guidelines to clarify key amendments
- Bill introduced to amend Payment Services Act 2019 to address money laundering and terrorist financing risks posed by virtual asset service providers
- Expected date of commencement of Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, and preparatory steps for organisations
- Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill passed to introduce mandatory data breach notification, data portability requirement and increased financial penalty cap
- Covid-19和电子签名在新加坡的应用
- Covid-19: Digital signatures explained - Know before you sign
- Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Standards Council launch new national e-commerce standard to build trust and transparency in online transactions
- Singapore recognises APEC CBPR and PRP System certifications for overseas transfers of personal data from 1 June 2020
- The Financial Technology Law Review (3rd Ed, 2020)
- PDPC issues advisories on collection of personal data for Covid-19 contact tracing and use of SafeEntry
- Covid-19: New S$6 million MAS-SFA-AMTD FinTech Solidarity Grant launched in support of Singapore FinTech firms
- Protection from Harassment Act amended to tackle spread of online falsehoods affecting individuals and entities
- Practical Law FinTech Global Guide: FinTech in Singapore
- MCI and PDPC propose amendments to Personal Data Protection Act 2012 to introduce mandatory breach notification, data portability and increased financial penalties
- MinLaw consults on proposed prescribed eligible financial contracts to be exempted from restriction on operation of ipso facto clauses under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act
- Covid-19 circuit breaker: Safe distancing, safe technology?
- Covid-19 and the use of electronic signatures in Singapore
- IMDA issues press release on new initiatives on AI governance, including second edition of the Model AI Governance Framework
- PDPC issues response to public consultation on data portability and data innovation provisions
- Three key FinTech trends in 2019
- Changes to Protection from Harassment Act partially in force from 1 January 2020: New offence of doxxing introduced
- MAS consults on proposed amendments to Payment Services Act 2019 and scope of e-money and digital payment tokens
- Practical Law Cross-border Commercial Transactions: Confidentiality Q&A 2019
- Payment Services Act 2019 providing new framework for payment systems and payment service providers in force on 28 January 2020
- FinTech initiatives announced at 2019 Singapore FinTech Festival and Singapore Week of Innovation and TeCHnology
- Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 effective from 2 October 2019
- The Virtual Currency Regulation Review (2nd Ed, 2019)
- MAS accepting applications for Singapore’s first digital bank licences open to non-bank players
- MAS launches Sandbox Express for faster market testing of innovative financial services and products
- PDPC publishes new Data Protection Officer Competency Framework and Training Roadmap
- PDPC publishes new “Guide to Accountability under the Personal Data Protection Act”: Demonstrating accountability for personal data
- IMDA and PDPC launch Trusted Data Sharing Framework for trusted data sharing between organisations
- IMDA seeks feedback on review of Electronic Transactions Act
- MAS extends digital bank licences to non-bank players
- MAS seeks feedback on notices and guidelines to be issued under Payment Services Act 2019
- PDPC consults on proposed introduction of data portability and data innovation provisions
- PDPC updates Guide to Managing Data Breaches 2.0 and issues new Guide on Active Enforcement
- Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill passed in Singapore Parliament
- MAS seeks comments on AML/CFT notices for payment services providers
- The Financial Technology Law Review (2nd Ed, 2019): Singapore chapter
- IMDA consults on policy and regulatory framework for 5G rollout in Singapore
- MAS updates Guide to Digital Token Offerings
- Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill introduced in Singapore Parliament
- IMDA consultation on proposed converged competition code for telecommunication and media markets: Deadline for feedback extended from 17 April 2019 to 15 May 2019
- Singapore intends to introduce data portability requirement, discussion paper published
- IPOS extends FinTech Fast Track initiative by one year to 25 April 2020
- IMDA consults on proposed converged competition code for telecommunication and media markets
- Singapore releases Asia’s first Model AI Governance Framework for public consultation, pilot adoption and feedback
- IMDA consults on Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Guide
- Stricter rules on collection, use or disclosure of NRIC numbers from 1 September 2019
- New multi-year roadmap for telecom industry to secure Singapore’s connectivity infrastructure
- Payment Services Bill passed to introduce new licensing regime and unify regulatory framework
- Practical Law FinTech Global Guide: Singapore Q&A
- Practical Law Cross-border Commercial Transactions - Sponsorship: Singapore Q&A
- FinTech FAQs
- Five key FinTech developments in 2018
- MAS releases updated Guide to Digital Token Offerings
- SGX RegCo sets out expectations of listed companies conducting ICOs
- MAS releases new FEAT Principles to promote responsible use of artificial intelligence and data analytics
- MAS proposes creation of Sandbox Express
- IMDA issues COPIF 2018 and COPIF Guidelines 2018, effective from 15 December 2018
- The Virtual Currency Regulation Review (1st Ed, 2018): Singapore chapter
- MAS and SGX leverage blockchain technology for settlement of tokenised assets
- PDPC responds to feedback on merger of DNC Provisions under PDPA and Spam Control Act, new Enhanced Practical Guidance framework and consent exceptions
- Payment Services Bill streamlines regulations and introduces new licensing framework
- MAS issues Guidelines to facilitate provision of digital advisory services
- MAS sets out duties for FIs in “E-Payments User Protection Guidelines” effective 31 January 2019
- Singapore Law Gazette: The (somewhat) confusing world of cryptocurrencies
- Cybersecurity Act 2018 operative from 31 August 2018 to protect critical information infrastructure against cybersecurity threats
- Personal Data Protection Digest: Personal Data and Customer Information in the Age of FinTech
- Recent Developments in the Regulation of Initial Coin Offerings
- Practical Law Cross-border Commercial Transactions - Confidentiality 2018: Singapore Q&A
- The Financial Technology Law Review (1st Ed 2018): Singapore chapter
- IMDA announces three initiatives relating to AI governance and ethics
- PDPC consults on (1) Merger of DNC Provisions under Personal Data Protection Act and Spam Control Act, and (2) introduction of Enhanced Practical Guidance framework and (3) consent exceptions
- PDPC releases new Guide for Printing Processes for Organisations and revises Advisory Guidelines on In-vehicle Recordings by Transport Services for Hire
- MAS, EDB, IMDA, IBF collaborate to accelerate AI adoption in Singapore financial sector
- IMDA issues second public consultation paper on the review of the Code of Practice for Info-Communication Facilities in Buildings (COPIF)
- IPOS launches FinTech Fast Track initiative effective 26 April 2018 for 12 months
- MAS and financial industry to develop guidance on responsible use of data analytics
- PDPC issues advisory guidelines on in-vehicle recordings used in transport services for hire
- Singapore participates in APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules and Privacy Recognition for Processors Systems: Apply for certification in 2019
- MAS implements measures to reduce data duplication by financial institutions
- MAS consults on proposed guidelines to protect users of e-payments
- MAS consults on draft regulations on mandatory trading of OTC derivatives on organised markets
- Cybersecurity Act 2018 gazetted, but not yet in force
- PDPC responds to feedback received on proposals relating to (1) collection, use or disclosure of personal data where consent not practical or desirable, and (2) mandatory data breach notification
- PDPC releases new Guide to Basic Data Anonymisation techniques
- Parliament passes Cybersecurity Bill: Protecting critical information infrastructure against cybersecurity threats
- Parliament introduces Cybersecurity Bill to protect critical information infrastructure against cybersecurity threats