Catherine Neo

Partner

Catherine is a Partner in the Financial Regulatory & Compliance practice, with extensive experience advising financial institutions and market participants on a broad range of regulatory issues. She is recognised for her regulatory and derivatives expertise, particularly in regulatory approvals and licensing and the enforceability of netting and collateral arrangements.

Catherine advises banks, market operators, broker-dealers, fund managers, insurers, fintech firms and other financial institutions on regulatory issues relating to the offer of financial services and products, including on a cross-border basis. She also advises on the financial regulatory aspects of mergers, acquisitions and reorganisations in the financial services sector.

She has assisted numerous clients seeking to establish or expand their presence in Singapore to successfully obtain the requisite licences. She has also helped clients secure regulatory approvals for transactions involving regulated entities and businesses, including banks, insurers, fund managers, insurance brokers and moneylenders. Her experience further includes advising on ongoing conduct of business requirements, as well as drafting and reviewing terms and conditions and account opening documentation.

Catherine is closely involved in the preparation and maintenance of the Singapore industry opinions for ISDA, ICMA and ISLA, providing market participants with guidance on the enforceability of close-out netting, collateral and related issues under the ISDA Master Agreement, GMRA and GMSLA. She also advises market participants on derivatives transactions, drafting and reviewing both industry-standard and bespoke documentation, and providing capacity, netting and collateral opinions across a range of counterparty types.

In addition to advising on existing laws and regulations, Catherine plays an active role in the consultation process for regulatory developments. She assists clients in submitting collective industry feedback to regulators on proposed changes to regulatory requirements, helping to shape policy in a practical and informed manner.

Catherine’s expertise is recognised by leading legal publications. She is ranked for Banking & Finance: Regulatory by Chambers Asia-Pacific, recommended for Fintech and Financial Services Regulatory by Legal 500 Asia Pacific, recognised as a Notable Practitioner for Financial Services Regulatory by IFLR1000, and Highly Recommended for Banking & Fintech – Regulatory and Recommended for Southeast Asia: Banking by Lexology Index.

Clients describe Catherine as “knowledgeable, considered, and approachable” and “a reliable sounding board”. One client notes that “Catherine is my go-to person as she is considered, reasonable and provides practical solutions”. Chambers highlights that she is “well placed to liaise with MAS in obtaining regulatory approvals and licences for banks and financial institutions” and is “particularly noted for her expertise regarding derivatives”. Clients also praise her for being “very thorough, meticulous, knowledgeable in terms of regulation and quick to respond”, as well as “reliable, balanced, and always approachable” and “practical, solution-oriented and approachable”.

Catherine graduated from the National University of Singapore with an LL.B. (Hons) degree in 2006 and was called to the Singapore Bar in 2007. She joined Allen & Gledhill in 2006 as a pupil and has been a Partner since 2014.