Leonard Ng

LEONARD NG is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, co-managing partner of Sidley’s Singapore office, and head of the UK/EU Financial Services Regulatory group. Leonard advises a wide range of global financial institutions on complex UK/EU financial services regulatory issues. He has particular experience in advising clients on operating under the regulatory framework established after the last financial crisis, and more recently on Brexit, sustainable finance/ESG, and crypto-asset regulation. Leonard is a past member of the Board of the Managed Funds Association (MFA), the global trade association for hedge funds, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences.

Leonard has received acknowledgement from numerous industry ranking guides:

• Chambers UK 2026 – Ranked for Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory. He is praised for being a “trusted adviser” and offering “consistently good and prompt advice on all manner of regulatory queries. He has a remarkable ability to contextualize complicated regulatory problems which makes him indispensable.” One client observed that “he is an incredibly technical and impressive lawyer, he delivers advice on complex issues in a very digestible and user-friendly manner.”
• Legal 500 UK 2026 – Recognized in the “Hall of Fame” for Financial Services: Non-contentious/Regulatory. Clients describe him as a “highly experienced and capable lawyer, who has a great network and reputation amongst the financial services industry in the UK and US.” They note that he is “always available to give advice at short notice on complex matters.” Another client adds, “having worked with Leonard for many years, his depth of knowledge as well as commercial awareness on the advisory side is extremely competitive.” Leonard was also recommended for Fintech: Regulatory.
• Lexology Index 2025-2026 – Recognized as one of the world’s leading practitioners in the “Thought Leaders: Global Elite” for Private Funds – Regulatory.
• Chambers UK 2025 – Ranked for Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory. Clients describe Leonard as “an expert in UK financial service regulations and has unparalleled depth of knowledge. He is up to date with legal changes, and this leads to practical and sensible legal advice.”Another client adds “there is no lawyer with whom I have ever worked who I trust more than I do Leonard.”
• Legal 500 UK 2025 – Recognized in the “Hall of Fame” for Financial Services: Non-contentious/Regulatory. Sources say “Leonard Ng is a star. A rare and talented individual, who provides real solutions as he has deep industry knowledge and how entities work.”
• Chambers UK 2024 – Ranked for Financial Services: Non-contentious Regulatory where clients note that “He’s dialed in to every rule, pronouncement and thought. If the regulators say something or think something, he’s already ahead of the process and makes sure we are as well.”
• Legal 500 UK 2024 – Recognized in the “Hall of Fame” for Financial Services: Non-contentious/Regulatory. Sources praise Leonard Ng for his “deep financial services expertise,” noting that he “delivers practical solutions, client-focused, constantly looking out for clients and provides regular updates on developments.” 
• Who’s Who Legal 2024 – Recognized as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Private Funds – Regulatory. Recommended for Banking – Finance and Banking – Regulatory.
• Financial News Europe – Selected as one of Financial News’ Fifty Most Influential Lawyers in 2022 and 2023.
• The Hedge Fund Journal Awards 2019 – Honored with the “Outstanding Contribution Award.”

Leonard has also been interviewed widely for his thought leadership, including in such national publications as the Financial Times, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Times’ Dealbook. He has also been featured in numerous industry outlets, including Bloomberg Briefs, HFMWeek, Financial News, Risk, Private Equity News, Asian Investor, Law360, Institutional Investor Magazine, and Global Risk Regulator.

Recent representative matters include:

• Advising a global investment firm on its joint venture with a global sovereign investor to invest in, and secure the supply of, strategic metals and minerals.
• Advising London-based private investment firm RoundShield Partners LLP on the successful raising of its fifth European special opportunities fund (Fund V).
• Advising Funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. in the acquisition of The Travel Corporation.
• Advising One Equity Partners and Buckthorn Partners on their Acquisition of Acteon Group.
• Advising Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. in its acquisition of Chelsea Football Club and related affiliates in a consortium co-led with Todd Boehly, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge. The acquisition was named “Private Equity Deal of the Year” at The Deal Awards 2022.
• Advising Colliers on the acquisition of a 75% strategic investment in Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP.
• Advising Northwood Investors on the Sale of 20 Gracechurch Street in London.
• Advising Fortress Investment Group on the acquisition of Punch Pubs & Co.
• Advising Travelex on its financial and operational restructuring.
• Advising financial institutions on their post-Brexit operations and the implications of Brexit from a wider strategic perspective.
• Advising on the implementation of the new UK Investment Firm Prudential Regime (IFPR).
• Advising on the new regulatory framework for sustainable finance/ESG.
• Advising on the risk retention framework under the UK and EU Securitisation Regulations.
• Advising on the developing UK/EU regulatory framework for crypto-assets, including the proposed EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.
• Advising on other general UK/EU financial services legislation including MiFID II, AIFMD, UCITS Directive, Market Abuse Regulation, Short Selling Regulation, Transparency Directive, EMIR, SFTR, and REMIT.
• Primary counsel to a global investment fund trade association and its members on all aspects of UK/EU financial services policy and regulation.
• Establishing investment managers and securities firms/broker-dealers in the UK under the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and providing ongoing regulatory and compliance advice.
• Advising on regulatory change in control issues arising out of M&A and restructuring transactions.

In addition to UK and EU regulatory matters, Leonard has extensive experience in advising clients on the international regulatory capital framework, as well as assisting EU-based clients assess the implications of U.S. financial services legislation in conjunction with colleagues in Sidley’s offices in the U.S.

Leonard is a past board member of the Managed Funds Association (MFA).