Partner

Yuet Ming Tham

White Collar Defense and Investigations
Crisis Management and Strategic Response
Food, Drug and Medical Device
Privacy and Cybersecurity

ytham@sidley.com

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YUET MING THAM is the global co-leader of the White Collar Defense and Investigations practice, head of the Litigation group in Asia, and leader of the Asia-Pacific Compliance and Investigations practice. She is a top-ranked international lawyer recognized by publications such as Chambers, Benchmark Litigation, and the Legal 500. She speaks fluent English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Malay, and is admitted in New York, England and Wales, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Yuet focuses on the FCPA, corporate compliance and investigations, sanctions, privacy, cybersecurity, and employment law. She has led investigations and compliance projects across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, and has counselled clients on matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. SEC, FINRA, the HK Securities and Futures Commission, as well as investigations by other enforcement agencies in Asia. Most recently, Yuet led investigations in India, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, Nepal, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Nigeria, South Africa, and Algeria.

Yuet has experience across a broad range of industries but has a special focus on the life sciences and technology industries.

Accolades

Advocacy on behalf of her clients has earned Yuet notable awards and acknowledgement:

Since 2012, Yuet has been recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers Asia-Pacific, and Chambers Greater China, where she is ranked “Band 1” in the Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms) category. In the 2025 edition, clients commented that “Yuet is a consummate professional. Incredibly knowledgeable, grounded, pragmatic and commercially savvy, she offers highly personalised services and guides the process from end to end,” “Yuet has deep market knowledge, an amazing work ethic and responsiveness to client concerns and changing needs. She is also dynamic and brings a different perspective to many issues,” and “She is highly practical and not afraid to give straightforward advice, even if it's not what we want to hear.” In 2024, a client noted that “Yuet has a very practical and very global view, and she is trusted for her intimate knowledge of risk and enforcement in the market,” and “her knowledge of the broader Asia-Pacific legal environment, as well as specialized knowledge in healthcare, makes her an important resource in the region.” Chambers Greater China Region has also ranked Yuet in the Life Sciences: International category from 2012–2025, where clients commented that Yuet is “an amazing resource, partner and expert. The smart money in healthcare in the region will use Yuet. This is because she is so good, and knows the market so well.”
Yuet is recognized as a “Leading Partner” for “White Collar Crime” in Legal 500 APAC Singapore (2025), and a “Leading Individual” for Regulatory: Anti-Corruption and Compliance in Legal 500 APAC Hong Kong (2023–2024). In the 2025 edition, a client has commented that Yuet “runs a tight ship in leading a team of associates that is highly professional, client-oriented, and emphasises giving practical advice. Their strength is extensive experience in investigations throughout APAC, on government investigations as well as company audits,” and “[Yuet’s] incisive market insights and her pragmatic yet creative problem-solving approach, definitely make her a rare lawyer. Together with her team’s deep experiences of handling the most complex regulatory issues, all these make Sidley’s white collar team stand out as one of the best teams in APAC.”
Yuet is ranked as a recommended “Compliance and Investigations” lawyer by Legal 500 Latin America 2024–2025.
Yuet was added by Global Investigations Review 2021 to its list of “Top 100 Women in Investigations” globally.
Yuet was listed as a leading lawyer in the Women in Business Law Expert Guide 2021.
Yuet was ranked as the “Litigation Star: White-collar” by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific in 2024 and 2025, and was awarded the “Top 100 Women in Law” recognition for the Asia Pacific region and as the “Dispute Resolution Star: White-collar” by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific from 2019–2025. In the 2025 edition, clients commented that Yuet is “possesses a deep and broad knowledge base, which enhances her clarity in communication. She offers value-added services without prioritizing charges. As a result, she is regarded as a trusted adviser.”; and in the 2024 edition, clients noted that Yuet is “good at keeping in touch and updating you on regulatory trends. Relationship management is done very well. Yuet also gives very practical advice and insight.”
Yuet is ranked as a Recommended Lawyer by Who’s Who Legal in the Information Technology chapter of the WWL Data 2025. Yuet has also been recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Investigations Review 2019-2021 and Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Hong Kong 2021. In addition, Yuet is recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a “Leading Business Lawyer” in three separate categories namely Life Sciences, Business Crime Defense, and Investigations. A source commented that she is regarded as “one of the best-informed regulatory lawyers in the region.”
Yuet was awarded the Emerging Markets “Compliance & Investigations Lawyer of the Year” by The Asian Lawyer, with the team also recognized as the “Compliance/Investigations Firm of the Year.”
Yuet is recognized in IFLR1000 in the “Financial Services Regulatory” category as a “Leading Lawyer.”

Additional Testimonial

In Legal 500 APAC 2024, a client described Yuet as a person who “ensures that any work coming from her team is consistent and thorough” and “takes time to understand our concerns and offers immediate workable and often innovative solutions.”
In Chambers Asia Pacific 2023, Yuet is described as “a highly reputable professional who delivers long-term value for her clients” and is “widely recognized as a trusted counsel to a number of Sidley Austin’s prominent life sciences and pharmaceutical clients in relation to global investigations and compliance advice.” She has been described as being “very responsive and understands the unique needs of her clients. Her blend of firm and in-house counsel experience is very helpful for providing practical advice that in-house lawyers can use.” Clients appreciate that her advice is “punctual, balanced, and comprehensive.”
In Benchmark Litigation 2023, a client describes Yuet as being “…excellent at client service, ensuring the right person is working on my matter with the required knowledge and expertise. She is also transparent with the billing, and we get excellent outcomes.”
In Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018, under the Corporate Investigations chapter, Yuet is described as “exceptionally bright” and “very responsive and knowledgeable and can immediately dive into the issues.” In the Life Sciences chapter, clients shared: “We have always been impressed by her leadership, professionalism, tenacity and savvy technical skills…. You will love to work with Yuet.”
In Chambers Global 2015, Yuet is described by clients as “a marvelous and gifted attorney” while peers acknowledge her prowess in working with clients in the life science sector. She is active advising on anti-corruption issues across Asia, with a focus on assisting businesses on FCPA investigations in China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, Chambers Asia-Pacific noted that Yuet “is frequently sought after by international corporations, who respect her experience and expertise in risk management.” In addition, she is described as being “highly thought of in the life sciences industry,” and that industry players appreciate her “wealth of knowledge of the latest trends across the region” as well as having a “tough, no-nonsense approach in tackling tricky compliance questions.”

Prior to joining Sidley, Yuet held roles as a Deputy Public Prosecutor in Singapore and was the Asia Pacific Regional Director for Pfizer. She is on the Advisory Board(s) of the Seton-Hall University Healthcare Compliance Programs in both Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Yuet is frequently invited to speak at major conferences around the world.

Experience

Compliance and Investigations

Carrying out investigations for clients in the technology sector such as e-commerce, computer networking services, online services, cybersecurity services, consumer electronics, cloud computing platforms, web services on issues ranging from falsified customer contracts; misuse of promotional funds, falsified supporting documents, kickbacks from distributors/resellers to employees, “after-the-fact” discounts, employee conflict of interest, channel stuffing, violations by business partners including possible bribes, and government tenders for IT contracts.
Carrying out multiple investigations for some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and medical device clients in jurisdictions all over Asia and EMEA, on issues such as improper sponsorships of healthcare professionals, improper marketing of products, compliance concerns arising from healthcare economics studies, assessing the propriety of funding to medical associations and healthcare institutions, inappropriate provision of grants, misuse of product samples, violations relating to virtual events, and kickbacks from distributors.
Advising one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies on anti-bribery laws and on setting up its global compliance program, data privacy, setting up its ethics helpline, and employment laws in Asia, including Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China.
Carrying out numerous internal investigations for a U.S.-listed technology company, including a major investigation pertaining to an “accruals” program used to pool funds for marketing purposes involving distributors/resellers in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Australia, and Korea.
Carrying out numerous investigations for a major U.S. technology company throughout the Asia Pacific, on issues such as kickbacks from resellers, "after-the-fact" discounts, channel stuffing, and violations by channel partners including bribes paid by third parties.
Advising a U.S. animal feed and nutritional company on its proposed acquisition of a number of companies in China, Hong Kong, and Mexico in the areas of FCPA/anti-corruption compliance; carrying out FCPA/anti-bribery due diligence in relation to the acquisition in China, Hong Kong, and Mexico; carrying out interviews of nine employees and representatives from the target companies in Hong Kong and the Shandong province; preparation of a report arising from the due diligence; reviewing documents and conducting follow-up interviews; and advising the client of its legal position under U.S. financial regulatory laws and the FCPA.
Advising a U.S. industrial company on its proposed joint venture with a Chinese entity in Guangzhou, China with a focus on its compliance with various U.S. FCPA internal controls requirements and advising on the concept of “successor liability” for FCPA liabilities in an asset transfer (as opposed to a share-acquisition).
Carrying out various FCPA investigations in Indonesia and China for a U.S.-listed heavy machinery client. For instance, in Indonesia, the work included reviewing numerous consulting agreements with labor and work permit agents, applications made for permits from the Ministry of Labor, “overtime payments” to government officials, kickback issues involving procurement, and books and records.

Life Sciences

Setting up a European headquartered pharmaceutical company, a compliance program in the Asia Pacific (China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, and Australia); Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Argentina); and the Middle East (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE). This included drafting individual country SOPs for sales and marketing, dealings with healthcare professionals, the engagement of consultants and the organizing of scientific/promotional events.
Leading and managing a global transparency project for a European medical device client, including considerations of the transparency requirements in the U.S., Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.
Assisting a U.S.-listed Fortune 50 pharmaceutical company with the drafting and preparation of all its policies and procedures for its businesses in China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. This involved drafting all the procedures for the preparation of marketing materials for pharmaceutical products, website advertisements, rules governing the interactions between sales persons and scientific personnel with medical professionals, clinical trials, marketing approvals, advisory boards, consulting agreements, the engagement of doctors to be speakers, sponsorship of doctors to conferences, the regulations relating to the organizing of medical conferences and symposia, the provision of hospitality to doctors, off-label promotions, and interactions with distributors.
Advising multiple healthcare and nutraceutical companies on regulatory issues in Hong Kong and Singapore such as nutritional labeling, product claims, off-label issues, advertising regulations for prescription drugs and healthcare products, and product recalls.
Advising, drafting, and implementing for a multinational pharmaceutical company, FCPA/anti-bribery compliance programs covering interactions with healthcare professionals, intermediaries and government officials for the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Turkey) and Latin America (Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina). This included providing training to senior management, rolling out the program, and putting in place the training program.
Advising numerous Life Sciences clients on distribution contracts with channel partners and the termination of distributors and wholesalers in Southeast Asia, China, and Hong Kong in the context of statutory requirements in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia for distributor termination.

Data Privacy

Acting for a U.S.-listed computer networking client in relation to interactions with and possible benefits to Chinese government officials and advising on various data privacy laws such as the Personal Information Protection Law in China, and in the context of the provision of information to U.S. regulators, the Chinese blocking statutes, the Data Security Law, and China Cybersecurity Law.
Advising a U.S. food processing and commodities trading corporation on a data breach and possible breach notifications in Australia, Singapore, Japan, and Korea.
Advising one of the world’s largest European electrical appliances companies on data privacy, the ethics helpline, the application of the EU Whistleblowers Directive, anti-bribery laws, and employment laws in Asia-Pacific, including China, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Advising one of the world’s largest U.S. hedge funds on the collection and retention of employee data, advising on race/gender discrimination laws in Hong Kong, drafting its Employee Handbook in Singapore/Hong Kong, drafting data transfer agreements between the client and its vendors around the world, and employment/data privacy issues.
Advising multiple clients, including one of the world’s largest consumer health companies and various FMCG companies on data-privacy laws in Asia, online policies, use of cookies, agreements with customers on the collection/use/transfer of data, drafting customer agreements, drafting vendor agreements, and handling a major breach incident in Asia Pacific, including a disclosure to regulators in Australia.

Advisory Board member, Seton-Hall University Healthcare Compliance Program for Asia

Yuet Ming Tham

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