Shows
Regulatory RamblingsEp 79 - Beyond the Divide: Crypto, Compliance, and the Future of FinanceEpisode 78 with Stanley Foodman and Viktoria Soltesz 🎧 In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, we explore two critical conversations shaping the financial and compliance landscape.Part 1: Viktoria Soltesz on Banking Flows and PaymentsWe kick off with Viktoria Soltesz, founder of PSP Angels and the Soltesz Institute, who explains why businesses must understand banking flows to perform proper due diligence (2:37). Viktoria challenges the notion that blockchain and crypto are the ultimate solution (5:27), stresses the urgent need for financial education (7:23), and highlights why standards and ethics matter in payments (11:43). She closes with her visi...
2025-10-011h 11
Regulatory RamblingsEp 78 - How Well Does AML Work? | Spotlight on Rethinking AI RegulationEpisode 78 with Oonagh van den Berg, Prof. Peter Reuter, and Dr. Mirko Nazzari 🎧 In this episode, returning guest and compliance expert Oonagh van den Berg discusses why current AI regulation approaches fall short, based on her LinkedIn article, “Rethinking AI Regulation: Why Current Approaches Are Falling Short.” She highlights the limitations of fragmented national laws, the need for a global AI rulebook, and the role of public education in shifting from blind trust to informed verification. Geopolitical pressures and coordination challenges further complicate regulation.The conversation then turns to anti-money laundering (AML) wit...
2025-09-171h 22
Regulatory RamblingsEp 77 - Banks Without Borders: Re-Linking De-Risking, Open Rails | Legal & Compliance Hiring TrendsEpisode 77 with Lotte Schou Zibell, Ian Morrison, and Raoul Montgomery 🎧In this episode, veteran international expert on financial sector development & digital transformation Lotte Schou-Zibell unpacks why correspondent banking links have thinned in smaller markets - and why the fix isn’t “more rules” but smarter, cheaper, more consistent compliance built on shared digital public infrastructure: foundational ID, tiered KYC, interoperable payment rails, straight-through reporting, and utilities multiple banks can use instead of rebuilding controls. Lotte also points to AI-assisted regulatory mapping that lowers the “cost of certainty,” and argues for interoperability via APIs over...
2025-09-031h 07
Regulatory RamblingsEp 76 - The US GENIUS Act + HK Stablecoin Ordinance | HK Web3 BlueprintEpisode 76 with Joshua Chu, Syed Musheer Ahmed and Sean Lee  🎧The common theme for this episode is FinTech and Web3 writ large – with an eye towards digital assets and virtual currency.In Spotlight segment, we’ll be speaking with a returning guest and a dear friend of the program – Syed Musheer Ahmed of Hong Kong-based FinStep Asia on the recently disseminated the “Hong Kong Web3 Blueprint: Building a Web 3 International Financial Hub” report. Joining Musheer is Sean Lee, co-lead of Web3 Harbour's Policy Committee and one of the key leader...
2025-08-201h 05
Regulatory RamblingsEp 75 - Rethinking Hong Kong’s Startup Ecosystem and Its Legal FoundationsEpisode 75 with David Cameron, Syed Musheer Ahmed and Joshua Chu  🎧This episode of Regulatory Ramblings takes a deep dive into the current state of Hong Kong’s startup environment - exploring how conducive the city’s legal, commercial, and policy infrastructure is for startups to not only launch, but also to scale.We begin with a spotlight conversation featuring David Cameron, a veteran American lawyer and founder of the Hong Kong-based firm DCLO. Drawing on over 16 years of experience - including stints at global firms like Linklaters and Allen & Overy...
2025-08-061h 03
Regulatory RamblingsEp 74 - Global Women in AI / Corporate Director Liability: Discretionary, Not FiduciaryEpisode #74 with Tram Anh Nguyen and Professor Marc I. Steinberg 🎧In this episode, we feature two conversations exploring different frontiers of finance and technology.In our opening spotlight, we welcome back Marc Steinberg, professor at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and a leading voice in securities and corporate law. His latest book, Corporate Director and Officer Liability: Discretionary, Not Fiduciary (Oxford University Press), challenges the long-standing view that corporate directors and officers should be labeled as “fiduciaries.” Marc explains why liability standards — from the duty of care to the busines...
2025-07-231h 06
Regulatory RamblingsEp 73 - Geopolitical Risk: Thailand Tensions, Sanctions & Smart Compliance in a Shifting AsiaEpisode #73 with Christopher Cottrell, Richard Butler and Haider Mannan 🎧 This episode of Regulatory Ramblings explores how shifting geopolitics is reshaping regulation, investment, and compliance across Asia.In the first segment, veteran Indo-Pacific journalist Christopher Cottrell joins us from Thailand to discuss rising political tensions following the July 1 suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Cottrell reflects on the country’s fragile democratic institutions, the stalled gaming bill, and the implications of border instability with Cambodia. Despite risks, Thailand continues to attract investors, with Cottrell noting that local legal knowledge remains essential to navigating uncertainty.I...
2025-07-0958 min
Regulatory RamblingsEp 72 - Cultural Roots, Belonging, and the Fear of Change: What’s Next for Inclusion?Ep #72 with Ritu Bhasin and Jeiz Robles 🎧At a time when DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts are being challenged in parts of the world, our guests in this episode make a compelling case for why inclusion still matters - and how it must adapt to remain relevant. Through two rich, regionally grounded conversations, this episode explores how DEI is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic investment in building workplaces - and societies - where people can truly thrive. Together, the conversations examine: Why DEI work is more than a checkbox - it's...
2025-06-251h 02
Regulatory RamblingsEp 71 - Sanctions, Fragmented Global Trade, Crypto Fault Lines, and the Fight for Regulatory ClarityEpisode #71 with Joshua Chu, Melizza Anievas, and Lucas Har 🎧In this episode, we explore the intersecting challenges of financial regulation, geopolitics, and the evolving crypto landscape.The initial Spotlight segment features Lucas Har (Risk & Compliance Product Manager, Dow Jones), joining us from Singapore to discuss the shifting dynamics of trade compliance, export controls, and sanctions—especially amid escalating US-China tensions. Lucas outlines how fragmented global trade networks, enforcement asymmetries, and regulatory blind spots have enabled evasion tactics—citing, for instance, the convoluted journey of Mercedes-Benz limousines into North Korea—as geopolitical pressures increasingly undermine...
2025-06-111h 05
Regulatory RamblingsEp 70 - Security, Strategy, and Compliance: A View from Two VeteransEpisode #70 with Mark Nuttal and Steve Vickers 🎧 In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, two distinguished guests offer rare, experience-based insights into the global forces shaping today’s regulatory, security, and compliance environments.The first segment features Steve Vickers, former head of the Criminal Intelligence Bureau of what was then the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and now CEO of Steve Vickers & Associates. He delivers a stark assessment of the geopolitical risks across the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China. Vickers outlines how U.S. retrenchment and China’...
2025-05-281h 08
Regulatory RamblingsEp 69 - Human Intelligence vs. Machine JudgmentEpisode #69 with Nigel Morris-Cotterill and Patrick Dransfield 🎧 In this two-part episode of Regulatory Ramblings, host Ajay Shamdasani is joined by two seasoned professionals who examine artificial intelligence from very different, yet deeply complementary angles: cultural, philosophical, and ethical on one hand; legal, compliance, and technical on the other. The result is a wide-ranging, thought-provoking conversation about the role of human intelligence in an increasingly automated world—and the dangers of outsourcing critical decisions to machines.In the first segment, Patrick Dransfield—a legal marketing expert, author, and co-founder of the Managing Partners Club—discusses...
2025-05-1459 min
Regulatory RamblingsEp 68 - Why Geopolitical Risk Matters to Compliance and Legal StaffEpisode #68 with Chad Olsen and Mark Nuttal 🎧 In a world where politics and regulation intersect, compliance and legal professionals can no longer afford to ignore geopolitical risk. From the fallout of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the global regulatory landscape has been reshaped by conflict, sanctions, inflation, and cross-border disruption.In this episode, host Ajay Shamdasani speaks with two experts who explain why understanding geostrategy is now a core part of legal and compliance work—not a nice-to-have, but a must-have.Chad Olsen (Head of Forensic Services...
2025-04-301h 07
Regulatory RamblingsEp 67 - Selective Enforcement & Global Risk: A Tectonic Shift in AMLEpisode #67 with Nigel Morris-Cotterill, Oonagh van den Berg and Malcolm NanceIn this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, the panel tackles the Trump administration’s controversial move to suspend enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)—a key anti-money laundering (AML) initiative passed under the Biden administration. The decision, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department in early March, stated that it would halt all penalties and fines associated with beneficial ownership information reporting under current regulatory deadlines. Crucially, it also confirmed that no penalties would apply even after forthcoming rule changes take...
2025-04-161h 04
Regulatory RamblingsEp 66 - The U.S. Strategic Reserve and the Emerging Multipolar Crypto WorldEpisode #66 with Henri Arslanian (Nine Blocks Capital Management) and Andrew Fei (King & Wood Mallesons)This episode opens with Andrew Fei discussing recent US crypto regulatory developments. Then, Henri Arslanian, a leading voice in global crypto circles, shares his insights on the Trump administration’s decision to establish a cryptocurrency strategic reserve made up of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Cardano. “This really may start paving the way for other countries to look at potentially acquiring Bitcoin as part of their strategic… their own basket of reserves,” he said, referring to the ripple effect the U.S...
2025-04-0251 min
Regulatory RamblingsEp 65 - Trump’s Anti-Corruption Rollback: Executive Order Sparks Global ConcernsEpisode #65 with Tom Fox & Malcolm Nance, plus Philip Rohlik This episode is devoted to discussing the recent executive order signed by US President Donald J. Trump instructing the Department of Justice to halt enforcement of the decades old, much-dreaded Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) pending a one-year review. In our initial “Regulatory Ramblings Spotlight” segment, we speak with Philip Rohlik, an American attorney in mainland China with the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton to get a sense of what the president’s decision means for Hong Kong and the broader Asia-Pacific. Following that, we have a lengthie...
2025-03-1958 min
Regulatory RamblingsEp 64 - Building Inclusion Through Sustainable Leadership + The EU Omnibus ProposalWith guests Dr. Inna Amesheva (ESG Book) and Janet Ledger (Commuity Business)In time for International Women’s Day on March 8th, Dr. Inna Amesheva and Janet Ledger explore the evolving role of ESG in regulation and inclusion. Dr. Amesheva, Head of ESG Regulatory Solutions at ESG Book, examines Europe’s push to simplify ESG rules, while Janet Ledger, CEO of Community Business, highlights how ESG drives diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) despite growing political backlash.As companies navigate complex ESG regulations and rising calls for transparency, this episode examines the balance between reducing compliance burd...
2025-03-051h 00
Regulatory RamblingsEp 63: Compliance in 2025 From Hiring Trends to Leadership Insights in APACWith guests Raoul Montgomery, Kirsty Crean, and Brian CheungAs the theme of this episode is compliance, we first hear from Raoul Montgomery and Kirsty Crean of executive search and recruitment firm Arion House in Hong Kong about hiring trends in the legal and compliance space post-Chinese New Year. Hiring in Compliance & Legal: What’s Driving the Surge in 2025? Raoul & Kirsty share the areas in which the financial sector is hiring – with insurance and crypto-compliance being key drivers for of employment. Kirsty and Raoul also share their thoughts on the degree to whi...
2025-02-1958 min
Regulatory RamblingsEp 62: OSINT - A Key Tool for Finance and Compliance and China's Green BRIWith guests Dr. Oriol Caudevilla and Skip SchiphorstThe Green Belt and Road Initiative. Much has been said about the BRI, known in China as the One Belt One Road – and sometimes labelled the New Silk Road. A global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in more than 150 countries and international organizations, the scheme is composed of six urban development land corridors linked by road, rail, energy, and digital infrastructure, and the Maritime Silk Road linked by the development of ports.The idea was simple enough, transport raw ma...
2025-02-0559 min
Regulatory RamblingsEp 61 - Hong Kong's Stablecoin Bill and Trump's Impact on US Law's Reach in AsiaIn our first episode of 2025, with a brand-new format, Regulatory Ramblings highlights two critical developments shaping Asia’s financial and regulatory landscapes.In Episode 61, Hong Kong-based lawyer Ben Hammond unpacks the city’s upcoming Stablecoin Bill, a landmark regulation aimed at strengthening digital asset oversight while bolstering Hong Kong’s position as a global financial hub. Hammond reflects on the bill’s significance, how it fills regulatory gaps, and its potential to foster legitimacy and confidence in the stablecoin ecosystem. He also explores the broader challenges and opportunities the legislation presents for compliance, cross-border legal practice...
2025-01-0856 min
Regulatory RamblingsThe Disparate Fight Against Modern Slavery and Scam FarmsReplay: Ep #59 with Matthew Friedman (The Mekong Club)Four decades fighting human trafficking and modern slavery – a diplomat reflectsAs a former US and United Nations diplomat, Matthew Friedman has been a true warrior on the frontlines against modern slavery and sex trafficking for over four decades. He is an international human trafficking expert and the CEO of The Mekong Club, a non-governmental organization comprised of Hong Kong’s leading businesses which have joined forces to help end all forms of modern slavery. The Mekong Club is very active in the ESG s...
2025-01-011h 21
Regulatory RamblingsThe Evolution of Fintech: Asia, the US and the Implications for InclusionEpisode #60 with Theodora Lau, Unconventional Ventures Based in the US, Theodora Lau or Theo as she’s known, is Hong Kong born and bred and the founder of Unconventional Ventures. Her firm’s mission is developing and growing an ecosystem of financial institutions, corporations, startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and accelerators to make banking better, as well as to meet the often-unmet needs of consumers, including older adults and women. Connecting founders with funders – with a specific focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs is Theo’s mission. As part of her work, she regularly mentors and advises startups in both th...
2024-12-181h 21
Fox on PodcastingCelebrating Excellence in Podcasting in the International ArenaJoin Tom Fox as he explores the world of podcasting, and get ready to be inspired to start your podcast. Today, we begin a three-part series on honoring excellence in podcasting and the Agora Awards. We visit with Ajay Shamdasani and Jonathan Armstrong, both award-winning international podcasters.In this inaugural episode of the Compliance Podcast Network Agora Awards, Tom introduces two guests, Ajay Shamdasani and Jonathan Armstrong, both leaders in compliance and podcasting. Ajay, a veteran writer, editor, and researcher based in Hong Kong, discusses his background, the inception of his podcasting career, and the themes explored...
2024-12-1044 min
Regulatory RamblingsEp 58 - The AI-fication of Jobs with Huy Nguyen TrieuEp #58 with Huy Nguyen Trieu (CFTE) 🎧Huy Nguyen Trieu is the author of the new book The AI-fication of Jobs. He is the co-founder along with Ms. Tram Anh Nguyen of the London-headquartered Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (or CFTE). As a global FinTech knowledge platform, CFTE opened its Abu Dhabi office earlier this year, in addition to its Singapore office. A leading voice in the world of AI, Huy’s book is the product of 10 months of effort and debuted at the recent Singapore FinTech Festival in early-November 2024. It explores how AI is reshap...
2024-11-201h 06
Regulatory RamblingsA Path to Financial Inclusion Through TechnologyEp #57 with Eelee Lua, xcube. Eelee Lua is chief of staff and a director at xcube.co – a Singapore-based corporate venture studio. A seasoned business leader in the technology space, specializing in risk mitigation and strategic partnerships. Having entered the risk and compliance field 13 years ago, having previously held roles at AsiaVerify and the RISQ Group.Eelee holds a board director accreditation from the Singapore Institute of Directors, and actively contributes to industry communities such as the Singapore FinTech Association and Women In Alliances.Recently, she penned an article entitled “Circular Financial Identity – The Missing Piece...
2024-11-061h 16
Regulatory RamblingsThe Intersection of Financial Crime and CryptocurrenciesEp #56 with Chengyi Ong (Chainalysis)Chengyi Ong leads public policy in the Asia-Pacific region for Chainalysis out of from the firm’s regional headquarters in Singapore. Drawing on Chainalysis’ blockchain data analytics platform, she works with public and private sector stakeholders to distil developments in digital asset markets, and their intersections with global and regional regulatory trends. Prior to joining Chainalysis, Chengyi spent 13 years at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, holding roles in financial regulation and supervision, financial sector development, and central banking. She also served as the Advisor to the Executive Director for S...
2024-10-231h 13
Heart Of The Matter - A Podcast On Legal Developments From Around The WorldThe Rise of AI Idiots - Implications for the Legal ProfessionIn this episode, we delve into the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in the legal field. As AI tools become increasingly integrated into legal practices, they bring both groundbreaking efficiencies and unexpected hurdles. Join us as we explore the dual-edged nature of AI: its potential to revolutionize legal tasks and the pitfalls that could lead to costly mistakes. Discover how legal professionals can adeptly navigate this new landscape, leveraging AI's strengths while safeguarding against its shortcomings. Tune in to understand the implications of AI's rise and how to stay ahead in this transformative era.Our Guests
2024-10-1831 min
Regulatory RamblingsReflections from a former Singapore regulator on virtual assetsEp 55 with Angela Ang, Senior Policy Advisor, TRM LabsAngela Ang is the Senior Policy Advisor at TRM Labs, a global blockchain intelligence company, and a former regulator at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Having spent over a decade at MAS, she held the role of Deputy Director in charge of licensing payments and crypto service providers. Angela has also been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice for Finance in Asia for her leadership in digital asset developments.In this episode, Angela reflects on her journey from growing up in Singapore to her education...
2024-10-091h 53
Regulatory RamblingsFrom a Secret Service Agent to a Global Financial Crime FighterEp #54 With David Caruso, Dominion Advisory Group In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, David Caruso, a former U.S. Secret Service agent turned global financial crime fighter, shares insights from his 30-year journey in AML and financial crime compliance. With an impressive career, including time as chief compliance officer at Riggs Bank, David recounts his pivotal role in uncovering corruption scandals involving Equatorial Guinea and former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. These investigations sparked significant U.S. regulatory and legal actions, influencing AML enforcement on a global scale. David reflects on the evolution of...
2024-09-251h 31
Regulatory RamblingsQuantum Computing Threatens Blockchain Security & AnonymityEp #53 with Kapil Dhiman, Co-Founder & CEO of QuraniumMumbai-based Kapil Dhiman is the co-founder and CEO of Quranium. An entrepreneur to his core with a creative and artistic side – coupled passion for problem solving – Kapil is a seasoned leader with 12 years of diverse international consulting experience in dealing with enterprises, startups and funds. He is also a former Web 3.0 leader at PwC India and an award-winning CEO who crafted the Metaverse Startup of the Year 2023 from scratch. A distinguished global speaker and author, Kapil has helped over 20 startups in the Web3 ecosys...
2024-09-111h 25
Regulatory RamblingsAI vs. Financial Scams: Why Banks Aren't Doing Enough in the Fight Against Sextortion and FraudEp #52 with Oonagh van den Berg (RAW Compliance)Oonagh van den Berg, a seasoned international compliance professional, is the founder of RAW Compliance, a consultancy and training firm. With a legal background and two decades of experience in London, Hong Kong, and Singapore, Oonagh has become a respected figure in the compliance industry. Her upbringing in Northern Ireland during the violent era of "The Troubles" in the 1980s shaped her resilience and determination, leading her to a career as a lawyer, compliance officer, recruiter, consultant, and educator. In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, Oonagh discusses w...
2024-08-281h 39
Regulatory RamblingsThe EU AI Act: Why it matters for Asia and beyond?Ep #51 with Michael Borrelli (AI & Partners) and Anandaday Misshra (AMLEGALS)In this episode, host Ajay Shamdasani discusses the EU AI Act with Michael Borrelli and Anandaday Misshra. The EU AI Act, the world's first comprehensive AI law, went into effect on August 1, 2024. The guests explore its global impact, particularly on compliance officers, in-house counsel, and businesses both within and beyond the EU.Michael Borrelli is a Director at AI & Partners, leveraging over a decade of experience in financial services, compliance, and technology. He is passionate about responsible AI and serves in various advisory roles, contributing...
2024-08-141h 12
Regulatory Ramblings#50 - Hong Kong to Dubai and Back Again – Reflections on A Career in FinTechEp #50 with Syed Musheer Ahmed, Finstep Asia Syed Musheer Ahmed has two decades of extensive experience in the realms of capital markets, fintech and virtual assets – including a decade as a global markets’ trader, prior to coming to Hong Kong to attain his MBA from the University of Hong Kong and London Business School’s joint program. Since 2016, Musheer has contributed extensively to building the region’s fintech and virtual asset ecosystem, particularly as the co-founder and the inaugural general manager of the Fintech Association of Hong Kong. For the last five years...
2024-07-311h 46
Regulatory RamblingsDigital Currencies and Public LawEp #49 with Dr. Andrew Mazen Dahdal, College of Law, Qatar UniversityDr. Andrew Mazen Dahdal is an associate professor at the College of Law at Qatar University in Doha. He received his Ph.D. from the University of New South Wales, where he received an outstanding achievement award in 2014 for his dissertation on the necessity of historical analysis in constitutional interpretation. Andrew has also taught constitutional and commercial law within Australia and Europe in both fulltime and adjunct roles. Writing on law, technology and global legal frameworks, Andrew is now focused on exploring the intersections b...
2024-07-171h 19
Regulatory RamblingsDefeating Money Laundering with Rational Thinking, Not Compliance Red-FlagsEp 48 with Dr. Mariola Marzouk (Vortex Risk Ltd.)In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, Dr. Mariola Marzouk, an AML expert who has co-founded Vortex Risk Ltd., shares her insights on trade-based money laundering (TBML), and her philosophy on financial crime prevention. She talks about her approach to leveraging RegTech, the importance of human judgment in AML, and her critique of the global financial regulatory landscape. She also discusses regulatory compliance technologies for their failure to effectively combat money laundering and argues that despite claims of innovation and disruption, these technologies focus more on regulatory adherence than understanding t...
2024-07-031h 19
Regulatory Ramblings"The Biggest Bank Heist in History Is Coming"Ep 47 with Linda JengLinda Jeng is a digital economy leader and strategist with over two decades of experience in FinTech, policy, and regulation. She is the founder & CEO of Digital Self Labs, a Washington D.C.-based Web3 advisory firm. Digital Self Labs is a cross-disciplinary advisory firm combining blockchain software expertise with policy and regulatory strategy. Linda helps clients design and implement innovative solutions that empower individuals and enable interoperability, transparency, and efficiency in the financial and digital sector.  She is also a renowned scholar and educator, with affiliations at Georgetown University Law Ce...
2024-06-1956 min
Regulatory RamblingsInvestigative Due Diligence and Why It Matters?Ep 46 with Daniel GreenbergDaniel Greenberg is the founder, president, and lead investigator of Greenberg Corporate Intelligence, a Washington, DC-based boutique investigations firm that commenced operations in March 2023. The firm offers research and intelligence services for private-sector clients such as support attorneys, private equity firms, hedge funds, and compliance teams.  Dan has been working in the due diligence and corporate investigations field since 2010. Most recently, he was a managing director at Forward Risk, having previously worked at Kroll, Exiger and TD International. Beginning in 2018, Dan helped grow Forward Risk from a sm...
2024-06-051h 22
Regulatory RamblingsA Conversation with One of World's Most Formidable Trial LawyersEpisode #45 with guest John B. Quinn, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLPJohn B. Quinn is the founder and chairman of the nearly four-decade old Los Angeles law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan. The firm has been voted the world’s "most-feared law firm" ten times by independent research provider BTI Consulting, which surveyed over 300 key legal decision-makers at the world’s largest organizations. In fact, in BTI’s annual survey - when respondents were asked the law firm that they least wanted to face as opposing counsel – Quinn Emanuel is consistently ranked number one as the worl...
2024-05-2247 min
Regulatory RamblingsThe Dangers of Non-Technically Trained Lawyers Advising on Technological MattersIn this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, Ron Yu and Donald Day chat with host Ajay Shamdasani on the potentially pernicious consequences of non-technically trained lawyers - specifically, those without degrees or substantial experience in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) - offering advice in situations where technology is either implicated or at the core of the matter. The law can be unforgiving to those that are ignorant of its often arcane ways and ultimately, it is clients that pay for what lawyers either do not know or assume, the guests share. In an age of AI, machine l...
2024-05-081h 13
Regulatory RamblingsWhy ESG Matters?Episode 43 with guest Jon Solorzano, Vinson & ElkinsJon Solorzano is a Los Angeles-based attorney who serves as counsel and co-head of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) task force at the law firm of Vinson & Elkins. Prior to this role, he served as senior director for legal and corporate development at the Clorox Company. Beyond ESG, Jon is also a highly sought-after thought leader with significant expertise in related fields such as M&A, corporate governance, securities regulation, corporate and business development, consumer products, technology, human capital management, business financial strategy, and international matters for...
2024-04-2455 min
Regulatory RamblingsThe Intersection of Digital Assets and Data ProtectionEpisode 42 - Jonathan Crompton, Reynolds, Porter & ChamberlainJonathan Crompton is a Hong Kong-based partner at the law firm of Reynolds, Porter & Chamberlain (RPC) where he helps companies and individuals navigate complex cross-border disputes and investigations involving their Asian operations, specialising in commercial matters (in particular for the retail industry), financial services and technology related disputes and cyber incidents. And as the lead for RPC’s 'ReSecure' cyber incident response service in Asia, he advises local and multinational clients on cyber-attacks, data privacy and law enforcement investigations, as well as helping clients across the globe to re...
2024-04-101h 22
Regulatory RamblingsThe Challenges of Taking Startups Public in IndiaMadhurima Mukherjee SahaPartner, J Sagar Associates Madhurima Mukherjee is the New Delhi-based head of the J Sagar Associates law firm’s capital markets division. She has over two decades of experience in securities offerings in both the domestic and international markets – including initial public offerings (IPOs), further offers, rights offers, qualified institutional placements and block trades. Sometimes referred as India’s “queen of capital markets,” Madhurima has been part of some of the country’s highest profile capital raising efforts, including the 2010 Coal India IPO, which eventually raised over US$ 2.5 billion and remains one of India’s...
2024-03-271h 04
Regulatory RamblingsSuper Apps, FemTech and Financial ResilienceEp 40 - Neha Mehta, Founder & CEO, FemTech Partners Neha Mehta is a member of the department of mathematics at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She also teaches in that institution’s Master of Science program in FinTech. Among her interests are financial inclusion using FinTech as a vehicle to achieve it, as well as climate sustainability, innovating for a blue economy and greener future, and encouraging more women to enter the tech space – evidenced by her work with the group SG Women In Tech. Neha is also a FinTech lawyer, former diplomat, and soci...
2024-03-131h 09
Regulatory RamblingsMoney and Payments – The Decade AheadYesha Yadav is the Milton R. Underwood Chair at Vanderbilt Law School, the Robert Belton Director of Diversity, Equity and Community and , and Associate Dean in addition to being a Professor of Law and Faculty Co-Director of the school’s LLM program at Vanderbilt University Law School. Her research interests are in financial market and securities regulation, and corporate bankruptcy law – focusing on market structure, exchange design, payments, digital asset regulation, distressed debt and restructuring.  Before joining Vanderbilt's law faculty in 2011, Yesha worked as a legal counsel with the World Bank in its...
2024-02-2855 min
Regulatory RamblingsDigital Payments, Innovations, and Financial InclusionLisa Nestor is a Los Angeles-based fintech expert and pioneer in the field of electronic payments. She currently serves as the chief strategy officer at AirTM. Under her watch, AirTM has successfully facilitated over 26 million transactions, and expanded access to commerce to international businesses both large and small, creating a user-friendly tool benefiting millions of people worldwide. Â After just a year in the FinTech field, Lisa introduced by a UCLA professor from her MBA days, to Jed Michaela, then CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation - a non-profit foundation supporting the Stellar ledger: an open, d...
2024-02-141h 06
Regulatory RamblingsRespect Personal Data – A Look Into India’s New Personal Data Privacy LawIn our latest Regulatory Ramblings episode, Anandaday Misshra meticulously unpacked India's groundbreaking Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (DPDPA). The legislation, signifying a significant stride for India in the digital era, emphasizes individual empowerment over personal data while imposing stringent guidelines for responsible data handling. Anand sheds light on the comparison between the DPDPA and the EU's GDPR, examining their similarities and potential conflicts. The discussion with host Ajay Shamdasani extends to the potential impact on legal and compliance staff in banking, financial institutions, and multinational corporations operating in India.Anand, founder and managing director of...
2024-01-311h 10
Regulatory RamblingsReflections on a Career in Securities RegulationMarc I. Steinberg is the Rupert and Lillian Radford Chair in Law and Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Dedman School of Law in Dallas, Texas. He has served as a professor, fellow or has lectured at several other prominent universities – including the University of Cambridge, Oxford University, King’s College-University of London, Heidelberg University, Stockholm University, University of Tel Aviv, Moscow State University, University of Sydney, Auckland University, University of Hong Kong, University of Tokyo, UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania.Professor Steinberg was an attorney for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commiss...
2024-01-171h 27
Regulatory RamblingsDecoding Compliance Excellence: Working in AML & Financial Crime ComplianceMartin James Wallis has a deep understanding and vocation for thwarting financial crime. Currently, he serves as COO at financial crime consultancy FINTRAIL in Singapore. In that capacity, he supports FINTRAIL's efforts to provide practical and inclusive solutions in the global fight against financial crime.Before joining FINTRAIL, Martin enjoyed a 22-year career in the British Army's Intelligence Corps, holding various specialised intelligence and security roles in support of military operations worldwide – including being based in Northern Ireland and at the British Embassy in Beijing. He holds a degree in Global Business Management from Bournemouth University and an...
2024-01-031h 27
Regulatory RamblingsGeneration Z has little say in the financial infrastructure that will govern future generationsAt the heart of Dr. Bryane Michael’s conversation with Regulatory Ramblings host Ajay Shamdasani is whether FinTech can help solve the social, financial, and economic problems previous generations like the Baby Boomers contributed to. They discuss whether Gen-Z's potentially decentralized world of finance will look radically different from ours. Gen-Zers and now Gen Alpha will grow up in a world designed and run almost exclusively by baby boomers. The DBS power outage was supposedly partly caused by a 'missing generation' unable to take charge during the crisis. Why have huge, octogenarian, organizational men-created lumbering bureaucracies that Fin...
2023-12-201h 15
Regulatory RamblingsBiometrics in Financial Services with Bala KumarStrengthening financial services with multi-modal biometricsEp 33 with Bala Kumar, Chief Product Officer at JumioAgainst a backdrop of rising AI-fuelled phishing attacks in the Asia-Pacific, in this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, Bala Kumar chats with host Ajay Shamdasani how such developments will affect the landscape of online identity fraud, and how such threats will evolve and, if possible, be anticipated moving forward. They discuss how can businesses effectively counteract the threat of identity fraud and safeguard their customers while maintaining regulatory compliance, as well as the increased efforts by certain Southeast Asian governments to facilitate...
2023-12-0636 min
Regulatory RamblingsInsights on Financial Crime with Michael HellerMichael Heller, VP, Head of Financial Crime Proposition at Dow Jones Risk & ResearchBased in Los Angeles and having been with Dow Jones for a decade, Michael Heller is currently responsible for corporate strategy and go-to-market, globally, for the Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) business. He draws from a background as an entrepreneur, attorney, sales executive, and advisor to ensure clients building efficient compliance and risk management programs leverage the right data and technology. Michael's career has been focused on bringing transparency to global business. After law school, he worked as a consultant with the Business...
2023-11-221h 02
Regulatory RamblingsFinTech: Finance, Technology and RegulationEpisode 31 - Professor Dirk A. Zetzsche, University of Luxembourg (Topic/Chapter Guide is availabe)Professor Dr. Dirk A. Zetzsche, holder of the ADA Chair in Financial Law (inclusive finance) at the University of Luxembourg, is also a co-author of the recently released book, FinTech: Finance, Technology and Regulation (LINK), published by Cambridge University Press, which he collaborated on with Professor Ross P. Buckley of the University of New South Wales - Sydney and Professor Douglas W. Arner of the University of Hong Kong. In a market seemingly saturated with books on F...
2023-11-081h 04
Regulatory RamblingsCelebrating Diversity in Tech: HK FinTech Week PreviewAs HK FinTech Week 2023 approaches (October 30-November 5), Karena Belin and Karen Contet join Regulatory Ramblings' host, Ajay Shamdasani, to preview the event. They explore the synergy between diverse backgrounds in the tech space, emphasizing the value of different perspectives and continuous learning. Karena and Karen also share insights on AngelHub's role in democratizing tech investment, the changing landscape of crowdfunding, and Hong Kong's potential as a FinTech hub.About Karena Belin:  Karena is the co-founder and CEO of WHub – a start-up ecosystem builder and the lar...
2023-10-1856 min
Regulatory RamblingsDon't Fear Technology, Embrace ItWalter Jennings, Founder of Asia Insight Circle Walter is a branding and communications veteran – and someone who has increasingly become a voice of influence in Hong Kong’s FinTech and Web3 scene over the past decade. He currently owns and manages Asia Insight Circle, a private members group of C-suite executives. The group meets monthly for frank discussions on critical local business issues and its membership roster represents a diverse swath of the city’s commercial players. Prior to that he was head of branding and communications at Finnoverse, which until 2022 was the organiser of Hong Kon...
2023-10-041h 03
Regulatory RamblingsThe Rise and Pitfalls of Digital Finance (in Singapore)Ep 28 with Sinyee Koh, Director of Compliance & Regulatory Consulting at Integrity Consulting in Singapore A Singaporean to her core, Sinyee also called Hong Kong home for a time. As an admitted solicitor and advocate in the Lion City, she is also a licensed solicitor in Hong Kong and a solicitor-advocate in England and Wales. She is also admitted to practice in the US state of New York. Beyond having practiced law, Sinyee has also worked at multiple consulting firms such as Kroll and Duff & Phelps, and for a time was a regulator – having served as a d...
2023-09-2053 min
Regulatory RamblingsCrypto, Web3, and the Evolution of Finance, Technology and ComplianceVivien Khoo is the Chairman and co-founder of the Asia Crypto Alliance, an industry association that promotes the growth and development, as well as safeguarding the reputation, of virtual assets providers in Asia. She is also a Senior Advisor of StashAway, a digital wealth management platform with more than USD 1bn of assets under management and the APAC Advisor of Delphi Digital, an independent research boutique providing institutional-grade analysis on the digital asset market. After a long career in senior compliance and regulatory roles, Vivien moved into the digital industry in 2019 where she was the G...
2023-09-0645 min
Regulatory RamblingsAnti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime Compliance in IndiaEpisode 26 With Abhishek Bali, CEO and Co-Founder of ZIGRAMAs the CEO and Co-founder of ZIGRAM, Abhishek Bali has over 15 years of expertise in Anti Money Laundering (AML), Financial Crime Compliance (FCC), data assets and third-party risk. Abhishek has worked on engagements and initiatives across the world, collaborating with organizations like KPMG, BMR Advisors, Dun & Bradstreet, and Axis Bank. He leads various business initiatives and data solutions that leverage machine learning, artificial intelligence, data assets and deep technology applications to solve real-world problems in the field of risk. Products and technologies developed by him are...
2023-08-231h 14
Regulatory RamblingsHow The Metaverse, Crypto & NFTs Are Changing Modern BusinessAs the founder of CFOAF, a financial services and business consulting firm specializing in industries ranging from construction to crypto, Byron Wolfe's greatest gift is in translating the complexities of business financial principles – with a focus on small businesses – into easily understood communication. It is a quality that has made him one of the most highly sought financial and business consultants. Byron is also the chief financial officer of an INC 5000 company, and the fractional CFO of various companies with annual revenues ranging from US$3-25 million.His certification in the crypto, NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) and Metaverse spac...
2023-08-091h 18
Regulatory RamblingsThere Is No One Path to Becoming a Tech EntrepreneurAfter twelve years of a rewarding career in the corporate world, Karena Belin became an entrepreneur. As she put it, 'out of passion and inspiration to foster the growth of the tech and innovation ecosystem,' especially right here in Hong Kong, which she and her family now call home after two decades in the territory.  She is also a dear friend of HKU – The University of Hong Kong, where she has been a guest lecturer on the topic of 'Equity Crowdfunding' in Asia’s first MOOC, "Introduction to Fintech" - the largest online fintech cours...
2023-07-2656 min
Regulatory RamblingsHumanizing Rules in Ethics and ComplianceChristian Hunt is the founder of Human Risk and has nearly three decades of experience in financial services, spanning investment banking, asset management, and time spent at a family office. He is also the author of the new book 'Humanizing Rules: Bringing Behavioral Science to Ethics and Compliance.' His unique perspective comes from having held senior roles as both a risk and compliance officer, as well as a regulator.While working for the Swiss banking giant UBS in London, he was a managing director & head of behavioral science. He was the global head of Compliance & Operational...
2023-07-1257 min
Regulatory RamblingsHong Kong’s New Virtual Asset Regulatory Regime/Framework: A Milestone for AsiaHong Kong's new virtual asset regulatory regime went into effect on June 1. Much of the fanfare surrounding it stems from the notion that retail investors in the territory will soon be able to purchase cryptocurrencies and digital assets, writ large, from licensed exchanges. Clearly, the SAR is positioning itself to become a virtual asset hub, with the start of applications for licenses to run trading platforms and exchanges already underway. Trading of cryptocurrencies in the city has been restricted to institutional investors and other professionals since 2018, but Hong Kong's local regulations will allow retail trading as soon a...
2023-06-281h 35
Regulatory RamblingsWhat does it mean to be a Web3 lawyer?A veteran entrepreneur and technology lawyer with over 15 years of experience specializing in cross-border transactions, data compliance, and regulatory matters more broadly, Jamilia Grier is the founder and chief executive officer of the firm training and consulting firm ByteBao. She also hosts the Barely Legal in Web3 podcast.She chats with Regulatory Ramblings host Ajay Shamdasani on how to best conceptualize the ever-growing topic of Web3 and what it means to be a lawyer in an age of swift and profound technological innovation. They also discuss the pervasiveness of technophobia in the legal profession – particularly am...
2023-06-1442 min
Regulatory RamblingsRegulating Virtual Assets: The Hong Kong AdvantageEXTENDED PLAY WITH GUEST: DONALD DAY As Hong Kong implements the VATP (Virtual Asset Trading Platforms) licensing regime in June 1, 2023, find out what former SFC-Hongkong's digital assets expert and creator of the rulebook for Virtual Asset Fund Managers and Trading Platforms, Donal Day, has to say. He also co-authored the regulatory framework, terms and conditions and guidelines for virtualassets. Donald, chief operating officer of fintech start-up firm VDX, and the former in-house cryptocurrency/digital asset expert at Hong Kong’s capital markets regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (HKSFC), sits down to chat with Regulatory Rambl...
2023-05-311h 05
Regulatory RamblingsUnleashing the Potential: Regulation and Innovation in the Digital Asset EraDonald Day, chief operating officer of fintech start-up firm VDX, and the former in-house cryptocurrency/digital asset expert at Hong Kong’s capital markets regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission, sits down to chat with Regulatory Ramblings host Ajay Shamdasani. They discuss Donald’s time as a regulator, the importance of broadening the policy discussion beyond just being about cryptocurrencies to envisaging a future where virtual assets are a key part of daily commerce, as well as the importance of digitization, and Hong Kong’s ideal position as a global fintech and digital asset hub, the HKSFC’s new vir...
2023-05-1744 min
Regulatory RamblingsThe Financialisation Of Everything: Anything that Can be Digitised Can be FinancialisedThe “Finansialization of Everything” is a term few have heard of. Yet, personalised financial technology – like cryptocurrencies and blockchain – has the power to alter how people regularly interact. Our guest, Emmanuel Daniel, highlights in his book how emerging FinTech and never-before-seen transactions are fundamentally changing the roles of institutions, markets, and the commanding heights of the world economy. His insights provide fintech players with an out-of-box perspective of how they will bring about disruption and innovation.He talks to Regulatory Ramblings host Ajay Shamdasani about: the weaponisation of money; the next financial crisis and the ensuing global economic...
2023-05-031h 19
Regulatory RamblingsThe War on Dirty Money: Demystifying Money LaunderingCentral to the United Nations' definition of money laundering is the idea that wherever crime exists, there’s always dirty money. Money laundering is, therefore, the process of handling that dirty money whether from crime or egregious breaches of regulations. It's a definition that Nicholas Gilmour and Tristram Hicks, authors of the new book “The War on Dirty Money, wholeheartedly agree with. They argue that money laundering is not a victimless crime because such funds are often used to finance myriad criminal enterprises.They chat with “Regulatory Ramblings” host Ajay Shamdasani about how financial investigations must take centre-s...
2023-04-191h 26
Regulatory RamblingsIndia: The Regulatory Landscape for FinTech, Digital Assets & Payment SystemsRegulatory Ramblings episode 17 with Aaron Kamath and Purushotham Kittane of the law firm Nishith Desai Associates.Aaron, Bangalore-based leader of the FinTech Law & Policy Practice at firm Nishith Desai Associates, and his colleague Purushotham, speak to Regulatory Ramblings host Ajay Shamdasani about the following:The evolving landscape of fintech models in India: Contributing factors and investmentsThe traditional role of payment service providers viz card networks and banks: Recent fundamental shift in the licensing regimeDigital lending: Evolving models, buy-now-pay-later, and recent guidelines on lending appsE-wallets: Co-branding and white-labeling issues, and cross-border fund flow issuesUPI and mobile-based banking...
2023-04-051h 21
Regulatory RamblingsKelly-Ann McHugh: The Challenges of Being a Compliance EntrepreneurKelly Ann McHugh is the Singapore-based director for MyCompliance Office for the Asia-Pacific, a provider of solutions to manage conflicts of interest. Having grown up in New Zealand, she ventured beyond its tranquil confines to explore what the rest of the region had to offer. It took her to a career at Thomson Reuters as its APAC director for APAC regulatory intelligence and compliance training – and beyond! As someone with a strong passion for continued education – especially in the corporate world – and for providing staff with tailored, relevant and practical training, she talks to Regulatory Ramblings host Ajay Sh...
2023-03-2256 min
Regulatory RamblingsRR-Briefs: New Technologies, New Crises – A chat with Prof Douglas ArnerIn this Regulatory Ramblings Briefs episode: “New Technologies, New Crises", The University of Hong Kong’s Douglas Arner (Kerry Holdings Professor in Law) sheds light on the cyclical nature of financial crises and emphasizes the importance of understanding the interdependencies within the crypto ecosystem to gain insights into the health of companies such as Credit Suisse, Silvergate, SVB, and Signature Bank. The podcast highlights the significance of regulatory compliance, but it also highlights the importance of gaining a comprehensive understanding of the financial industry to mitigate future crises. Professor Arner begins his discussion outlining the “timeless relevance” of HKU-edX Introduc...
2023-03-2038 min
Regulatory RamblingsOonagh van den Berg: What does it take to be a compliance officer?Oonagh Van Den Berg is founder of the compliance consultancy firm VRS (Virtual Risk Solutions) and RAW Compliance, a global compliance social enterprise providing free training and networking for compliance officers. ​In this episode, she joins Ajay Shamdasani to discuss what it takes to be a compliance officer – in terms of skills, knowledge, and temperament – as well as the challenges of being a woman in male-dominated fields such as financial services, law and compliance.They also discuss the role of technology in the legal and compliance professions moving forward, the tendency towards using credentials as a proxy...
2023-03-081h 30
Regulatory RamblingsThe Money Laundering Dangers of Citizenship-By-Investment SchemesAjay Shamdasani speaks to Ken Rijock, a former banking lawyer turned-career money launderer, turned-compliance officer specialising in enhanced due diligence and financial crime consulting.In this episode, they discuss the anti-money laundering (AML), know-your-customer (KYC) and politically exposed person (PEP) risks associated with citizenship and residency by investment schemes in places such as Malta, Cyprus, Nevis and St. Kitts – with strong interest emanating from places such as mainland China, India, Russia and the Middle East.In an age where citizenship is seen as a commodity, those of means accumulate multiple passports and residency permits – permanent or o...
2023-02-2259 minRegulatory RamblingsSpecial Edition: Regulatory Ramblings Briefs - HKU's LLM Compliance & RegulationInvest In Yourself – Study Compliance & Regulation at HKU Law. Syren Johnstone, executive director of The University of Hong Kong’s LLM programme in Compliance & Regulation, talks to Ajay Shamdasani about the degree and its benefits.-    How students can take what they’ve learned to improve their career prospects-    The programme as a response to continued definition of what and who compliance in the industry involves, from the CEO to front office staff-    Fellowship funding available for students that qualify-    A student body largely comprised of industry professionals from multiple fields r...
2023-02-1556 min
Regulatory RamblingsUnpacking AML and Financial Crime Compliance with ACAMS Senior APAC LeaderAjay Shamdasani speaks to Hue Dang, Global Head of New Ventures, and Senior Asia-Pacific Leader, of the Association of Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) on AML, and latest developments on financial crime compliance, touching briefly on how the current state of sanctions affect businesses in Asia. In this episode, Hue Dang talks about ACAM's growth and influence in AML and financial crime compliance. Hue also shares her background and how she was drawn to a career in AML and compliance and discussed the increasing automation of financial crime and its impact on the industry. Sh...
2023-02-081h 00
Regulatory RamblingsDiamonds are Forever…Especially in the MetaverseAjay Shamdasani speaks to Bruno Larvol, co-founder of RXXO.io, a new Web3 startup that operates exclusively in the Metaverse with the aim of bringing the next generation of virtual assets to a wider audience. RXXO diamonds are a digital clone of actual diamonds in the physical world – in essence, the first 'cryptangible' asset tailored to an increasingly digital life. Bruno is a serial entrepreneur who is also the CEO and founder of San Francisco-based LARVOL – a technology firm specializing in providing Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions to major US pharmaceutical, and Fortune 500 healthcare and bi...
2023-01-251h 16
Regulatory RamblingsCrypto Fraud Knows No Borders (Part 2)Regulatory Ramblings podcast host Ajay Shamdasani continues the conversation with Dorothy Siron (Partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm) on crypto-related compliance and legislation needed after the FTX fallout, public's standard of information to make the right investments, Dubai's success story and more!Dorothy Siron, is the Co-Managing partner of Zhong Lun Law Firm’s Hong Kong office. She heads the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. Being born and raised in the territory, where she trained as a solicitor, before recertifying in Canada. Dorothy is also a veteran litigator.Her expertise encompasses white collar and financial crime in...
2023-01-1326 min
Regulatory RamblingsCrypto Fraud Knows No Borders (Part 1)Dorothy Siron, is the Co-Managing partner of Zhong Lun Law Firm’s Hong Kong office. She heads the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. Being born and raised in the territory, where she trained as a solicitor, before recertifying in Canada. Dorothy is also a veteran litigator.Her expertise encompasses white collar and financial crime in HK and overseas, crime, cyber fraud, enforcement of foreign judgments as well as trust and probate disputes, and family law matters. In her worldwide pursuit of wrongfully obtained assets As crypto-related frauds, such as those involving cryptocurrency theft, initial coin off...
2023-01-1131 min
Regulatory RamblingsCBDCs and DeFi: The Road AheadJoin us for a discussion on the prospects for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and decentralised finance (DeFi) on the latest episode of Regulatory Ramblings with Dr. Oriol Caudevilla.A highly regarded voice on all things crypto and fintech, Oriol is a Fellow at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), as well as an Honorary Fellow at the University of Hong Kong’s Asian Institute of International Financial Law (AIIFL). He also works as a board director, Secretary General and co-leader of the Financial Inclusion and CBDCs Working Groups at the Global Impact FinTech (GIFT) Forum, and...
2022-12-281h 17
Regulatory RamblingsReflections of an AML Whistleblower: A Chat with Everett SternAround the world, few professions outside of banking and financial services offer those of average intelligence and ability the opportunity to enjoy, at the very least, a middle-class existence. And that’s certainly the case here in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific more generally, not just in New York City or London. Yet, it’s also a field where people often go along to get along. Sadly, that also extends to those in compliance – not just to bankers and traders – who don’t want to rock the boat as they too receive bonuses when their in...
2022-12-131h 32
Regulatory RamblingsChina and Transnational CrimeAuthors Channing Mavrellis and John Cassara recently authored the report "China's Role in Transnational Crime and Illicit Financial Flows", delving into mainland China’s role in four different transnational crimes—drug trafficking, counterfeiting and IP theft, human trafficking and wildlife trafficking—as well as the illicit financial flows (IFFs) associated with such crimes, as well as what the international community can do to better understand, and combat, these activities – including policy prescriptions.It was published by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington, DC-based think tank focused on corruption, illicit trade and money laundering and abuses of the world’s...
2022-11-3056 min
Regulatory RamblingsBénédicte Nolens: Building a Bridge with CBDCWe are joined by Bénédicte Nolens, head of the Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) Innovation Hub (Hong Kong Centre), in a full-length conversation on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and the concerns around their legal and compliance issues. In its published report on the mBridge pilot scheme – a multi-CBDC initiative for cross border payments involving the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand and United Arab Emirates – Bénédicte explains Project mBridge’s potential for using a common platform based on distributed ledger technology (DLT), and whereby multiple central banks can issue and exchange their respect...
2022-11-151h 37
Regulatory RamblingsAngelina Kwan - Hong Kong as a Hub for Virtual Asset InvestorsAs Hong Kong officials prepare to unveil new policies aiming to make the city a virtual asset hub, what steps should prospective investors take?   Regulatory veteran Angelina A. Kwan (CPA, CA [Aus/NZ]), Chief Executive Officer of Stratford Finance, joins Regulatory Ramblings host Ajay Shamdasani in discussions on the opportunities, procedures and risks involved as Hong Kong seeks to become Asia’s preeminent city for virtual and digital assets, Web3.0 and Fintech.Angelina also shares her thoughts on why Hong Kong citizens, especially the younger generation, must invest in learning technologies which will be vital to f...
2022-10-301h 37Regulatory RamblingsNigel Morris-Cotterill (2): Counter-money Laundering vs. Anti-money Laundering: What is the Difference?Ajay Shamdasani continues the conversation with Nigel Morris-Cotterill, Financial Crime Risk and Compliance Strategist, on topics including #data replacing #money, #FinTech as a bank, #OnlineCourses as a means for qualification, #FinancialCrimes history and more!www.hkufintech.com/regulatoryramblingsHKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.
2022-10-1341 min
Regulatory RamblingsNigel Morris-Cotterill (1): Counter-money Laundering vs. Anti-money Laundering: What is the Difference?Why are money laundering criminals constantly ahead of authorities? In this episode of Regulatory Ramblings, Ajay Shamdasani is joined by Nigel Morris-Cotterill, counter-money laundering strategist and financial crime author, in a discussion on the underlying causes of money laundering offences happening around the globe.As criminals aim to conceal data and information behind unlawful activities, how can authorities and governing bodies get to the root of the problem? Could journalists play a stronger role in chasing the right leads to cases?Nigel Morris-Cotterill has been a counter-money laundering strategist since 1994, working in a w...
2022-09-2924 min
Regulatory RamblingsUrszula McCormack (2): Hong Kong's Digital Asset Compliance ChallengesPart 2 of "Hong Kong's Digital Asset Compliance Challenges" continues with Urszula McCormack in a range of topics, from CBDCs to the degree of privacy of digital asset functions, cross border payments to Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries adopting more robust systems, RegTech and more!Questions addressed in this interview include:What are thoughts on cryptocurrencies and digital assets, and what should legal and compliance professionals understand about them? Older compliance and legal people talk about how compliance, governance, and risk management, while related, are not the same thing. Specifically, they cl...
2022-09-1541 min
Regulatory RamblingsUrszula McCormack (1): Hong Kong’s Digital Asset Compliance ChallengesThe advent of digital assets has taken an interesting path. These days, DeFi (decentralized finance), NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and CBDCs (central bank digital currencies) are the concepts and acronyms that are en vogue. Indeed, it now seems passe to speak of the genesis of it all in 2009, when someone named "Satoshi Nakamoto" released a paper entitled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System".The release of the paper and the so-called innovations it has spawned are now being touted - even beyond the financial sector - to solve everything from environmental degradation, to the crisis of unaffordable housing...
2022-08-3041 min
Regulatory RamblingsHenri Arslanian (2): Tectonic Times: FinTech, Crypto and a Cashless FutureWhile crypto makes headway in places like Dubai, decisions on regulating digital assets in the APAC region seem stagnant. Hong Kong was the birthplace of many of the world's leading crypto companies. Many of them have now expanded to other jurisdictions. As an external member of the SAR's Securities and Futures Commission’s FinTech Advisory Group, Henri Arslanian continues the conversation on how regulators in Asia have done in their oversight of cryptocurrencies.HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com
2022-08-1128 min
Regulatory RamblingsHenri Arslanian (1): Tectonic Times: FinTech, Crypto and a Cashless FutureCryptocurrencies and FinTech are the dish du jour these days, but what does the future hold for such financial innovations? The global market for FinTech is expected to reach US$332.5 by 2028 billion from US$112.5 billion today. As for virtual currencies, the global crypto market size was valued at US$1.49 billion in 2020, with expectations of hitting US$4.94 billion by 2030. Such figures suggest the story is still evolving. Henri Arslanian, the host of "The Future of Money" podcast, is just the man to help us make sense of the matter. With his latest work, “The Book of Crypto: The Com...
2022-07-2730 min
Regulatory RamblingsRon Yu/Fred Chan (2): NFT Risks: The Dangers of the UnknownIn our second-part interview with Tarid.IO Directors Ron Yu and Fred Chan, the conversation continues on the risks associated with NFTs such as smart contract drafting and law firms' ability to address all legal challenges relating to cybersecurity, privacy and intellectual property . Has the impact of technological innovation, on an often technophobic legal profession, caused lawyers to upskill in a changing technical landscape? How can AI be more suited for certain types of writing and analyse?HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at w...
2022-07-1444 min
Regulatory RamblingsRon Yu/Fred Chan (1): NFT Risks: The Dangers of the UnknownNon-fungible Tokens (NFTs) have been at the centre of crazed investment with trade hitting $17 billion last year, a 21,000% increase from 2020. While the potential rewards in the NFT marketplace may be tempting, the current risks involving ownership, verification, law and security cannot be overlooked. Tarid.IO directors Ron Yu and Fred Chan put forth sincere questions on NFTs: Who are the parties involved in transactions? Are the sellers reputable or have they previously been convicted of fraud? What are consumers actually purchasing and what are their rights to a purchase? What's more, regulatory implications in NFT ac...
2022-06-2939 min
Regulatory RamblingsBill Majcher (2): Financial Crimes - An Undercover Agent's PerspectiveWhat good is catching the bad guys if the smart ones get away?In Part 2 of “Financial Crimes: From An Undercover Agent’s Perspective”, Bill Majcher shares his experience from baiting money-laundering lawyers on covert-operated yachts to infiltrating organised crime families to find out their next move and prevent the big fish from slipping through the net.HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in Asia. Learn more at www.hkufintech.com.
2022-06-1535 min2022-05-2304 min
Regulatory RamblingsBill Majcher (1): Financial Crimes - An Undercover Agent's PerspectiveWith a storied past that reads like a Hollywood screenplay – Bill Majcher has lived it. After 23 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he retired with the rank of Inspector. For two decades as a Mountie, he was an undercover operative that infiltrated drug cartels, and engaged with terrorist and extremist groups operating globally. For extended periods, Bill worked covertly in numerous cities outside of Canada including, Miami, Chicago, New York and San Francisco working alongside a host of US Federal agencies.HKU FinTech is the leading fintech research and education in As...
2022-05-2028 min
HKU MBA InsightsMichelle Chan - Will Virtual Banks and FinTech shake up banking?Today we sit down with part-time MBA graduate (class of 2005) Michelle Chan to talk about the future of virtual banks and FinTech. Michelle has over 20 years of strong experience in Telecom, FinTech, and Virtual Bank industries. She currently works as a Director of Marketing, Business Development & Innovation at Livi Bank, the largest virtual bank in Hong Kong.Â
2021-04-2621 min
HKU MBA InsightsSyed Musheer Ahmed, Ep.2 (FinTech Industry in Hong Kong and Asia)We return to the HKU MBA Insights podcast with the 2nd episode featuring full-time alumnus, Musheer. In the 1st episode we talked about Musheer’s MBA and career journey transitioning from investment management to FinTech. In today’s episode we will deep dive into the growth of FinTech Industry in Hong Kong and Asia as the ecosystem is growing rapidly.
2021-04-2115 min
HKU MBA InsightsSyed Musheer Ahmed, Ep.1 - Career Transformation from Investment Management to FinTech IndustryIn today's episode, we invite Syed Musheer Ahmed to talk about his career transformation from the Investing/Trading industry into FinTech. Musheer is a full-time alumnus from the class of 2015. He is the founder & MD of Finstep Asia, and co-founder and board member of Fintech Association of Hong Kong. In this 1st episode, he shares his insights and experiences about transforming one's career from financial services into FinTech and the skill-sets required for someone to build a career in this industry.Â
2021-04-0724 min
FinTech: Byte-SizedChinese Digital Yuan: Analysis and Opportunities for Hong Kong & GBAThe GFTN & HKU FinTech Student Association bring Dr. Oriol Caudevilla to talk about how China is leading the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) race in Asia and the globe.Â
Oriol works as a Management Consultant at AirHelp, Advisor for ixFintech (HKG), Strategic Advisor at WealthTech company ETFCool (HKG), Strategic Advisor at Alpha Bright Asset Management (HK) Strategic Advisor at ScallopX, Scientific Advisor at the Israeli Blockchain Association, Mentor at R3 (Singapore), Mentor at Cyberport (Hong Kong), FinTech Mentor at F10 Incubator & Accelerator (Singapore), Blockchain Mentor at Tribe (Singapore) and also FinTech Mentor at Rise b...
2021-04-0526 min
RegTalks#8 - RegTalks with Brian Tang, Fintech Association of Hong Kong (RegTech)Join us for an inspiring conversation with RegTech/LawTech expert Brian Tang, exploring:The latest RegTech trends and which countries are leading the wayThe role of RegTech associations in the overall financial ecosystemHow local RegTech associations can work together to foster international cooperationHow the two areas of LawTech and RegTech convergeAn innovator, educator and ecosystem builder, Brian Tang has worked at the confluence of law, technology and finance in Hong Kong, New York, Silicon Valley and Australia for more than two decades. After a career at global investment bank Credit Suisse and Wall Street law firm...
2021-03-3122 min
FinTech: Byte-SizedRegTech as FinTech's Secret SauceRegulatory Technology – RegTech is undoubtedly an area with rising importance in the FinTech landscape. In this episode by The University of Hong Kong, we are proud to have Brian Tang as our guest. Brian is the co-chair of FinTech Association Hong Kong’s RegTech Committee, co-founder of APAC RegTech Network, the executive director or LITE Lab @ HKU, and the Chairman of World RegTech Summit 2020, among other great achievements.
Tune in to learn about the RegTech ecosystem in Hong Kong in comparison to other parts of the world, how exactly RegTech is positively shaping the FinT...
2020-11-1123 min