T Dinesh
- Counsel
- Advocate & Solicitor (Singapore)
Dinesh graduated from the University of Leeds in 2015 with an LL.B. (Second Class (Upper Division)). Dinesh also holds a double-degree from the University of Hannover and University of Oslo specializing in IP law and IT law graduating in 2016. He was called to the Singapore Bar in 2018.
Dinesh’s experience spans a diverse range of fields, including obtaining Payment Services Act licenses, structuring M&A deals, and drafting key legal agreements such as employment agreements and shareholder agreements and ensuring clients’ legal and business needs are fully met. His experience also extends to data privacy, variable capital companies (VCC), and cross-border transactions. Throughout his career, Dinesh has been committed to delivering practical, businessoriented legal solutions and helping clients navigate intricate legal landscapes while ensuring compliance and supporting their growth strategies.
Qualifications
- University of Leeds, United Kingdom, LL.B. (2015)
- University of Hannover, Germany, LL.M. in IT and IP law (2016)
- University of Oslo, Norway, LL.M. in ICT Law (2016)
- Admissions: Singapore Bar (2018)
Speaking engagements
Memberships
- Member, Law Society of Singapore
- Member, Singapore Academy of LaW
Highlights
- Served as lead counsel for numerous applications for licenses under the Payment Services Act, including successfully obtaining a Major Payment Institution Licenses (“MPIL”) for a client and a variation to the MPIL to accommodate new activities. This included providing and understanding the nuances in the concerns raised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) with precision and clarity and assisting the clients in crafting effective responses when addressing MAS’s enquiries.
- Acted as trusted legal advisor to a prominent retainer client in the payment services industry, providing advice on a wide range of matters. This included continued review of the AML/CFT policies to align seamlessly with the latest MAS Notices, as well as conducting thorough reviews of merchant agreements, service agreements and internal business continuity planning (BCP) procedures.
- Regularly advised clients on the drafting of comprehensive antimoney laundering policies and ensuring clients’ continued compliance with regulatory requirements with the MAS Notices.
- Drafted and reviewed Privacy Policy notices tailored to the specific needs of various clients.
- Drafted and reviewed Terms and Conditions / User Acceptance Agreements and various other contracts to assist a food and beverage client’s application launch, allowing customers to order through the platform.
- Successfully represented a French company headquartered in France, with a subsidiary in Singapore, in a significant share swap agreement valued at over €11M. Demonstrated meticulous attention to detail by reviewing the Share Swap Agreement, overseeing the review of shareholder and board resolutions, and ensuring strict compliance with Singaporean legal requirements. Achieved a notable milestone by securing a tax exemption for the transaction, leveraging extensive expertise in internal restructuring strategies.
- Advised a local company on the comprehensive acquisition of another local entity valued at over S$16M. Played a pivotal role in drafting the Sale and Purchase Agreement and crafting a robust letter of indemnity, effectively safeguarding the client’s interests and mitigating potential risks throughout the transaction.
- Provided strategic advice to an international coffee chain on its expansion strategy in Singapore, including the establishment of coffee kiosks in local supermarkets. Provided tailored legal solutions to support the client’s growth objectives, navigating regulatory requirements and contractual negotiations with precision.
- Guided a local sports retailer with an international presence to expand in India leveraging expertise in cross-border transactions and regulatory frameworks to facilitate smooth and successful market entry strategies.
- Advised a prominent human resource management software company on its potential sale of shares to a foreign company.
- Provided comprehensive legal counsel and drafted essential employment documents for a dynamic startup in the sustainability sector. Collaborated closely with the company to develop customized employment agreements, employee handbook, and letter of offers, ensuring alignment with industry standards and regulatory requirements. By tailoring legal solutions to the unique needs of the startup, contributed to the establishment of a robust framework for employee relations and compliance.
- Guided a startup tech company through the development of its employment agreements and employee handbook, maintaining uniformity with templates from their foreign counterparts while ensuring compliance with Singaporean legal requirements. Provided strategic insights and practical recommendations to address jurisdictional differences and mitigate potential legal risks, enabling the tech company to establish consistent and legally compliant employment practices.
- Provided assistance in drafting exemption letters to Monetary Authority of Singapore for family offices.
- Assisted in the drafting of relevant documents for the operation of the Single Family Office
- Constitution for Family Funds;
- Constitution for the Investment Management Company; and
- Investment Management and Administration Agreement (“IMAA”)
- Facilitated clients’ re-domiciliation from foreign jurisdictions to Singapore as part of the VCC Pilot Programme which was done in support of the VCC Act being enforced on 15 January 2020.
- Assisted clients with regulatory requirements for setting up a VCC.
- Prepared IMAAs and Private Placement Memorandums (“PPM”)
- Prepared a Trust Deed and Letter of Wishes for a family seeking to manage shares that were purchased in a Singapore company, ensuring their estate planning needs were met.
- Assisted a retainer with the amendment of Trust Deeds and other various agreements such as a collaboration agreement, referral agreement etc.
