The Regulation of Wealth Management

Singapore has positioned itself as a wealth management centre to rival others such as Switzerland. While it has a long way to go in that respect, its current rate of growth and future potential in the area has created a great deal of buzz and excitement in the marketplace. In a sense, however, it is simply reverting to its core strengths in private banking, political stability and the rule of law.

This Conference will, in particular, examine the unique characteristics of Singapore in the area of wealth management, namely:

1. its common law legacy and the flexibility of trust law and equity;

2. innovative approaches to the use of tax incentives;

3. the plethora of alternative business and investment vehicles now found in Singapore;

4. the willingness of its Government to encourage and develop the area at a time when restrictions are appearing elsewhere in the wealth management world;

5. its sound regulatory framework in a globalised environment;

6. the promotion of hedge funds and private equity.

The proceedings will be the tenth in the series of Singapore Conferences on International Business Law, with the last one held in 2001 focusing on Capital Markets and Financial Regulation. As has been the case with the previous SCIBL Conferences, this Conference will blend comparative, academic and practical perspectives, and it is envisaged that participants will comprise specialist lawyers, senior corporate and banking officials, officers and employees of trust companies, government officials and academics.