SNAPSHOT
15+ years of In-house legal counsel and compliance in world-class companies (DBS, HSBC, Temasek Holdings, Prudential Group)
​
14+ years of working with and training various stakeholders, frontline, management accountability for corporate governance and compliance
7+ years setting up and managing legal teams
6+ years of leading project work in excess of USD 1 billion, with significant regulatory engagement elements
Qualified Lawyer (Australia Bar) – Accredited Mediator (Singapore) – LL.B Bachelors of Law (Queen Mary College) – Masters, Legal and Political Theory (University College London)
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Summary
​
Nigel POH previously held the position of Senior Vice President, Financial Crime Compliance and Regulatory Compliance of the HSBC Private Banking, Private Wealth Solutions business. Prior to joining HSBC, he led the legal team of a wholly owned Temasek Holdings subsidiary, Fullerton Fund Management. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Director, Legal of the Prudential Group’s wholly owned fund management subsidiary, Eastspring Investments. He has worked in a variety of different cultures, ranging from small to medium sized law firms, start-ups and large top-tier financial institutions.
​
Nigel’s main areas of focus are in-house legal advisory and compliance in financial services companies. His general legal experience cover a wide variety of commercial contracts, as well as specialised areas such as ISDA documentation, derivatives, fund documentation, structured bonds. He has led and set up successful legal teams that comprise up to 4 lawyers.
His financial services experience includes fund management related work, as well as private wealth and trusts, and has covered regional work involving Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Jersey, US, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands. He has worked on high dollar value projects involving significant acquisitions, pioneer bond and fund launches, high profile regulatory engagement issues as well as cross jurisdictional project coordination.
​
In the regulatory space, he has undertaken regulatory development updates and monitoring, impact analysis, internal position challenge as well as regulator engagement.
​
As a compliance specialist, he has experience in cross border issues, dealing with US persons, licencing, marketing material review, substantial shareholding and mandatory offer issues, filing of SARs, compliance monitoring and internal reviews. Internal compliance work has included drafting policy manuals and providing training, as well as internal investigations on conduct.
​
In the areas of Risk, he has experience providing management reporting and accountability, stakeholder management, risk reporting, policy drafting and review. He has participated in Risk framework formulation and overhaul.
​
Nigel graduated from Queen Mary College London with an LL.B Law, and also obtained a Masters in Legal and Political Theory from University College London. He is called to the Australian Bar, and is an accredited mediator in Singapore.
​
Key Expertise Areas
​
General In-house Legal Counsel / Legal Team Head
​
Regulatory Compliance
​
Financial Services / Fund Management / Wealth Management
"Knowledgeable, conscientious, delivers to deadlines and sensible. He is technically sound and applies his legal background to analyse and find sensible solutions. A good communicator who takes pride in his work. I would not hesitate to recommend him!"
Line Manager - Head of Compliance
"Sound technical skills, he helped me transition into a new role, provided support, encouragement and solutions. A great problem solver, he saw a way out of any challenge, and a way in for any team-member to get involved and contribute."
Team Member - Head of Compliance
"Nigel is a fantastic manager, and someone I respect and see as my mentor. He has strong communication skills, and is open to different perspectives and ideas at work. He is a fair and reasonable boss, and is a pleasure to work for. He is also committed to providing ample learning opportunities and bringing out the best in each of his team members, leveraging on their strengths and building upon areas of weaknesses."