
About
Samuel Yuen is the Managing Director of Yuen Law LLC and the Head of its Corporate and Business Practice Team. Ranked as one of the leading legal practitioners in Singapore, Samuel is recognised for his work in corporate mergers & acquisitions, fund raising and matters relating to start-ups and emerging companies, by industry watchers such as Chambers and Partners, IFLR1000 and Asialaw.
Samuel is a commercially savvy lawyer who has a reputation for providing practical legal advice that aligns closely with his clients’ business objectives at every stage of their growth. Samuel comes from a line of business owners in Singapore, who have variously and successfully navigated the crises of their generation. He is also highly sought after for his business acumen which has also benefited many of Samuel’s clients.
He founded Yuen Law in 2012 after a fruitful career in corporate and securities law, including a three-year stint as a department head in a leading Malaysian IP Agency.
Samuel is a published author, with “Funding for Start-ups — A Guide to Fundraising” launched in February 2020. This book draws on his extensive experience, having advised numerous startups and tech/fintech companies in their capital raises, as well as investors including venture capital firms and institutional investors.
Samuel is the honorary legal counsel for the Institute of Public Relations of Singapore and help found Guide Dogs Singapore Ltd, a registered charity with Institute of Public Character status. He is also a member of the School Advisory Committee for Tanjong Katong Secondary School.
Reviews (26)
Featured Services
Sale and Purchase of Business
We provide advice on mergers & acquisitions and investments into target companies on all aspects of the deal. We help clients structure the deal, conduct due diligence, assist in contract negotiations, identify regulatory compliance and risk management issues. Whether you are a buyer, or seller, we have the expertise and resources to help you achieve your goals and succeed in today's competitive marketplace.
DUE DILIGENCE
Legal due diligence is a vital process that helps assess the legal risks and liabilities of a business transaction or investment. Our team will conduct a comprehensive review of the target company's legal documents, contracts, and other relevant materials to identify any legal issues that could impact the transaction or investment. We will examine the target's organisational documents, including contracts such as leases, employment agreements, and customer and vendor contracts to identify potential issues that could lead to litigation or regulatory investigations. We assist clients in developing strategies to manage potential risks.
JOINT VENTURE AND SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENTS
The shareholders agreement is a legally binding agreement between the shareholders of a company. This agreement outlines how the company will be run, how decisions will be made, and how shareholders' interests will be protected. We advise clients on a wide range of issues, including transfer of shares, voting rights, dividend payments, board composition, and management of the company. The agreement may also include provisions for dispute resolution, such as arbitration or mediation, as well as exit provisions. We can also help to ensure that there are provisions to protect the interests of minority shareholders, so that they have a say in key decisions that affect the company.
PRIVATE EQUITY
Our law firm provides a comprehensive range of legal services to venture capital and start-up clients in Singapore. With extensive experience in private equity transactions, we advise on various types of deals, including leveraged buyouts, term sheets, convertible bonds, convertible agreement regarding equity (CARE), simple agreement for future equity (SAFE), share subscription and shareholders agreements, and intellectual property. We understand the startup ecosystem and regulatory environment in Singapore and work closely with VCs and startups to help them navigate the legal landscape and scale their businesses.
Employment
We assist clients in understanding the statutory requirements outlined in the Employment Act, the Retirement and Re-employment Act, and the Work Injury Compensation Act and provide guidance on the TAFEP Tripartite Guidelines. We provide expert advice on key terms that should be included in the employment agreement, including working hours, leave entitlements, termination provisions, and restrictive covenants. By ensuring that these terms are clearly defined in the agreement, we can help protect the interests of both the employer and the employee. We work closely with our clients to tailor the agreement to meet the needs of their organisation, taking into account their industry, the seniority of the position. Our aim is to provide our clients with a clear, concise, and enforceable employment agreement that is in compliance with Singapore's legal and regulatory requirements.
EMPLOYEE SHARE OPTIONS SCHEMES AND AWARDS
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) or an Employee Stock Appreciation Scheme (ESAS) is an effective way to motivate and incentivize employees. We can help ensure that your program meets regulatory requirements and achieves its intended goals. We assist with drafting the terms of the plan to, we develop communication and education materials to effectively communicate the program's mechanics to employees. Our support also extends to the administration of the program, which includes issuance of shares, reporting, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. As part of our advisory services, we can provide guidance on the Income Tax Act, the Securities and Futures Act, and the Companies Act.
Privacy / Data Compliance Review (PDPA)
We advise clients on the legal aspects of collecting, processing, storing, and transferring personal data of their stakeholders from employees to customers, and the regulatory requirements under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). We draft privacy policies, consent forms and outline how the data is collected, used and protected. We help clients understand their legal obligations in the event of a data breach, and the reporting requirements.
DRAFTING CONTRACTS
The success of a company depends on the fortitude and success of its relationships. We help our clients formalise their commercial relationships with customers, employees and shareholders, to give clarity to the terms of the working relationship and to provide for exit strategies. We also assist clients in day-to-day corporate administration, advising them on managing their legal risks and providing board/shareholder advisory services.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We assist our clients to identify, protect and commercialise their IP assets, so they can build long and lasting brands, through a wide range of IP services, including trade mark registrations, design protection, IP management, enforcement of IP rights, negotiating for licenses, distributions and collaboration agreements.
Media & Publications
Publications
Funding for Start-ups: A Guide to Fundraising
LegaleSE: A Legal Handbook for Social Enterprises (first and second edition)
Singapore Business Review: What you need to known when buying a business in Singapore
The New Savvy: Funding Options Available for Companies
Media
Money and Me: Fundraising for Start-ups (18 May 2020)
Adrian Tan: Interview with Legal Entrepreneur, Samuel Yuen
Asia Law Network: Lawyer Feature- Samuel Yuen
Talks
Startup Law Academy: Partnership Agreements and Exit Strategies (Asia Law Network, General Assembly, e27 and WeWork)
Brands and Influencers | PR and Legal Perspective (Institute of Public Relations of Singapore)
IP Issues Faced by PR and Creative Professionals (Institute of Public Relations of Singapore)
SME & The Law (E2i and SeraphCorp)
Overview of IP and Advanced IP Strategies (Ideas Inc NTU)
Contracting in a freelance agreement – dos and don’ts (NTUC)
Legal Aspects of Contract Negotiations by Managers (Redshift)
Starting a Business in Singapore (Boardman)
Fundraising in Singapore organised (Global Exchange Enterprise)
Legal Structures for VWO (National Council of Social Services)
Charities Lean Forward: Transitioning of Legal Entity – incorporating into a Company Limited by Guarantee (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)
Chairities Lean Forward: Fundraising and Digital Protection (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)
The Ultimate Guide to Starting A Freelancing Arts Business (National Arts Council)
Services & Fees
Fees
We believe in being transparent about our pricing, we offer fixed fee costs for project basis or monthly retainers.
Legal Services
- Privacy / Data Compliance Review (PDPA)
- Contract Review
- Patents
- CMS and Financial Advisor Licence Applications
- Trademark Infringement
- Sale and Purchase of Business
- RFMC and VCFM Registration
- AML/CFT Compliance
- Employment
- Intellectual Property Advice
- Trade Mark Registration
- Drafting Contracts
- Commissioner for Oaths
- Corporate
- Setting up a business
- Information / Cybersecurity Review
Samuel is very professional and sincere in providing advice to my company. We’ve benefitted a lot and able to focus on our business rather than legal issues. Would definitely recommend Samuel to my business friends if they need advice on legal matters.
Yuen Law represented us in our acquisition for F&B businesses. The acquisition process had some unexpected complications and Yuen team handled it professionally. The team worked closely with the sellers to ensure that all legal requirements were satisfied and the acquisition went smoothly. They addressed & responded to all of our needs and questions promptly. We would like to thank Samuel Yuen & his team for their dedication and professionalism.
By offering in-depth legal knowledge, a strong partner participation and excellent strategic advice, Yuen Law establishes close relationships with clients and scores with its broad capacity and sustained quality. Yuen Law provides responsive, business-oriented, swift and clear advice and always able to meet tight deadlines. By setting up a new fintech project it was essential for us to structure the future holding over more than 5 jurisdictions, as well as to complete trademark and other IP registrations. The creative and solution-oriented Samuel Yuen led advice on structuring and various corporate and finance matters.
Needed a firm who could help with legal documentation for our startup accelerator. We therefore needed someone with specific experience in this area, and also needed a firm that could work fast and be flexible on a budget. Specifically, we needed draft event Terms and Conditions and Investment Agreements.The team was responsive and friendly. Typically, documents and advice was turned around quickly, with follow up queries answered promptly. I would recommend your services to others in Singapore in and around the startup industry – both to corporates and startups needing advice.