Gopala Krishnan Sundaram

Throughout his distinguished career, Gopala Krishnan Sundaram has led some of the most high-profile and precedent-setting cases in the region. His representative works showcase landmark matters that continue to shape the legal landscape and invite readers to explore the full breadth of his achievements.

Regulatory

  • Assisted Webull Malaysia to obtain its Approval in Principal for a Capital Markets Services Licence for Online Stock Broking.


  • Advised MCIS Life on Fit and Proper Criteria.


  • Advised Malayan Banking Berhad on Transparency, Secrecy and Mandatory Disclosure matters.


  • Advised NEXON Korea Corporation on Anti-Money Laundering and Personal Data Protection matters.


  • Advised Murphy Oil on the Malaysian Central Bank Foreign Exchange Administration Rules.

  • Advised Sapura Energy Berhad in relation to BNM Forex Administration Notices.


  • Advised the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) an international standard-setting organization, on corporate governance issues and preparations for change of leadership in IFSB.


  • Advised Bank Negara Malaysia, the Central Bank of Malaysia on the setting up of The International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM), an international institution established by central banks, monetary authorities and multilateral organisations namely the central banks and monetary agency of Indonesia, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Development Bank, to create and issue short-term Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments to facilitate effective cross-border Islamic liquidity management.

  • Advised Malaysian Electronic Payment System Sdn Bhd (MEPS) on its management review, legal review and drafting of the MEPS Rules and Regulations.


  • 1Advised Tranglo Sdn Bhd on regulatory issues relating to its remittance business.


  • Advised Bank of China (Malaysia) Berhad on corporate governance issues.


  • Advised Sea Hibiscus Sdn Bhd in relation to BNM Forex Administration Notices.


  • Acted as the sole external counsel for the Islamic Financial Services Board – in relation to governance, operational and Islamic finance legal issues since 2013.


  • Advisory services to S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin, USA in relation to BNM Forex Administration Notices.


  • Advised the World Bank and acted as International Consultant to the World Bank for the Review of Legal & Regulatory Review of the Financial System of Sri Lanka.


  • Assisted AirPay Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. in relation to its e-Wallet application in Malaysia.


  • Advised Khazanah Nasional Berhad on regulatory issues relating to its reinsurance and retakaful business in Malaysia and the Middle East.


  • Advised Avicennia Capital Sdn. Bhd. on regulatory issues relating to a financial holding company.


  • Advised Avicennia Capital Sdn. Bhd on corporate governance issues relating to the Board and the Board Audit, Board Risk and Board Nomination and Remuneration Committees as well as the Management Committee.


  • Advised Lazada's captive payment platform, helloPay in obtaining an approval under the Financial Services Act 2013 for issuance of an eWallet and subsequently the purchase by Alibaba and helloPay by AliPay and the change in the shareholders of helloPay. 


  • Advised Instarem Malaysia Sdn Bhd in preparing the submission and applying for a money remittance licence.



  • Advised Collectius Ltd on the BNM Forex Administration Rules.

Restructuring

  • Advising one of the largest banking groups in Malaysia on its internal group restructuring and the requirements of financial holding company (Ongoing).


  • Advised Khazanah Nasional Berhad on the regulatory approvals and preparation of submissions for a rationalization and restructuring exercise for its group re-insurance business.


  • Advised Khazanah Nasional Berhad on the proposed reorganization and disposal of an equity stake in Asia Capital Reinsurance Malaysia Berhad and Avicennia Capital Sdn Bhd.


  • Advised Khazanah Nasional Berhad on the reorganization of its insurance and financial holding companies under the Financial Services Act 2013 and the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013.



  • Advised Danajamin Nasional Berhad on the reorganization of its financial guarantee and investment companies under the Financial Services Act 2013 and the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013.

Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets and Corporate Finance

  • Advised Bank Negara Malaysia, the Central Bank of Malaysia on the setting up of The International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM), an international institution established by central banks, monetary authorities and multilateral organisations namely the central banks and monetary agency of Indonesia, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Development Bank, to create and issue short-term Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments to facilitate effective cross-border Islamic liquidity management.


  • Advised several clients on electronic money payments instruments regime and money services business regime in Malaysia and on payments, remittances, digital assets custody, recognised market operations, personal data protection and customer secrecy in Malaysia.


  • Advised several clients on the establishment of Financial Holding Companies (FHC) in Malaysia. Also advised and successfully managed to disenfranchise a FHC for the group of the client concerned.


  • Advised Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad in relation to the Malaysian Foreign Exchange regime for its RCULs issuance and foreign currency borrowings.


  • Advised several clients in issues relating to the electronic money payments instruments regime and money services business regime in Malaysia.


  • Advised Foris GFS Ltd. and Foris DAX Ltd. on payments, remittances, digital assets custody, recognised market operations, personal data protection and customer secrecy.


  • 34.Advised several foundations to be established as well as to comply with the Companies Commission of Malaysia revised guidelines on Ultimate Beneficial Ownership. Foundations in Malaysia are largely established as companies limited by guarantee.


  • Advised IMMPACT Sdn Bhd and assisted IIMMPACT to engage with in relation to electronic money licensing and to obtain certain exemptions under the BNM Fintech Sandbox and liaising with BNM and arranging and attending meetings with BNM together with IIMMPACXT and making submissions to BNM for and on behalf of IMMPACT.


  • Advised Atlas Blockchain Ventures Sdn Bhd on the application for approval from the Labuan Financial Services Authority for the issuance of crypto currency and dealing with the Labuan Financial Services Authority on behalf of the client and assisting the client to prepare the business plan and the white paper and all other application documents.


  • Acted and provided legal opinions for Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) as their sole external legal counsel. Writing legal opinions and legal advisories on the implementation and operation of their articles of agreement, their By-Laws and other governing instruments.


  • Advised the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) on its HR matters, Council Meetings and General Assembly issues and the appointment of its Assistant Secretary General.


  • Advised a Malaysian GLC on the Expression of Interest (EOI) for Proposed Acquisition of Controlling Interest in a financial institution and need for a financial holding company.


  • Advised a Malaysian GLC on the disposal of a stake in a financial institution.


  • Advised the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) on the issuance of its first global sukuk.



  • Advised Goldman Sachs International on credit default swaps and total return swaps transactions and various funding structures in relation to transactions with several Malaysian GLCs.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Venture

  • Advised two consortiums of multinational companies and a Malaysia conglomerate on their successful applications for a Digital Banking Licence including on the requirements of Bank Negara Malaysia, the Central Bank of Malaysia policy documents and the application guidelines and their joint venture/shareholders agreements, business plans and other transaction agreements and liaison with the Central Bank of Malaysia.


  • Advised Permodalan Nasional Berhad, one of the largest fund management company in Malaysia owned by the Malaysian government with assets under management (AUM) of RM343.1 billion (as at 30 November 2022) and MIDF on the proposed RM2.4 billion merger between the MIDF group of companies and Al-Rajhi Bank Malaysia banking group.



  • Advised Khazanah Nasional Berhad on the proposed reorganization and disposal of an equity stake in Asia Capital Reinsurance Malaysia Berhad and Avicennia Capital Sdn Bhd.