Maria Santos is a Partner and head of the Investment Funds practice in Asia. She advises asset managers, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices on fund formation, regulatory compliance, and complex investment strategies across private equity, venture capital, and hedge fund structures.
Maria has particular expertise in the establishment of alternative investment vehicles across Cayman Islands, Singapore, and Luxembourg jurisdictions, and advises on cross-border fund distribution, carried interest arrangements, and manager incentive structures.
She is listed as a leading funds lawyer by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and has been recognized by Asian Investor as one of the "Top 30 Women in Asset Management" in Asia.
Experience
Experience
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Advised a sovereign wealth fund on the formation of a S$5 billion private equity co-investment platform
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Counsel to a leading US hedge fund manager on the establishment and regulatory licensing of its Singapore-domiciled Asia fund
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Represented a global pension fund on fund-of-funds investments across 12 Asian emerging market vehicles
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Advised on the restructuring and continuation of a US$2.8 billion Southeast Asia-focused buyout fund
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Led the formation of a series of impact investment funds focused on climate transition in Southeast Asia
Insights
Education
- J.D.University of Chicago Law Schoolcum laude
- B.A. in International RelationsGeorgetown University
Prior experience
- Associate, New York office, 2009–2013
- Monetary Authority of Singapore, Legal & Regulatory Policy Division, Secondment 2017
Qualifications and admissions
- State of New York
- Singapore (Advocate & Solicitor)
Languages
- English
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Mandarin Chinese
Recognition
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Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Investment Funds, Leading Individual
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Chambers Asia-Pacific – Investment Funds: Singapore, Band 1
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Asian Investor – "Top 30 Women in Asset Management in Asia," 2023
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IFLR1000 – Investment Funds, Singapore, Market Leader