A guide to doing business in Singapore and Southeast Asia (by Hawksford)

Dario Acconci focuses on the strategic direction of our Asia offices, which is enhanced by his ability to identify trends and opportunities for a variety of industries and across jurisdictions.

He started his career in Hong Kong, where he worked for an international law firm to assist foreign investments into China, Southeast Asia and East Asia where he advised clients on various aspects of corporate, commercial and labor law.

In 2012, Acconci moved to Singapore to join a corporate services firm as Partner, focusing on supporting businesses in Singapore, Hong Kong and China. Following the success of its growth, this firm merged into Hawksford in 2018.

As an advocate for international businesses' expansion into Asia and for Chinese/Asian businesses to the rest of the world, he has built very strong cooperative relationships between Hawksford and government investment agencies in Singapore and Hong Kong.

He is now relied upon by multinational corporates and family-owned businesses from various sectors, and is a trusted advisor to several world-renowned fashion and luxury brands in connection to their expansion and operational goals.

Based in Singapore, Winnie Seow Mei is responsible for helping global businesses to expand into Southeast Asia (SEA) region, while assisting Asian companies with expanding into the UK. With more than 10 years of experience in international expansion, Seow has held different roles within the public and private sector, where she assisted multinational corporations and SMEs on their market entry and expansion needs.

Seow has lived and worked in China and SEA and is fluent in English, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien. She prides herself on her good understanding of cultural sensitivity and ways of working with clients in Asia.

Hamida Sultan is a highly experienced and pioneering member of our team in the Singapore office, with 15 years of invaluable expertise in the industry.

As the Head of Digital Business Development & North America, she plays a crucial role in driving entrepreneurial growth for clients across multiple jurisdictions.

Sultan’s dedication to fostering positive client relationships is evident in her close collaboration with her team. She firmly believes in the uniqueness and equal importance of every single client she serves.