Senior Associate Profiles

Koey Lee Yee, Rylin

Background

Rylin graduated from the University of Reading with an LL.B (Hons) and subsequently completed the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at BPP University, London. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales as a Barrister-at-Law (Lincoln’s Inn) in 2017 and was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 2019. She is an Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator by the ADR Group, United Kingdom.

Rylin is fluent in English, Malay, and Chinese.

Experience

Rylin regularly assists public-listed companies, digital asset exchanges (DAXs), initial exchange offering (IEO) operators, fintech start-ups, venture capital-backed companies, and multinational corporations on regulatory submissions, licensing applications, digital asset advisory, and transactional documentation. Her experience includes acting as Malaysian counsel for companies undertaking Nasdaq, SGX Catalist, and HKEX Main Board listings, involving restructuring exercises, legal due diligence, and preparation of Malaysian legal documentation.

She also advises regulated entities on VASP regulatory regimes, AML/CFT compliance, tokenisation structures, SAFTs, token offering documentation, securities classification, and cross-border product expansion. Rylin’s experience spans drafting and reviewing share sale agreements, joint venture agreements, shareholders’ agreements, subscription agreements, commercial contracts, compliance manuals, PDPA frameworks, and platform terms and policies.

Rylin has developed cross-border experience, supporting multinational clients and Malaysian corporations on investment structuring, employment matters, and regulatory compliance frameworks across Southeast Asia.

Professional Associations

  • Member, Malaysian Bar Council
  • Alumni Member, The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn

Notable Work Highlights

  • Advised on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings involving Malaysian and regional listed companies, including multi-party and multi-jurisdictional structures across Asia.
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel for a Malaysian corporate group on its proposed Nasdaq listing, including group reorganisation, regulatory analysis, and preparation of Malaysian legal documentation in coordination with U.S. counsel.
  • Acted as Malaysian and Myanmar counsel for SGX Catalist and HKEX Main Board listings, including conducting and managing legal due diligence, resolving jurisdiction-specific issues, and reviewing listing documents.
  • Advised a construction group on its listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX).
  • Advised a mining group and a furniture manufacturing group on their listings on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Catalist, including due diligence and restructuring matters.
  • Advised a property development group on its privatisation via selective capital reduction, including documentation, corporate approvals, and compliance matters.
  • Advised a Main Market-listed investment holding company on its rights issue with warrants and bonus issue, including regulatory submissions and coordination with Bursa Malaysia.
  • Advised jointly as counsel to joint offerors in an unconditional mandatory general offer (MGO) for a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Securities, including offer documentation and compliance with the Take-Overs & Mergers Code.
  • Advised controlling shareholders on the disposal of their equity interests in a Main Market-listed manufacturing company via direct business transaction.
  • Advised Malaysian individuals on the disposal of 100% equity in a private company to a Main Market-listed industrial products and services company.
  • Advised on the formation of foreign-domestic joint ventures, including a Malaysian individual forming a JV with a Myanmar shareholder to establish a local Myanmar entity, and a Singaporean company establishing a wholly foreign-owned service entity in Myanmar.
  • Acting for the vendor shareholders of a company principally involved in the provision of healthcare services, in respect of the proposed disposal of their equity stake in the company at an indicative value of approximately RM70 million.
  • Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated share sale agreements, joint venture agreements, shareholders' agreements, subscription agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and corporate transactional documentation across technology, manufacturing, mining, construction, and consumer industries.
  • Supported ACE Market to Main Market transfer listings, including due diligence, regulatory gap assessments, verification note reviews, and coordination with regulators and advisers (notably for technology issuers undergoing expansion and revenue-scaling exercises).
  • Advised a public-listed group on the legal structuring and regulatory assessment of a DeFi-based digital asset trading model for use with licensed Malaysian digital asset exchanges.
  • Advised a licensed Digital Asset Exchange (DAX) operator on the subscription of new ordinary shares by a foreign investor, including full legal due diligence on the foreign entity.
  • Advised several wholly-owned subsidiaries of public-listed companies and private companies in relation to their applications to the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) for registration as Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) operators under the Guidelines on Digital Assets.
  • Advised a fully licensed Labuan Stock Exchange focusing on digital assets on its security token offering (STO) and all associated regulatory and operational matters, including exchange operations and related businesses.
  • Advised a foreign entity pursuing DAX operator licensing in Malaysia, including regulatory interpretation, documentation structure, and liaison with regulators.
  • Drafted and reviewed SAFTs, token subscription agreements, offering documentation, tokenomics compliance reports, and whitepaper legal sections for tokenised products and digital asset platforms.
  • Provided comprehensive regulatory mapping and advisory across multiple jurisdictions on VASP frameworks, AML/CFT obligations, securities classification, and financial promotion restrictions.
  • Drafted user agreements, platform terms, privacy notices, AML/CFT manuals, compliance policies, PDPA documentation, and governance structures for fintech, regtech, and Web3 companies.
  • Advised multinational corporations, public-listed issuers, and SMEs on foreign direct investment, exchange control requirements, corporate structuring, business licensing, and cross-border compliance.
  • Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated commercial agreements, shareholders' agreements, data protection frameworks, AML/CFT controls, compliance manuals, and legal opinions for Malaysian and regional clients.
  • Provided annual retainer support for Malaysian corporations, including board papers, resolutions, minutes, statutory filings, and regulatory documentation.
  • Advised clients on compliance with Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), and Labuan FSA regulatory frameworks, including licensing triggers, operational compliance, and cross-border risk.
  • Advised on employment, trading, and investment regulatory considerations affecting multinational clients, including internal governance structures and compliance management.
  • Prepared and led licensing applications for fintech businesses and digital asset operators under SC and LFSA frameworks, including drafting business plans, risk matrices, internal controls, and governance frameworks.
  • Provided strategic advisory to management teams on regulatory risk, governance implementation, internal compliance alignment, and cross-border market expansion.
  • Worked with product, technical, commercial, and compliance teams to align platform architecture and business models with regulatory requirements and licensing conditions.
  • Supported technology and fintech clients in implementing product roll-outs, operational enhancements, and compliance updates across multi-jurisdictional operations.
  • Acting as due diligence solicitors for the initial public offering on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited of a group involved in the construction industry.
  • Acting for a company listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, principally involved in consumer products and services, in respect of the proposed acquisition of a piece of land in Selangor.
  • Acting for a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, principally involved in consumer products and services, in respect of the proposed acquisition of a piece of land in Johor.
  • Acting for a company listed on the Singapore Exchange in respect of a proposed corporate exercise involving the disposal of a 100% equity stake in its subsidiary for a total consideration of RM60 million, to be satisfied in cash and by way of a set-off arrangement.
  • Acted for the vendor shareholders of a company principally involved in the provision of IVF and fertility services in respect of the share sale agreement, shareholders’ agreement, constitution and service agreement pertaining to the purchaser holding a 60% equity stake in the company post-completion.
  • Acting for the purchaser in respect of the share sale agreement, shareholders’ agreement and employment agreement pertaining to the acquisition of a 51% equity stake in a company principally involved in fashion design services and the retail sale of textiles, clothing and footwear.
  • Acting for the vendor shareholders in respect of the letter of intent and share sale agreement pertaining to the disposal of their 100% equity stake in a company principally involved in engineering and consultancy services.
  • Acting for a purchaser company, being an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a Singapore-listed entity, in respect of the legal due diligence and share sale agreements pertaining to the proposed acquisition of equity stakes in companies principally involved in the retail of jewellery and gold products.
  • Acting for a Korean multinational group in respect of a corporate restructuring and merger exercise involving its Malaysian subsidiaries, including share swap arrangements, asset transfers, capital reduction exercise and liquidation matters.
  • Acting for the purchaser in respect of the legal due diligence, share sale agreements and acquisition exercise involving multiple companies and sole proprietorships principally involved in the oil palm business.
  • Acting for a Singapore entity in relation to a joint venture agreement and consultancy agreements for the development and management of parcels of waqf and non-waqf land in accordance with Shariah principles.
  • Acting for a developer in respect of a development rights agreement to develop a parcel of land in Johor Bahru with a minimum gross development value of RM600 million.
  • Advised on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings involving Malaysian and regional listed companies, including multi-party and multi-jurisdictional structures across Asia.
  • Acted as Malaysian counsel for a Malaysian corporate group on its proposed Nasdaq listing, including group reorganisation, regulatory analysis, and preparation of Malaysian legal documentation in coordination with U.S. counsel.
  • Acted as Malaysian and Myanmar counsel for SGX Catalist and HKEX Main Board listings, including conducting and managing legal due diligence, resolving jurisdiction-specific issues, and reviewing listing documents.
  • Advised a construction group on its listing on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX).
  • Advised a mining group and a furniture manufacturing group on their listings on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Catalist, including due diligence and restructuring matters.
  • Advised a property development group on its privatisation via selective capital reduction, including documentation, corporate approvals, and compliance matters.
  • Advised a Main Market-listed investment holding company on its rights issue with warrants and bonus issue, including regulatory submissions and coordination with Bursa Malaysia.
  • Advised jointly as counsel to joint offerors in an unconditional mandatory general offer (MGO) for a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Securities, including offer documentation and compliance with the Take-Overs & Mergers Code.
  • Advised controlling shareholders on the disposal of their equity interests in a Main Market-listed manufacturing company via direct business transaction.
  • Advised Malaysian individuals on the disposal of 100% equity in a private company to a Main Market-listed industrial products and services company.
  • Advised on the formation of foreign-domestic joint ventures, including a Malaysian individual forming a JV with a Myanmar shareholder to establish a local Myanmar entity, and a Singaporean company establishing a wholly foreign-owned service entity in Myanmar.
  • Acting for the vendor shareholders of a company principally involved in the provision of healthcare services, in respect of the proposed disposal of their equity stake in the company at an indicative value of approximately RM70 million.
  • Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated share sale agreements, joint venture agreements, shareholders' agreements, subscription agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and corporate transactional documentation across technology, manufacturing, mining, construction, and consumer industries.
  • Supported ACE Market to Main Market transfer listings, including due diligence, regulatory gap assessments, verification note reviews, and coordination with regulators and advisers (notably for technology issuers undergoing expansion and revenue-scaling exercises).
  • Advised a public-listed group on the legal structuring and regulatory assessment of a DeFi-based digital asset trading model for use with licensed Malaysian digital asset exchanges.
  • Advised a licensed Digital Asset Exchange (DAX) operator on the subscription of new ordinary shares by a foreign investor, including full legal due diligence on the foreign entity.
  • Advised several wholly-owned subsidiaries of public-listed companies and private companies in relation to their applications to the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) for registration as Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) operators under the Guidelines on Digital Assets.
  • Advised a fully licensed Labuan Stock Exchange focusing on digital assets on its security token offering (STO) and all associated regulatory and operational matters, including exchange operations and related businesses.
  • Advised a foreign entity pursuing DAX operator licensing in Malaysia, including regulatory interpretation, documentation structure, and liaison with regulators.
  • Drafted and reviewed SAFTs, token subscription agreements, offering documentation, tokenomics compliance reports, and whitepaper legal sections for tokenised products and digital asset platforms.
  • Provided comprehensive regulatory mapping and advisory across multiple jurisdictions on VASP frameworks, AML/CFT obligations, securities classification, and financial promotion restrictions.
  • Drafted user agreements, platform terms, privacy notices, AML/CFT manuals, compliance policies, PDPA documentation, and governance structures for fintech, regtech, and Web3 companies.
  • Advised multinational corporations, public-listed issuers, and SMEs on foreign direct investment, exchange control requirements, corporate structuring, business licensing, and cross-border compliance.
  • Drafted, reviewed, and negotiated commercial agreements, shareholders' agreements, data protection frameworks, AML/CFT controls, compliance manuals, and legal opinions for Malaysian and regional clients.
  • Provided annual retainer support for Malaysian corporations, including board papers, resolutions, minutes, statutory filings, and regulatory documentation.
  • Advised clients on compliance with Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), and Labuan FSA regulatory frameworks, including licensing triggers, operational compliance, and cross-border risk.
  • Advised on employment, trading, and investment regulatory considerations affecting multinational clients, including internal governance structures and compliance management.
  • Prepared and led licensing applications for fintech businesses and digital asset operators under SC and LFSA frameworks, including drafting business plans, risk matrices, internal controls, and governance frameworks.
  • Provided strategic advisory to management teams on regulatory risk, governance implementation, internal compliance alignment, and cross-border market expansion.
  • Worked with product, technical, commercial, and compliance teams to align platform architecture and business models with regulatory requirements and licensing conditions.
  • Supported technology and fintech clients in implementing product roll-outs, operational enhancements, and compliance updates across multi-jurisdictional operations.
  • Acting as due diligence solicitors for the initial public offering on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited of a group involved in the construction industry.
  • Acting for a company listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, principally involved in consumer products and services, in respect of the proposed acquisition of a piece of land in Selangor.
  • Acting for a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, principally involved in consumer products and services, in respect of the proposed acquisition of a piece of land in Johor.
  • Acting for a company listed on the Singapore Exchange in respect of a proposed corporate exercise involving the disposal of a 100% equity stake in its subsidiary for a total consideration of RM60 million, to be satisfied in cash and by way of a set-off arrangement.
  • Acted for the vendor shareholders of a company principally involved in the provision of IVF and fertility services in respect of the share sale agreement, shareholders’ agreement, constitution and service agreement pertaining to the purchaser holding a 60% equity stake in the company post-completion.
  • Acting for the purchaser in respect of the share sale agreement, shareholders’ agreement and employment agreement pertaining to the acquisition of a 51% equity stake in a company principally involved in fashion design services and the retail sale of textiles, clothing and footwear.
  • Acting for the vendor shareholders in respect of the letter of intent and share sale agreement pertaining to the disposal of their 100% equity stake in a company principally involved in engineering and consultancy services.
  • Acting for a purchaser company, being an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a Singapore-listed entity, in respect of the legal due diligence and share sale agreements pertaining to the proposed acquisition of equity stakes in companies principally involved in the retail of jewellery and gold products.
  • Acting for a Korean multinational group in respect of a corporate restructuring and merger exercise involving its Malaysian subsidiaries, including share swap arrangements, asset transfers, capital reduction exercise and liquidation matters.
  • Acting for the purchaser in respect of the legal due diligence, share sale agreements and acquisition exercise involving multiple companies and sole proprietorships principally involved in the oil palm business.
  • Acting for a Singapore entity in relation to a joint venture agreement and consultancy agreements for the development and management of parcels of waqf and non-waqf land in accordance with Shariah principles.
  • Acting for a developer in respect of a development rights agreement to develop a parcel of land in Johor Bahru with a minimum gross development value of RM600 million.

Admission & Education

  • Barrister-at-Law, The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn (2017)
  • Advocate & Solicitor, High Court of Malaya (2019)
  • University of Reading (LL.B Hons)
  • BPP University, London — Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)
  • Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator, ADR Group, United Kingdom