We deeply tailor legal solutions to guide payment institutions through the complexities of regulatory landscapes.
Our strategy is simple yet effective. We empower you to achieve compliance and growth with full clarity, every step of the way.
How We Help
License Applications & Maintenance
You're not alone. Your business is our business too. Our process is simple: We always start by deep diving into your needs and preferences. From here, we rigorously structure and negotiate every step of your financing transactions.
Our Banking and Finance team commands mastery over structuring and negotiating complex financing deals. Our expertise encompasses cross-border transactions, bilateral and syndicated loans, refinancing, acquisition financing, and project financing. This is why we are panelists for many local and global banks.
Legal Assessments & Opinions
We help you cut through the noise of the complex payments landscape in Singapore. With in-depth legal assessments of your proposed business models, product features, and operational flows, rest assured that your business will always align with the Payment Services Act (PSA) and related regulations.
Whether you need a formal legal opinion for investors, partners, or internal risk assessment, we offer definitive guidance on licensing requirements, permissible activities, and potential regulatory exposures. Leave the legwork to us and make informed strategic decisions with confidence.
Compliance Solutions & Regulatory Support
Aligning your payments business with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)'s requirements is essential. This is where we're here to help by designing, implementing, and maintaining robust compliance frameworks tailored to the unique risks of your payment services.
We cover key focus areas such as Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), technology risk management, and reporting obligations. From supporting your license application process to providing ongoing regulatory advisory and assistance with MAS interactions, we stand ready as your dedicated partner in achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Due Diligence & Infrastructure Support
Whether you're an investor, acquirer, or a partner with a payments entity, we are poised to support you with our targeted due diligence. Apart from providing critical insights into regulatory standing, compliance health, and potential legal risks, we also review operations, documentation, and controls against Singapore's regulatory standards.
Beyond transactional support, we also assist in building the legal and contractual framework for your payments operations. This includes drafting essential agreements like user terms and partner contracts, as well as providing advice on structural setups to build a solid bedrock for your business to flourish.
Founder Support & Wealth Management
At Eastern Mezzanine, we are cognizant that the success of any business or startup hinges on the goals and security of its founder(s). That's why we provide specialised legal counsel to founders on structuring their personal stakes in the venture, where we advise you on shareholder agreements, founder vesting schedules, and related party transactions within the regulatory context.
The legal aspect may be our core focus, but we also double as conduits to connect founders with trusted partners for comprehensive wealth management and succession planning. This ensures your personal financial well-being stays aligned with your business journey and eventual exit strategies (if applicable).
How We Help
License Applications & Maintenance
You're not alone. Your business is our business too. Our process is simple: We always start by deep diving into your needs and preferences. From here, we rigorously structure and negotiate every step of your financing transactions.
Our Banking and Finance team commands mastery over structuring and negotiating complex financing deals. Our expertise encompasses cross-border transactions, bilateral and syndicated loans, refinancing, acquisition financing, and project financing. This is why we are panelists for many local and global banks.
Legal Assessments & Opinions
We help you cut through the noise of the complex payments landscape in Singapore. With in-depth legal assessments of your proposed business models, product features, and operational flows, rest assured that your business will always align with the Payment Services Act (PSA) and related regulations.
Whether you need a formal legal opinion for investors, partners, or internal risk assessment, we offer definitive guidance on licensing requirements, permissible activities, and potential regulatory exposures. Leave the legwork to us and make informed strategic decisions with confidence.
Compliance Solutions & Regulatory Support
Aligning your payments business with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)'s requirements is essential. This is where we're here to help by designing, implementing, and maintaining robust compliance frameworks tailored to the unique risks of your payment services.
We cover key focus areas such as Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), technology risk management, and reporting obligations. From supporting your license application process to providing ongoing regulatory advisory and assistance with MAS interactions, we stand ready as your dedicated partner in achieving and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Due Diligence & Infrastructure Support
Whether you're an investor, acquirer, or a partner with a payments entity, we are poised to support you with our targeted due diligence. Apart from providing critical insights into regulatory standing, compliance health, and potential legal risks, we also review operations, documentation, and controls against Singapore's regulatory standards.
Beyond transactional support, we also assist in building the legal and contractual framework for your payments operations. This includes drafting essential agreements like user terms and partner contracts, as well as providing advice on structural setups to build a solid bedrock for your business to flourish.
Founder Support & Wealth Management
At Eastern Mezzanine, we are cognizant that the success of any business or startup hinges on the goals and security of its founder(s). That's why we provide specialised legal counsel to founders on structuring their personal stakes in the venture, where we advise you on shareholder agreements, founder vesting schedules, and related party transactions within the regulatory context.
The legal aspect may be our core focus, but we also double as conduits to connect founders with trusted partners for comprehensive wealth management and succession planning. This ensures your personal financial well-being stays aligned with your business journey and eventual exit strategies (if applicable).
How We Help
License Applications & Maintenance
You're not alone. Your business is our business too. Our process is simple: We always start by deep diving into your needs and preferences. From here, we rigorously structure and negotiate every step of your financing transactions.
Our Banking and Finance team commands mastery over structuring and negotiating complex financing deals. Our expertise encompasses cross-border transactions, bilateral and syndicated loans, refinancing, acquisition financing, and project financing. This is why we are panelists for many local and global banks.
Who We Represent
We serve a diverse range of clients both small and large, encompassing:
Major Payment Institutions
Standard Payment Institutions
Non-Bank Financial Institutions
How We Support
Given the fast-evolving nature of the payment services space in Singapore, and consequently the emerging risks and new regulations that follow, we take a dynamic yet cautious approach in advising and guiding clients on how to take care of their compliance and regulatory needs.
Being practitioners who have seen first hand how the payments space is regulated in Singapore, we focus on practicality in the application of existing regulations. We help clients to manage their regulatory obligations so that clients can focus on what matters - their business.
Yes! With our team’s assistance, our client was one of the first few companies to obtain a Major Payment Institution (“MPI”) license from MAS way back in 2021. We have also continued to work with MAS on behalf of our client to help them maintain their licence, even as their product offerings continue to evolve.
Post-license issuance, Payment Service Providers (“PSPs”) have to ensure that their Anti-Money Laundering measures adhere to either PSN01, 01A, 02 (whichever applicable). This includes but is not limited to ensuring the robustness of their Customer Due Diligence process, taking a risk-based approach to their policies and processes, and having procedures for suspicious transaction reporting. PSPs also have to submit regulatory returns to MAS on a monthly, semi-annual and annual basis. For more information on compliance obligations please refer to The Compliance Function in 2025: What MAS Expects from Licensees.
Of course! Having successfully applied for an MPI license in our FinTech start up before, we are no strangers to the license application process. Let us understand what you do, and we will be able to advise you on the next steps to take and what license you should apply for.
We worked at a Fin-Tech start up before re-joining practice. During our time there, we helped them to apply for and successfully obtain their MPI license as one of the first few licensed MPIs. Over the years they have varied their product offerings and changed their business model, looking for product market fit. We understand practically how businesses work, and the real concerns in trying to balance the bottom line and compliance with guidelines. This makes us poised to provide sound practical advice based on real life experience.
Congratulations on attaining your license! We are more than happy to assist you in complying with the post-licensing regulatory requirements imposed by MAS. As a Payment Service Provider, amongst others, MAS expects you to have robust internal policies and procedures, carry out ongoing customer due diligence, make regular reports, implement a comprehensive risk management framework, adhere to technology risk management requirements and meet yearly audit requirements. While all these sound like a large number of items to consider and check off, fret not, we are here to take care of them while you focus on your business and what you do best.
We believe many (not all) roads lead to Rome. While sometimes compliance with laws and regulations seem to be at odds with a thriving business, we don’t see it that way. Here at Eastern Mezzanine Law Corporation, we focus on practical solutions which may involve the law - though not always. But when we apply the law, we ensure that it must be applied in a sustainable manner for the commercial health of the business.
Client Testimonials
Getting our Payment Services Act license felt overwhelming at first, but the team at Eastern Mezzanine made it feel completely manageable. They walked us through every step with clarity and patience, and their insights were incredibly valuable. We always felt like we were in good hands.
Amanda Chew
Licensing and Regulatory Advisory
Client Testimonials
Eastern Mezzanine has been a huge support since we got licensed. They are quick to respond, clear in their advice, and always a step ahead when it comes to compliance. It’s reassuring to know we have a legal partner who truly understands the space we’re in.
Justin Lee
Compliance Services
Client Testimonials
As a fintech start-up, there was so much we didn’t know. Eastern Mezzanine really helped us make sense of the legal and regulatory side of things. They were thoughtful, detail-oriented, and never made us feel lost. We’re grateful to have them as part of our journey.