Charmian Aw | Singapore | Hogan Lovells

Charmian Aw

Partner Global Regulatory

Languages

English, Mandarin

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Charmian Aw
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  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events
quote mark

"Charmian Aw provides succinct, extremely prompt and practical advice in relation to data protection. She knows the data protection legislation inside out, making her a reliable adviser."

Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025

Charmian Aw is a leading practitioner in data, privacy and cybersecurity in the Asia-Pacific region, with extensive technology regulatory and transactional experience. Charmian has built a track record of representing global corporations in navigating the increasingly complex, diverse and fast-evolving tech and data legal landscape in the Asia Pacific region.

Charmian has acted in dozens of strategic, high-value technology transactions, including the development and deployment of AI solutions, commercialization of data and digital assets, transitioning to electronic platforms, cloud migration and the procurement and integration of IT systems.

Having obtained certifications in AI governance and information privacy for Asia, Europe and the U.S. (AIGP, FIP, CIPP/A, E, US, CIPM), Charmian has counselled hundreds of corporations on multijurisdictional data law compliance and spearheaded projects (covering over 130 territories) on regulatory compliance, data governance and cross-border transfers. While her practice is industry-neutral, she has particular expertise advising market leaders in the technology, healthcare and life sciences, finance, hospitality, e-commerce, media and gaming, and consumer and luxury sectors.

She provides group-wide cybersecurity readiness support, including incident response planning and training and has successfully resisted sanctions for over a hundred companies in semi-contentious data investigations, information disclosure requests, and time-sensitive breach reporting, covering multiple countries across APAC and beyond.

Charmian is ranked in leading legal directories including Chambers, Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal, Global Data Review, and Best Lawyers.

quote mark

“She's clear and practical in her advice, and able to communicate well with non-legal stakeholders and explain the key issues and applicable requirements.”

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025

Representative experience

Advising international technology companies, and apps and games developers, on AI regulations, privacy, biometrics, minors, online safety, content, consumer protection, export controls and trade.

Advising global companies including in the technology, energy, retail and luxury sectors, on incident response in APAC (including South Korea, China, Japan, India, Australia and Southeast Asia). 

Advised one of the world’s largest technology conglomerates on data privacy, consumer protection and cybersecurity issues, covering over 130 jurisdictions.

Advising a publicly listed multinational technology company headquartered in China on data protection obligations regarding its e-commerce, retail, internet and technology businesses in the region.

Advising a publicly listed technology multinational to conduct a data protection and cybersecurity impact assessment for Asia, including Vietnam, Singapore and Japan.

Advising a global medical device manufacturer on its digital marketing campaign spanning a dozen jurisdictions in Asia.  

Advised a leading e-payments company with over a hundred million users on digital regulations (licensing, data, competition, consumer, marketing, advertising) spanning all of its markets worldwide.

Advised a tech conglomerate on a scoping questionnaire for a prospective courier product involving the use of AI; and a multinational on its AI recruitment tool. 

Advising a social media conglomerate on regulatory requirements applicable social media influencer marketing in over a dozen jurisdictions in Asia Pacific. 

Advising a European headquartered pharmaceutical company on its data protection compliance across all of its Asia Pacific markets. 

Retained by clients in the hospitality, aviation, energy and sustainability, and finance industries to advise on data commercialisation, privacy impact assessments and cross border transfers.

Credentials

Education
  • LL.B., National University of Singapore, with honors, 2005
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • Singapore
  • Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), IAPP
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/Asia), IAPP
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/Europe), IAPP
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/U.S. Private Sector), IAPP
  • Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), IAPP
  • Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP), IAPP
Memberships
  • International Association of Privacy Professional (IAPP)

Recognition

Ranked for TMT in Singapore (International) and Singapore (Domestic)

Chambers Asia-Pacific

Ranked as a Next Generation Partner for Data Protection and Cybersecurity

Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Recognized as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Data; Recommended for Data Privacy & Protection, for Telecoms & Media, and for Data in Southeast Asia

Lexology Index