James Yap

James Yap is a Partner in the Corporate Department at Lee & Lee in Singapore. His practice focuses on Mergers and Acquisitions, as well as startup and venture capital, commercial contracts and employment.

He graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2015 and joined Lee & Lee as a Trainee in 2016. He was called to the Singapore bar in 2016 and was made a Partner in 2025.

He is active in the private equity and venture capital sector and advises on a wide range of transactions, such as (i) private equity and venture capital investments; (ii) corporate restructuring and divestment of companies; (iii) standard debt transactions, including debt restructuring, loan agreements, guarantees and standard security documents; (iv) general regulatory issues under the Securities and Futures Act; (v) employment matters, including stock options and other incentive schemes; and (vi) other general corporate and commercial matters.

His case highlights include acting for RWDC Industries Limited, a Singapore-based biotech start-up, in its US$133 million two-stage Series B funding round co-led by Vickers Venture Partners, Flint Hills Resources, CPV/CAP Pensionskasse Coop and International SA; advising the National Research Foundation (Prime Minister's Office) on its various investments, together with other incubators and accelerators, in start-up companies in the technology sector in Singapore; advising Singapore private equity and venture capital firms in relation to fund incorporation, regulatory compliance and mergers and acquisitions; acting for multiple start-ups in their respective series funding rounds (including Axinan, Azendian, Mighty Jaxx, Propzy, Rate, Sealed Network, Scantist, Symbo Platform, WaveScan Technologies, Windy Hill and Wholeselect Technology); and acting in the issue of perpetual securities by a regional property development, lifestyle retail and hospitality management company listed on the SGX-ST.

He also advises companies on the creation of employee share incentive schemes, and reviewing, drafting and commenting on employment agreements, employment handbooks and policies, as well as on general corporate and commercial matters including the sale and purchase of assets or shares, joint ventures and shareholders' agreements.