Lewis Silkin
Client SatisfactionSolicitors
Matthew Durham
- Phone+852 6036 0411
- Email[email protected]
- Social
- Profilewww.lewissilkin.com
Work Department
Employment
Position
Foreign Legal Consultant
Career
Matthew is an experienced Asia employment lawyer specializing in mainland China matters. He has spent over 20 years working for international law firms based primarily in Shanghai, after originally training and starting his career in London. He joined Lewis Silkin in mid-2023.
Matthew specializes in mainland China matters, helping multi-national companies to navigate a wide range of employment and people-related issues. He also works on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional projects which have a nexus with Hong Kong and the wider Asia region. Matthew's work for clients encompasses a broad array of sectors, including banking and insurance, technology and communications, pharma and professional services.
Matthew's work includes advising on:
The full range of employment documentation, including offer letters, contracts, confidentiality and non-compete agreements, and handbooks and policies. Hiring and selection processes, including structuring employment arrangements and immigration issues for expatriates remuneration, bonus and incentive arrangements. Overtime, sick leave, maternity and statutory social insurance and welfare entitlements. Employment issues arising from company restructuring and closure scenarios. Employee issues in the context of M&A activity, including transfer of employees to buyer in asset acquisitions. Discrimination and sexual harassment issues. Non-compete and other restrictive covenants. Employee exits and terminations, including negotiation of mutual termination and settlement agreements. Investigations relating to employee misconduct, anti-corruption, sexual harassment, as well as whistleblower related issues. Dual employment arrangements involving the PRC and Hong Kong, as well as regional harmonization projects. International assignments, secondments and intra-group transfers. Data privacy issues.Matthew is a regular speaker and commentator on China employment matters and has been consistently recognized in the Asia Pacific legal directories over many years.