Tanner De Witt

Employment

Partner, Head of Employment

Russell is Head of our highly awarded Employment Practice having joined the firm in 2003. Recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific as a “good technical lawyer” and a “safe pair of hands with regard to financial services clients”, Russell has extensive experience acting for both employers and employees across a wide range of sectors, with particular emphasis on high-value employment disputes in the financial sector, notably winning a landmark Hong Kong Court of Appeal judgment on employment law in 2020.

Russell advises on all aspects of employment law, termination entitlements, post-termination restrictions, bonuses, discrimination, harassment, drafting employment contracts, handbooks and other HR related policies and documentation. This includes all matters relating to contentious employment law and litigation in the Labour Tribunal, District Court and High Court. Russell also advises on immigration, health and safety and related criminal investigations and prosecutions. Russell also frequently advises on pro bono causes, specifically in relation to the protection of pregnant migrant workers.

Russell is involved in all aspects of litigation advice and procedures relating to proceedings to trial, summary judgment and seeking and opposing injunctive relief. This includes the enforcement of post-termination restrictions by injunctions, international jurisdictional disputes and Magistrate Court proceedings.

Russell acts for regulated individuals, brokerages, private equity funds, independent financial advisers and groups within the wider financial services and insurance industries on regulatory and compliance matters including licensing matters and dealing with and defending clients during Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) investigations and prosecutions. He advises clients on issues surrounding direct marketing of regulated financial products and instruments, Collective Investment Schemes (CIS), the facilitation of trades and on ‘naked’ or ‘uncovered’ short selling as regulated by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX).

Russell has also been involved in the conduct of several successful mediations of employment disputes relating to disputed termination, discrimination and harassment claims and stock option entitlements.

Professional memberships

American Bar Association (ABA) The Lawyers International Network for Employees and Executives (LINEE) The Law Society of Hong Kong

Other memberships

China Club Hong Kong Cricket Club Hong Kong Football Club