Withers > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Withers Offices

Withers
30/F United Centre
95 Queensway
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
Visit website 852 3711 1600 852 3711 1601

Withers > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Private Client and Family Tier 1

Withers' practice is split into two sub-practices; a private client and tax team, and a family and matrimonial team, which routinely act for high-net-worth individuals, families, and family offices. The group displays extensive estate planning, private client, and tax expertise. Katie Graves co-heads the team alongside Jocelyn Tsao. Alex Chung specialises in cross-border probate matters as well as major trust deed matters. On the family law side, Billy Ko is noted for his longstanding expertise in divorce and separation, marriage agreements, and child custody matters.

Practice head(s):

Katie Graves; Jocelyn Tsao

Other key lawyers:

Billy Ko; Samantha Gershon; Vanessa Ng; Alex Chung

Testimonials

‘The team at Withers is diligent, attentive to client’s needs and very well-managed with Alex Chung on top of things. All advice is very mindful, and delivered in a timely manner.’

‘I firmly believe that not only a lawyer needs to be proficient and up-to-date in their professional knowledge and be thorough in understanding client needs and circumstances. Alex Chung provides well-researched practical solutions to address legal situations. He communicates extremely well when providing his legal advice.’

‘Vanessa Ng is a rising star.’

‘The Withers’ matrimonial team has very capable associates, trainee solicitors, secretaries, and clerks who strongly support the work. The supporting secretaries and clerks are familiar with how the courts operate and the filing process. The trainees are skilled at drafting documents and can turn around work quickly. The associates at Withers excel are capable of managing cases on their own. This allows matters to progress more efficiently and saves costs for clients.’

Withers also has a strong working relationship with the barristers who specialise in this field. This means they can easily bring in specialised counsel to work together as a team when needed.’

‘Jocelyn Tsao, the managing partner, really listens to the client’s needs and is able to put together the right team to address those needs and handle the case. She is very passionate and hard-working.’

‘Billy Ko and Samantha Gershon are very qualified practitioners in this sphere and are a joy to work with.’

‘The Withers team in Hong Kong has excellent local expertise backed up by their international network which allows them to provide true multi jurisdictional advice.’

Hong Kong > Real estate Tier 2

Withers‘s ‘flexible and dynamic‘ real estate team often works on real estate transactions across the residential, industrial, commercial and retail sectors in Hong Kong and throughout the PRC. Practice head Polly Chu is active in the self-storage landscape, with the group described by clients as ‘the ‘go-to’ law firm for the self-storage industry in Asia‘. Experienced real estate practitioner Mabel Lui is highly proficient in advising multinational corporations and state-owned companies on development and implementation. Lui concentrates on real estate transactions for corporates and financial institutions, which form the varied client base of the wider group.

Practice head(s):

Polly Chu

Other key lawyers:

Mabel Lui

Testimonials

‘Withers have all the necessary knowledge and capabilities in preparing documentation and giving advice to deal with any particular situation, always with utmost efficiency.’

‘Polly Chu is the person I have worked with all these years. She appears to have a vast knowledge in this field and I have been completely satisfied with the good advice she has given me all these years.’

‘Flexible and dynamic.’

‘Polly Chu has a good understanding of industry practices and very efficiency.’

‘Their practice is diverse and innovative.’

‘Withers is known as the ‘go-to’ law firm for the self storage industry in Asia, especially Hong Kong. They have a tremendous depth of experience and have been instrumental in creating industry standards, including contracts.’

‘Polly Chu is constantly in conversation with the industry and so merges the best of business sense with her legal acumen. She is well-liked and respected in the industry.’

Key clients

Shun Ho Property Investments Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Shun Ho Property Investments on the acquisition of the iconic Jessville Manor, a prestigious 90-year-old mansion located at 128 Pokfulam Road in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong > Asset finance (including aviation and shipping finance) Tier 3

Withers stands out for its expertise in private aviation, acting as a go-to for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and private aircraft owners. Luca Denora handles matters concerning commercial airlines and business jets, as well as acting for aircraft operators and leasing companies on contractual mandates. Paul Jebely departed in September 2024.

Other key lawyers:

Luca Denora

Hong Kong > Investment funds Tier 4

Since the arrival of the ‘trustworthy, diligent and caring’ Simon Wong from Dentons Hong Kong in late 2022, Withers has been increasingly visible in the market, working on its own as well as alongside the firm’s more well-established funds offerings in Singapore and Tokyo. The team focuses on work in the private funds space, including private equity, crypto, hedge and real estate, and is noted for its ability to ‘work on “out-of-the-box” structures’. 

Practice head(s):

Simon Wong

Other key lawyers:

Daniel Tang

Testimonials

‘The firm has in-depth knowledge of regulations.’

‘They have flexibility in addressing client’s needs and the ability to work on “out-of-the-box” structures.’

‘Simon Wong has excellent communication skills and is very familiar with the regulations.’

‘Simon Wong is a trustworthy, diligent and caring legal counsel who sets out clear objectives and provides professional advice in business practice including private funds, hedge fund setup, structure and regulatory areas.’

Key clients

Argyle Street Management Limited

China Everbright Assets Management Limited

China Everbright Limited

Everbright Financial Holding Hong Kong Limited

Forwin Capital Management Limited

MCP Asset Management

Neta Capital Ltd

Yu Ming Investment Management Limited

Work highlights

  • Lead counsel for Argyle Street Management Limited on the formation and ongoing maintenance of (1) a number of Cayman funds primarily investing in private equity / private credit in the natural resources industry, and (2) a Hong Kong limited partnership fund primarily investing in the construction and operations of a solar power plant in the PRC.
  • Lead counsel for China Everbright Assets Management Limited on the ongoing maintenance of a number of Cayman hedge funds, including Everbright China Focus Fund, Everbright Convertible Opportunities Fund and CEL Convertible Opportunities Feeder Fund.
  • Lead counsel for Yu Ming Investment Management Limited on the formation of a Cayman fund investing in global long/short equities under an unconstrained investment strategy. Our team also advised on (1) the US-related issues including the latest US FINRA New Issue Rules 5130 and 5131, and (2) the climate-related risk management policies and procedures and the relevant disclosure as required by the SFC.

Withers > Firm Profile

The firm: Withers is one of the world’s first international law firms dedicated to the business, personal and philanthropic interests of successful people, their businesses, families and advisers. With over 220 partners and more than 1,500 staff members in 17 offices across Europe, US, Asia Pacific and the Caribbean, Withers has unparalleled expertise in the key legal issues facing individuals, their businesses and their families. Its clients’ interests span 80 countries and the firm has acted for 74% of the top 100 UK ‘Sunday Times Rich List’, and a significant number of the US ‘Forbes List’ of Richest Americans and the Asian ‘Hurun Rich List’.

In 2008, Withers established its Hong Kong office to offer on-the-ground support in Asia for the firm’s international client base. Today, its multinational team of lawyers and legal professionals offers one of the most comprehensive arrays of client services and are qualified in several jurisdictions – Hong Kong, England & Wales, U.S. – to name a few.

Areas of practice
Corporate and commercial: The corporate and commercial team in Hong Kong combines international deal execution capabilities with PRC regulatory expertise for a varied client base including listed and private companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, families and high net worth individuals and not-for-profit organisations. The team is very experienced in all corporate-related matters, including M&A, capital markets, private equity, corporate finance, banking & finance, tax, real estate and investment funds.

Withers continues to expand its expertise and capability in the Greater China region, with Mabel Lui leading the Greater China corporate and commercial practice. With significant experience in China-focused corporate matters, her team continues to bring a well-rounded Greater China corporate background, complementing the firm’s other practices.

Partners: 3 in Hong Kong
Other fee-earners: 11 in Hong Kong
Contact: Mabel Lui
Email: [email protected]

Aviation and marine: Withers’ aviation lawyers have extensive experience in all areas of aviation matters (both commercial and private, non-contentious and contentious, including international arbitrations). Our lawyers have, over the last few years alone, helped a diverse range of participants get or keep dozens of commercial and corporate aircraft flying, reflecting an aggregate asset value of more than $20 billion. We advise an international and diverse client base that includes lessors, financial institutions, airlines, traders, family offices and high net-worth individuals on complex and sophisticated transactions relating to the procurement, financing and leasing of new and used commercial and corporate aircraft and engines.

Dispute resolution: Withers has an established international dispute resolution practice acting in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes and is well known in the art, sport, luxury brands, fashion and assets sectors. The Hong Kong dispute resolution team focuses on complex corporate commercial disputes, joint venture and shareholders’ disputes, contentious insolvency proceedings, arbitration, compliance and regulatory issues, including investigations, enforcement and disciplinary actions. The team is adept at providing client-tailored strategies and solutions.

Partners: 3 in Hong Kong
Other fee-earners: 8 in Hong Kong
Contact: Joseph Chu
Email: [email protected]

Family: Withers is widely regarded as one of the best and largest family and matrimonial law firms in Hong Kong. Our clients receive specialist advice on all aspects of family law, from divorce and finances, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, family wealth protection, asset management, trusts, mental health proceedings and elder law, to children custody, international child abduction, maintenance and child support, tax and immigration advice post-divorce. The team forms part of the firm’s leading global divorce and family practice and is well-equipped with the right set of skills to handle clients’ cases in the most effective and efficient way possible and to secure the best outcome.

Partners: 4 in Hong Kong
Other fee-earners: 7 in Hong Kong
Contact: Jocelyn Tsao
Email: [email protected]

Private client and tax: Withers has the largest private client and tax team on the ground in Hong Kong and Asia. It has a wide range of clients, including but not limited to family offices, charities, families, financial institutions, high net worth individuals, and trustees. What sets Withers apart from its peers is that the team typically acts for the creators of wealth and their families, and focuses on developing long term relationships with those clients across its international offices. Withers’ multi-disciplinary capabilities cover issues on immigration, philanthropy, matrimonial, cross-border investments, litigation, real estate and pre-IPO planning, providing clients with a fully integrated, one-stop service that other law firms cannot match.

Partners: 4 in Hong Kong
Other fee-earners: 7 in Hong Kong
Contact: Katie Graves
Email: [email protected]

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Corporate and Commercial Mabel Lui [email protected] +852 3711 1638
Corporate and Commercial Daniel Tang [email protected] +852 3711 1668
Corporate and Commercial Polly Chu [email protected] +852 3711 1633
International Arbitration and Litigation Joseph Chu [email protected] +852 3711 1733
International Arbitration and Litigation Sherlin Tung [email protected] +852 3711 1671
Litigation and Arbitration Michael Chik [email protected] +852 3711 1688
Family Billy Ko [email protected] +852 3711 1656
Family Jocelyn Tsao [email protected] +852 3711 1609
Family Samantha Gershon [email protected] +852 3711 1606
Family Anisha Ramanathan [email protected] +852 3711 1659
Investment Funds Simon Wong [email protected] +852 3711 1683
Philanthropy Michelle Chow [email protected] +852 3711 1640
Private Client and Tax Katie Graves [email protected] +852 3711 1636
Private Client and Tax Laurence Ho [email protected] +852 3711 1719
Private Client and Tax Deirdre Fu [email protected] +852 3711 1620
Private Client and Tax Alex Chung [email protected] +852 3711 1675
International Arbitration and Litigation Gary Leung [email protected] +852 3711 1663
International Arbitration and Litigation Alex Ye [email protected] +852 3711 1695
Private Client and Tax Letao Tao [email protected] +852 9132 9793

Staff Figures

Number of Partners (Firmwide) : 220+
Number of Lawyers (Firmwide) : 650+

Languages

Cantonese
English
Japanese
Mandarin
Albanian
Arabic
Azerbaijani
Bengali
Bulgarian
Burmese
Croatian
Dutch
French
Kiswahili
Konkani
Korean
Lithuanian
Bahasa Melayu
Malayalam
Hindi/Marathi
Norwegian
Polish
Portuguese
Punjabi
Romanian
Russian
Shona
Sinhalese
Somali
Spanish
Swedish
Filipino/Tagalog
Tamil
Teochew
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Hindi/Urdu
Welsh

Other

Website : www.withersworldwide.com
Tel : +852 3711 1600
Fax : +852 3711 1601
Email : [email protected]
Chairman : Justine Markovitz
Chief Executive Officer : Margaret Robertson
Managing Partner (Hong Kong office) : Jocelyn Tsao