Vice president and general counsel | Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
Head of legal and compliance; managing director | Greater Bay Area Homeland Investments
Senior deputy group general counsel | China Resources Holdings
Managing director and general counsel, APAC | Christie’s Hong Kong
Head of legal and compliance, Asia | Bouygues Construction Group
Senior vice president, general counsel Asia Pacific | Colgate-Palmolive
Global head of legal and general counsel Asia Pacific | Allianz Global Investors
Delia Lang is the Global Head of Legal and General Counsel Asia Pacific at Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI). Based in Hong Kong, Delia is responsible for the firm’s global legal...
Legal and company secretarial manager | Henderson Land Development
Legal director | Hong Kong Tourism Board
Eddie Chan is the Legal Director at Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), a statutory body with a core function to promote Hong Kong globally as a leading international city in...
Head of Corporate and regulatory legal | Tencent
Elizabeth joined Tencent Legal in 2013 and currently heads the Corporate and International Regulatory Legal Center. Elizabeth is responsible for a diverse range of workstreams outside of China, each comprised...
Head of group legal and company secretary | The Hong Kong and China Gas Company
APAC general counsel | BNP Paribas
Eoin Gillen is APAC General Counsel at BNP Paribas, based in Hong Kong. Eoin leads a team of approximately 140 legal professionals based in 12 jurisdictions across APAC supporting BNP...
Managing director - head of APAC global banking legal and head of APAC | UBS
Group general counsel, head of compliance | CK Hutchison Holdings
General counsel and company secretary | Shangri-La
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Iain Seow leads the Shangri-La Group’s Legal Department which oversees the Group’s legal and regulatory affairs in over 24 countries. Shangri-La Group is primarily listed in...
Senior legal counsel | Luk Fook Holdings Company
Ms. Irene Cheung received her BA from the University of Toronto and her LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School. Ms. Cheung was qualified as a solicitor, barrister, and notary public...
Chief compliance officer, general manager, and head of the legal and compliance department | Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
Iris Kwok is currently the Chief Compliance Officer, General Manager, and Head of the Legal and Compliance Department of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (SPDB) Hong Kong Branch. She has over...
Regional general counsel for Asia Pacific | G4S
Chief compliance officer, head of legal and compliance | China International Capital Corporation
General counsel, strategy director and company secretary | Bupa
Jonty is General Counsel, Strategy Director, and Company Secretary at Bupa Hong Kong. In his current role, he leads the provision of legal advice, strategic development, and company secretariat support...
Head of legal | Great Eagle Company Group
Keith Hung was admitted as a Solicitor in Hong Kong in 1996 and holds Master’s Degrees in Law from the University of New South Wales and the University of Hong...
Group head of legal and managing director | CITIC CLSA
As Group Head of Legal at CITIC CLSA, Marco oversees the legal function globally, covering all 14 jurisdictions where CLSA has offices. In addition to leading the Legal Team at...
General counsel | Giordano International
Mark Loynd took up the position of General Counsel at Giordano International in 2013 and has since expanded his responsibilities to include Company Secretary, Head of Overseas Market Development and...
General counsel and company secretary | COSCO SHIPPING Ports
Senior director, APAC legal | Viavi Solutions (Greater China)
Executive director and general counsel, APAC and EMEA | Lenovo
Managing director and general counsel Asia Pacific | The Blackstone Group
Richard Blair is Senior Managing Director and General Counsel Asia Pacific. He sits on a number of boards including those of The Blackstone Group (Hong Kong) Limited and Blackstone Singapore....
Head of legal | Hong Kong Disneyland
Rita Tang is the Assistant Chief Counsel and Head of Legal at Hong Kong Disneyland and has been with the company since 2009. Having established a career in the legal...
Global tax and legal services director, risk and quality | PwC
Legal director - Asia | TI Fluid Systems
Stanley Lui, a seasoned legal and compliance professional, brings extensive expertise across diverse industries. Currently serving as Legal Director for Asia at TI Fluid Systems, Stanley oversees supply contracts, product...
Group general counsel and company secretary | PCCW Limited/HKT Limited
Group general counsel and company secretary | Melco International Development Limited
Melco is a dynamic company that continues to explore new opportunities, and the previous years have been a transformational phase for the Group. I have been working closely with the...
Regional compliance officer and head of business ethics, Asia Pacific | Chanel
Wendy is the Head of Business Ethics for Asia Pacific at Chanel. She is the first regional compliance officer in APAC region and has established and led the team since...
Director, general counsel and company secretary | Hang Lung Properties
General counsel and chief compliance officer | TF International Securities Group
On behalf of The Legal 500, I am delighted and honoured to present the GC Powerlist: Hong Kong 2024.
This edition is a tribute to the exceptional general counsel and in-house lawyers who have made, and continue to make, significant strides in one of the most influential and complex legal landscapes in the region. Our research journey has allowed us the opportunity to engage deeply with Hong Kong’s foremost legal professionals, uncovering their pioneering strategies, transformative leadership, and unwavering dedication to excellence.
In a market characterised by rapid evolution and intricate regulatory challenges, Hong Kong’s general counsel are redefining their roles. No longer confined to traditional legal functions, these leaders are integral to the shaping of their companies’ strategic directions, fortifying organisational resilience, and adeptly navigating the complexities of economic fluctuations, technological advancements, and evolving regulations. The powerlist candidates featured in this year’s list are not only distinguished by their legal expertise but also by their pivotal contributions to guiding their organisations through an era of extraordinary change and challenges.
The 2024 powerlist is dedicated to those who are at the forefront of driving business success, embracing innovation, and upholding the highest standards of integrity. From leading groundbreaking digital initiatives and establishing robust governance frameworks to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, these general counsel set new benchmarks for legal leadership.
As Benjamin Chan, vice president legal and SSC director for Asia Pacific at HUGO BOSS Hong Kong, aptly observes: ‘In times of instability, managing legal issues requires a flexible and proactive approach. For our fashion and retail business, which is inherently impacted by changing trends and economic fluctuations, a robust legal strategy is essential for both immediate risk management and long-term stability’.
The GC Powerlist: Hong Kong 2024 celebrates the remarkable achievements and distinctive contributions of these legal trailblazers. We are proud to share their stories and insights, showcasing their commitment to redefining the role of in-house counsel and shaping the future of legal practice in Hong Kong.
Congratulations to all the distinguished general counsel and in-house lawyers selected in 2024’s GC Powerlist: Hong Kong.
Allan Cohen| Lead Editor – The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Hong Kong 2024
All of us at Jones Day are delighted to be a part of the 2024 edition of the GC Powerlist Hong Kong, together with the General Counsels recognised. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to each and every one included in the GC Powerlist: Hong Kong 2024. Your achievements and contributions to the corporate and legal ecosystems in Hong Kong and beyond are truly commendable.
Having had the privilege of working with many of you, we are thrilled to see your efforts being recognised. In particular, we extend a special welcome back to those of you who were recognised in the previous editions of the GC Powerlist Hong Kong.
As the dominant commercial hub in Asia, Hong Kong is home to the regional headquarters of the world’s top business organisations and serves as the base from which leading businesses run their regional and global operations. In this vibrant and evolving landscape, General Counsels like yourselves play an indispensable role in shaping the future of their organisations. Your contributions extend well beyond traditional legal advisory functions; you are essential to the strategic direction and operational success of your organisations. As General Counsels, you navigate complex legal frameworks across multiple jurisdictions and diverse legal systems, all while balancing commercial priorities and minimising legal risks. Your ability to adapt to the relentless pressures of ever evolving global issues not only enhances resilience of your organisation but also positions it for sustainable growth.
At Jones Day, we understand the challenges you face. As one of the first US law firms to expand into Asia, we have witnessed various business cycles since the opening of our Hong Kong office in 1986 and have been proud to support our clients in Hong Kong and throughout the region through our offices worldwide.
As one of the world’s largest and most geographically comprehensive law firms, Jones Day is synonymous with responsive and dedicated client service. Spread over five continents, Jones Day has more than 2,400 lawyers in 40 offices based in key cities and financial centres, working together as “One Firm Worldwide”, providing our clients with seamless access to a full spectrum of practice areas. When client matters have an interdisciplinary dimension, we are proud to offer our unique blend of talent and service across specialties and jurisdictions.
Jones Day’s partners hold a core set of common values, with a unity of purpose in providing unparalleled service and quality to our clients, reflecting Jones Day’s deep-rooted set of shared professional values, which can be traced to our beginnings in 1893.
Our dedication to client service has not gone unnoticed. We have earned a Number 1 ranking in the Client Service A-Team report 14 times, including six consecutive years atop the list, by BTI Consulting Group, based on unprompted responses from in-depth interviews with in-house legal counsel from Fortune 500 organisations. Securing the Number 1 ranking 14 times is an unprecedented achievement for any law firm.
We are honoured to celebrate the recognition of the General Counsels on their well-deserved inclusion in this 2024 edition of the GC Powerlist: Hong Kong. As we celebrate your recognition, let us also look ahead to the exciting possibilities that await us. Together, we as legal practitioners can make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. We look forward to many more years of close partnership with each of you.
On Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, The Legal 500 hosted the Diversity and Inclusion Forum Switzerland 2024 in Zürich, in partnership with Schellenberg Wittmer.
The agenda included two engaging sessions focused on diversity and inclusion strategies and the transformative impact of age and background in shaping the legal teams of the future. The event fostered an informal atmosphere and encouraged active participation, allowing attendees to share their insights and questions, which enriched the discussions.
Sara Maggi, The Legal 500’s editorial lead for the Forum, kicked off the event with a welcome address, followed by Philippe Bärtsch, managing partner at Schellenberg Wittmer, who set the right tone for the day’s proceedings.
The first session, titled “unlocking talent and innovation through diversity and inclusion: strategies and best practices in legal departments”, was moderated by Anya George, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer. Speakers included: Markus Lang, general counsel, Europe West, at EY; Valérie Collaudin, general counsel and head of sustainability, at Gurit; Aziz Aidaros, vice president and associate general counsel, Europe, at Philip Morris International; and Nina Cronstedt, group chief legal and compliance officer, at Verisure. This session provided a platform for sharing innovative strategies and best practices that promote diversity and inclusion, drawing on real-world examples that have successfully positioned legal teams for future success.
The second session, “bridging generations and cultures: the power of age and background in legal teams of the future”, was moderated by George Ayoub, partner at Schellenberg Wittmer who was joined by Cornelis (Kees) Van Ophem, executive vice president and global general counsel, at Fresenius Medical Care; Sarah Chevalley, associate general counsel, at Lonza; Cyrill Bachmann, general counsel and secretary to the board of directors, at AMEOS Gruppe; and Marcella De Luca, senior counsel, at Deutsche Bank. The panel discussed how diverse perspectives—including gender, upbringing, culture, and age—enhance collaboration within legal departments, highlighting the value of these differences in creating effective teams.
Following the insightful sessions, attendees enjoyed a reception of drinks and canapés, providing an excellent opportunity for networking and further discussion. The Legal 500 was delighted to collaborate with Schellenberg Wittmer once again to bring this successful event to life and looks forward to returning to Switzerland soon.
