Interview with: Alfred Ip, Partner

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Hugill & Ip from your competitors?

Some of the feedback that we consistently get from clients is that they feel well looked after. They feel there is a close partnership between themselves and the solicitor. As a boutique law firm, we are immersed in all practice areas we focus on. We are not generalists, so we have our eye on both market trends as well as up-to-date technical skill and knowledge.

Our lawyers are responsive. In addition, we have a very high ratio of partners vs associates and other supporting staff, so we are able to lead matters with the right involvement and supervision at senior level.

Moreover – being a relatively small outfit – we can be agile and offer more innovative and adaptable pricing structures to suit the varied needs of clients, both corporate and individual.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

My core practice area is Trust & Estates. In this area we have seen a consistent growth of both advisory and contentious Trusts & Estates work. The firm has built a strong reputation in contentious Estate matters and we have represented clients successfully over a diverse range of issues, including those involving modern family relationships where the law has been slow to catch up.

Most of our competitors are international firms or renowned local firms with long history. We are proud to currently have one of the biggest Private Client teams in Hong Kong. We also have a fast-growing Family and Matrimonial practice to which we are giving extra investment and support, adding passionate and knowledgeable individuals who specialise in divorce, children and matrimonial matters including adoption, separation, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, financial maintenance, child custody, access and relocation (including Hague Convention).

Our employment practice led by Adam Hugill has also had significant growth over the past two or three years and this is perhaps also fueled by a shift in values and priorities that many businesses and individuals have taken during the recent pandemic.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

We are constantly exploring new ways to benefit clients and to keep the firm very agile and flexible.

Technology is surely something that has helped us to streamline processes internally and with clients, while keeping our legal advice top-notch and avoid adding heavy structures which would escalate internal costs that would need somewhat be passed onto clients.

Being agile also means that internally we have learnt to multitask and move away from the traditional approach that many other law firms take. This happens across several practice areas and it is also possible because of the very clear focus that we had since opening our doors on avoiding to be a full-service firm. We concentrate on providing clients an excellent service in specific areas and we refer out matters which are out of our comfort zone.

How important Corporate Social Responsibility is to your firm?

When my fellow partner Adam and I decided to set up Hugill & Ip, one of the first core values that we shared was to give back to our community, so I would say that CSR is truly part of our DNA.

By being more involved in the community we can develop a better working environment for our staff, and nurture social inclusion into them, as well as strive to provide better services for our clients. We all take so much from the environment and society in general, so giving back not only creates a positive impact on others, but it should be a moral obligation we should all commit as human beings.

We have always taken some matters on a pro-bono basis, but also been involved in larger social responsibility campaigns. Making real impact to people’s lives is what we strive for, and a lot of those who needs us cannot afford us, therefore we are privileged to have the capacity to take on pro-bono cases.

Specifically, we focus on social issues that are very dear to us both as individuals and as a firm overall: most recently we ran a fundraiser and awareness campaign related to cancer research, and we also feel very passionate about other issues – e.g. the environment, the protection of disadvantaged people (Migrant Domestic Workers, the elderly and children), equality and LGBTQ rights. These are causes we have dedicated time and effort to support so far and that we plan to continue getting involved in the future.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

Since my practice area focuses on individuals rather than businesses, I can focus on times when we have really supported and achieved a great result for people during very difficult times in their life.

We are currently helping a child who has lost his father and his estate did not provide for him, and we are claiming for financial provision.  His life would be dramatically different if this claim is successful. We are very keen to make it happen and we are doing all we can to help him.

We are also helping a number of clients whose relationships with their significant others are not recognized under the laws: de facto relationship, same-sex relationship, etc. We help them claiming for their entitlement, at the same time we constantly advise other clients in similar relationships to avoid litigation in the future with proper Estate Planning.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Our three-year plan is for sustained and risk-calculated growth. We continue to hire new team members, having brought in two brilliant new associates in the past six months. It is crucial that as we expand and work with new people, while we stay true to our core values.

Our expansion will soon see a boost in several practice areas with new partners and associates joining us in the Dispute Resolution, Private Client and Corporate & Commercial teams. In three years’ time, we reckon our focus and attention will continue in a similar way – widening the team is simply a response to the expansion in our client base, for which we feel privileged as a firm.