The team at Deacons frequently advises prominent high-net-worth individuals and families on a wide scope of areas, such as matrimonial law, family disputes, contentious probate, and tax and trust-related mandates. Sherlynn Chan leads the team and is an expert in family and mental capacity law, regularly handling complex and sensitive matrimonial cases including divorce, separation, cohabitation, and financial claims, as well as children matters. Chan is supported by Cecilia Lau, who brings expertise to family dispute resolution, including cross-border divorce and separation cases. Further key figures include recently promoted partner Tana Chan, who specialises in wealth and succession planning, and senior associate Hazel Wong, who brings experience to matters involving vulnerable clients. Stefano Mariani departed the firm in June 2023 to join Baker McKenzie.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Private clients commonly seek advice on family, planning and succession issues, but often those issues inter-linked with corporate, tax, property and litigation matters. As such, the wide variety of Deacons' practices serve as the crucial support to the private client practice.'
- 'Individuals of the private client team, led by the Sherlynn Chan, come with vast experience in dispute resolution and mediation, profound understanding of family dynamics and related issues, such as family trust, dealing with incapacity and death, all of which assist in providing valuable insights and consideration in giving advice to lay clients.'
- 'Strong private client experience, and also general litigation know-how.'
- 'Sherlynn Chan has extensive experience in private client matters and provides very good client care.'
- 'Their team, headed by Sherlynn Chan, is exceptionally strong in the market. They are well-known for their work relating to appointment of mental health committee for individuals who have lost their mental capacity, enduring power of attorney, and also broader private client disputes such as family and divorce proceedings.'
- 'Apart from a strong team of lawyers at all levels, they are assisted by those with accounting backgrounds and can offer a well-rounded, one-stop solution.'
- 'Sherlynn Chan is a go-to for any big private client matter, especially involving individuals with challenges to their mental capacity. Very user friendly and commands the trust and respect of client, practitioners and the bench a like.'
- 'Sherlynn Chan is a very experienced family lawyer who is visible, hardworking, and engaging. The wills and probate partner Tana Chan is very thorough and has great client manner.'
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sherlynn Chan