Jacqueline Shek
Jacqueline Shek
Executive Director | Zedra
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
New South Wales, Australia
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Wealth planning
Family governance for Asian families
Contentious trust matters
RECOMMENDED SPECIALISMS
Private Investment
Multi-National Families
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Acting as Chairman of the Hong Kong Trustees’ Association with a very tangible role to promote the interest of the trust industry and to lift industry standards. On the business side, getting Zedra, a relatively new name, really known out here in Hong Kong as the trustee of choice for private clients.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Be curious. Be nosey. Dealing with sophisticated UHNW families require the technical ability to deal with some very big and complex commercial transactions, but at the same time, you are dealing with people and their families on a very personal level and that requires the personal touch to really understand your client’s values and underlying concerns.
What sets you apart from your peers?
I have seen a lot both from the set up and the bust up end in the life cycle of family trusts; gaining valuable insights on how to get it right, how things can go wrong, and how to future proof the asset planning structures. I have also had the pleasure of working in depth with trusts from a wide variety of jurisdictions in Asia Pacific, the Caribbean and the Channel Islands.
I started as a tax and trust lawyer with Baker & McKenzie and advised on the set up of many trusts and charities, gaining a lot of structuring experience. I then moved on to become global legal counsel of the HSBC private trust business and had to deal with a lot of trust and estate disputes; dramatic family disputes, claims against the trustees/ executors, defending trusts from hostile third parties claims, and also non-contentious court applications on momentous trustee decisions or esoteric points of trust law.
What is your favourite quote?
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
Bernadette Carey
Bernadette Carey
Partner | Carey Olsen
OFFICE LOCATION
Cayman Islands
British Virgin Islands
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Cayman Islands
New Zealand
Australia
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Joining the partnership at Carey Olsen in Cayman, and helping to grow the firm's footprint in the private client world throughout the Caribbean and beyond.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Take time to get to know your clients and what motivates them, focus on staying up to date with industry developments and trends so your contributions will be valuable, and prioritise making and growing strong connections with your peers in the market both locally and internationally.
What is your favourite quote?
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind" – Dr Seuss
Ashley Fife
Ashley Fife
Counsel | Carey Olsen
OFFICE LOCATION
Bermuda
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Bermuda
NSW, Australia
England and Wales
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Private and commercial trusts
Family office
Regulatory
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Becoming STEP Bermuda Branch Chairman
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
You can learn from those that disagree with you too
What is your favourite quote?
“Inside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist” George Carlin
Jonathan Mok
Jonathan Mok
Partner | Jonathan Mok Legal
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
England and Wales
New South Wales, Australia
Tasmania, Australia
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
I continue to represent UHNW clients in dealing with their contentious and non-contentious matters including wealth planning arrangements for their next generation.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Given that private client is a niche practice, they should have a good foundation by learning from the specialists in this field. For contentious young practitioners, they should aim to develop their advocacy skills by representing clients in court hearings so that they can acquire firsthand experience which is essential for advising clients in litigious matters.
What is your favourite quote?
A good settlement is one which leaves the parties feeling a bit dissatisfied but at the same time they don’t consider to have succeeded or failed in their case.
David Russell AM QC
David Russell AM QC
Barrister | Outer Temple Chambers
OFFICE LOCATION
UAE
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Australia
United Arab Emirates
England and Wales
Papua New Guinea
New Zealand
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Administration of estates and trusts
Asset holding structures
Tax
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Completion and implementation of the DIFC's Wealth Management Review, including enactment of new Foundations and Trust Laws.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Remember that you are part of a profession that, provided its constraints are respected and rigorously followed, contributes much to the future of the world and human freedom.
Never underestimate your capacity or diminish your ambition.
What is your favourite quote?
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money,” Margaret Thatcher.
Jeffrey Elkinson
Jeffrey Elkinson
Director | Conyers
OFFICE LOCATION
Bermuda
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Ireland
England and Wales
Hong Kong
Australia
United States (NY, MA)
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Dispute resolution
Contentious trusts
Trust restructuring
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Sitting as a judge in the Supreme Court of Bermuda.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Be patient and enjoy your work.
What is your favourite quote?
“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take,” Wayne Gretzky.