What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?

We were initially engaged to structure an individual clients’ cross-border personal wealth using a mix of trusts and corporations. Subsequently, when the company that the clients co-founded were preparing for an initial public offering on a major stock exchange in the world, we were called upon to advise on the US tax aspects of the pre-IPO corporate restructuring. Originally Chinese nationals, the clients became US citizens and started a very successful business back in China. During the advice process, we took care to make sure that the corporate transactions and their US tax implications on the US founders would dovetail seamlessly with the founders’ US tax and trust planning. This required our firm to provide multidisciplinary advice and to work closely and effectively with counsels from China, Hong Kong, the BVI and the Cayman Islands.

What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?

Understand the future trends and acquire the right set of skills that will put yourself in a unique position to add value to clients.

What is your favourite quote?

“Just do it,” Nike.