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
William Ahern
William Ahern
Partner | Haldanes
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
England & Wales
Australian Capital Territory
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
I gave what I thought was the best presentation of my career on the dangers of the CRS Mandatory Disclosure Rules in Mexico City at the STEP LATAM conference in October 2018.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Read everything you can get your hands on and don’t be afraid to fight for the rights of your clients which are under attack on many fronts.
What is your favourite quote?
When your neighbour starts preaching, brand your calves early!
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.
Alfred Ip
Alfred Ip
Partner | Hugill and Ip Solicitors
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Setting up this law firm with my partner, Adam Hugill, in September 2018 and we are now a practice with over 20 members, half of which are practising solicitors. We have taken on a number of new instructions, some of them are most interesting in terms of both legal and factual issues.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Patience - Being a good listener set yourself apart from a lot of your peers.
Compassion - Understanding their concerns and resolve their issues with your special knowledge and wisdom.
What is your favourite quote?
“You reap what you sow: Life is like a boomerang. Our thoughts, deeds and words return to us sooner or later, with astounding accuracy.” Grant M. Bright
Erik Wallace
Erik Wallace
Partner | Stephenson Harwood
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
New York
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What is your favourite quote?
“This is a question too difficult for a mathematician. It should be asked of a philosopher"(when asked about completing his income tax form)” ― Albert Einstein
Richard Norridge
Richard Norridge
Partner | Herbert Smith Freehills
OFFICE LOCATION
London, UK
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
England and Wales
Hong Kong
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Succession planning
Dispute resolution
Philanthropy and charitable giving
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Working on the highest profile trust matter currently in Hong Kong, which involves a wide range of issues and allegations ranging from technical trust issues through to undue influence, as well as issues concerning the regulation of listed companies.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
It is important to maintain the difficult balance between being close to your clients and carefully understanding their wishes, whilst also maintaining enough objectivity to bring fresh perspectives.
What is your favourite quote?
“I know that history is going to be dominated by an improbable event, I just don’t know what that event will be.”
Clifford Ng
Clifford Ng
Co-Managing Partner | Zhong Lun Law Firm
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
England and Wales
Canada
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Family business governance
Asset holding structures
Family office
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
I have provided strategic advice on cross-border transactions and investments, tax, regulatory, estate planning, asset preservation, governance. Some of my highlights include advising a large family office with over USD4 billion in assets in Hong Kong, UK, and Canada in succession planning and management and investment matters, as well as advising on the setting up of a trust structure for the acquisition of a hotel worth approximately USD250 million in Canada.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
If you are a “rising star”, you probably know and live by this already: Always be learning.
What is your favourite quote?
“Illegitimi non carborundum.”
Kevin Lee
Kevin Lee
Partner | Stephenson Harwood
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
Cambodia
British Columbia
England and Wales
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Succession planning
Asset holding structures
Tax
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
I advised HNW PRC clients on CRS compliance for trusts, holding vehicles and business entities in various jurisdictions. I also advised clients on the settlement or restructuring of trusts with PRC, US, Canadian, UK, Japanese, Australian and other beneficiaries (including tax compliance advice). Recently, I advised an extended HK family on how to structure asset ownership involving establishing a series of trusts in combination with multi-jurisdictional testamentary and philanthropic planning.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
There is a real need for expert ethical professional advice in private wealth. This need will spread down to the next generation and these are the clients of the future who can relate more easily to a new breed of private wealth advisers.
What is your favourite quote?
“I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain,” Blade Runner.
Thelma Kwan
Thelma Kwan
Barrister-at-Law | Thelma T M Kwan
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Personal and estate planning
Succession planning
Family law
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Leaving the private banks (trust company), returning to practice and bringing the two worlds together in advising clients. With increased litigation practice, I am able to bring "what goes wrong" into giving advice to client, and learning from other people's mistakes features high in my discussion with clients.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Listen beyond the words of the clients and be of integrity.
What is your favourite quote?
"Do or do not, there is no try," Yoda, Star Wars.
Lester Huang
Lester Huang
Partner | PC Woo & Co
OFFICE LOCATION
Hong Kong
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Hong Kong
England and Wales
Australian Capital Territory
Singapore
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN