Mr Matthew Durham > Lewis Silkin > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile
Lewis Silkin Offices
1302, 13/F, Dina House, Ruttonjee Centre
11 Duddell Street
Central, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
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Mr Matthew Durham
Work Department
Employment
Position
Foreign Legal Consultant
Career
Matthew is an experienced Asia employment lawyer specializing in mainland China matters. He has spent over 20 years working for international law firms based primarily in Shanghai, after originally training and starting his career in London. He joined Lewis Silkin in mid-2023.
Matthew specializes in mainland China matters, helping multi-national companies to navigate a wide range of employment and people-related issues. He also works on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional projects which have a nexus with Hong Kong and the wider Asia region. Matthew’s work for clients encompasses a broad array of sectors, including banking and insurance, technology and communications, pharma and professional services.
Matthew’s work includes advising on:
- The full range of employment documentation, including offer letters, contracts, confidentiality and non-compete agreements, and handbooks and policies.
- Hiring and selection processes, including structuring employment arrangements and immigration issues for expatriates
remuneration, bonus and incentive arrangements. - Overtime, sick leave, maternity and statutory social insurance and welfare entitlements.
- Employment issues arising from company restructuring and closure scenarios.
- Employee issues in the context of M&A activity, including transfer of employees to buyer in asset acquisitions.
- Discrimination and sexual harassment issues.
- Non-compete and other restrictive covenants.
- Employee exits and terminations, including negotiation of mutual termination and settlement agreements.
- Investigations relating to employee misconduct, anti-corruption, sexual harassment, as well as whistleblower related issues.
- Dual employment arrangements involving the PRC and Hong Kong, as well as regional harmonization projects.
- International assignments, secondments and intra-group transfers.
- Data privacy issues.
Matthew is a regular speaker and commentator on China employment matters and has been consistently recognized in the Asia Pacific legal directories over many years.
Lawyer Rankings
Hong Kong > Labour and employment
Multinational and Hong Kong-based corporates frequently seek advice from Lewis Silkin on a wide range of employment law issues, including HR data privacy, structuring incentive and share schemes, and M&A employment support. On the contentious front, the firm has been highly engaged in litigation related to internal investigations, taking the team to labour tribunals and the High Court. Notably, the firm also possesses expertise in immigration matters and has recently been advising employers on various issues, including global working rights and visas, as well as on multi-jurisdictional projects spanning other Asia Pacific regions. At the helm of the team stands Catherine Leung, highly sought after by clients from industries including financial services, luxury retail, and technology, who seek guidance on a wide range of employment issues, including discrimination and hiring and firing. Other key figures at partner level include Jezamine Fewins, who specialises in areas such as restrictive covenants, the misuse of confidential information, and trade secrets. The team’s capabilities have recently been bolstered by the addition of senior consultant Matthew Durham, along with associates Karen Chu and Emily Chow. Kathryn Weaver is no longer at the firm and moved to Seyfarth Shaw LLP in January 2023.