Deacons > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Deacons > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong > Commercial, corporate and M&A: independent Hong Kong law firms Tier 1

Deacons has a long track record of handling complex, high-value corporate transactions, including acting on inbound and outbound M&A, take-privates and business reorganisations. In addition to its work for multinationals entering the PRC market, the group also acts for public and private HK companies across sectors including financial services, real estate, consumer goods and technology. The group is jointly headed by Ronny Chow, who leads the corporate finance team, and Machiuanna Chu, who is also head of the corporate and commercial sub-team; and it was bolstered with the hire of Mark Stevens who joined from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in September 2022. Alexander Que is another name to note and takes the lead on privatisation.

Hong Kong > Intellectual property Tier 1

Long-established Hong Kong law firm Deacons works for several of the world’s best-known brands on both their trade mark portfolios and complex prosecutions. It also houses a dedicated patent team, comprising patent attorneys who are qualified in Australia, China, Europe and UK. Another strength is IP litigation, while sector strengths for the group include consumer goods, financial services, TMT, life sciences, luxury goods, hospitality, entertainment, and electrical, electronic and mechanical manufacturing. The IP department is co-led by court litigation specialist Charmaine Koo, and Annie Tsoi, who also heads the China IP practice group. Also integral to the team are trade mark portfolio protection expert Patsy Lau; Jeffrey McLean, who is experienced in the technical and patent aspects of contentious matters; and Hong Kong and New Zealand-qualified Kelley Loo. Emmy Chow is a partner as of January 2022, while Theresa Luk and Eliza Siew are the senior associates to note.

Hong Kong > Investment funds Tier 1

Drawing upon significant market intel and also benefitting from strong ties with Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Deacons 'understands the Hong Kong fund market very well', particularly in the context of retail funds. In this segment of the market, Jeremy Lam spearheads a 'cost-effective' team that 'handles the majority of authorised funds in Hong Kong', for Chinese and international fund managers. The 'very dependable' Su Cheen Chuah and Pinky Siu, who is able to draw from an 'abundance of experience', both excel in the ETF space, and are able to guide many leading sponsors through the fund life cycle, from structuring advice and stock exchange listing guidance, through to advice on marketing and distribution, as well as on post-authorisation and regulatory developments. Taylor Hui has excellent traction among Chinese stakeholders across both retail and private funds; he excels at advising PRC fund managers on fund establishment in Hong Kong and on bringing RMB investment products to the Hong Kong market.

Hong Kong > Labour and employment Tier 1

Deacons is a market leader in the employment sphere, which as well as an extensive advisory practice tackling such employment issues as those presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, also boasts an impressive contentious offering which benefits enormously from one of the largest and long-established litigation practices in Hong Kong. Leading the employment team and bringing almost three decades of experience is Cynthia Chung, who in recent years has served as a seasoned advisor to both local and international clients on contemporary issues such as remote working and vaccination requirements. Elsie Chan is widely renowned and respected for her handling of contentious matters, regularly called upon by some of the largest employers in Hong Kong to act in high profile cases, often involving statutory bodies and appearing before the most senior courts. Helen Liao has developed a significant practice guiding employers through the complex and sensitive area of discrimination law.

Hong Kong > Real estate Tier 1

A firm founded in Hong Kong, Deacons offers a thorough knowledge of the market and local regulations, as well as the capability to advise on large developments and cross border transactions. The real estate practice is led by the ‘outstanding‘ Lilian Chiang, who advises on major development projects and is recommended for her ‘technically sound advice‘. Wallace Wong has over two decades of experience and has handled many large real estate M&A deals in that period. Consequently, Wong has developed strong and lasting relationships with several major developers in Hong Kong, including the Urban Renewal Authority. Karen Chan and Wai Tung Yu are also key names to note. They assist on property transactions involving mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and property investment.

Hong Kong > Construction Tier 2

‘Approachable, helpful and responsive at all times’, the construction team at Deacons is well known in the market for handling disputes, transactional and advisory matters. On the disputes front, the practice advises on litigation, arbitration and mediation and handles both domestic and cross-border matters. Key clients include major developers, employers, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and consultants, and part of the firm’s non-contentious offering includes competition and compliance advice. Seasoned litigator Kwok Kit (KK) Cheung heads the team and acts for clients on construction and commercial disputes. Joseph Chung is an arbitrator and is admitted to appear in the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC).

Hong Kong > Regulatory Tier 2

Deacons has a large financial services regulatory team based in Hong Kong, utilising specific experience of senior partners across banking and finance to offer comprehensive advice on both contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm focuses its attention on the Hong Kong regulatory terrain, building connections with statutory regulators such as the SFC, and sitting on government-facing committees to offer recommendations on incoming legislation. The firm offers tailored advice for finance clients entering the region, such as institutional asset managers, securities houses and investment banks, and is particularly well-regarded for its fund management regulatory services. The expertise of contentious and non-contentious practice heads respectively, Joseph Kwan and Jeremy Lam, are valued highly in this practice area.

Hong Kong > Antitrust and competition Tier 3

Deacons is a long-established firm with sizeable expertise in competition and international M&A advice, due in large part to the knowledge of practice head Machiuanna Chu. The team is also experienced at handling high-profile Competition Tribunal cases. Clients praise the firm’s in-house competition economist Sharon Pang, whose ‘deep insight of the local market’ has been vital when assisting lawyers with antitrust litigation cases. Peter So is another name to note, with experience in a number of high-profile competition and investigation matters.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (debt) Tier 3

Led by Kevin Tong, the ‘professional and responsive’ team at Deacons is particularly effective at advising Greater China-based issuers, including SOEs, sovereigns and corporates, on a range of offshore bond issuances. Tong is ‘very knowledgeable’ of the regulatory strictures emanating from the HKSE, and has been at the vanguard of the offshore bond market since it was established in 2007. Consequently, he is a popular choice to advise clients across the life-cycle of deals, including providing standalone regulatory advice, handling transactional matters, and assisting with liability management exercises.

Hong Kong > Capital markets (equity) Tier 3

At Deacons, the ‘knowledgeable and well-respected’ Ronny Chow (who is also a member of HKEX’s Listing Review Committee) leads a team of ‘talented and dedicated practitioners who are well versed with the nuances of corporate finance transactions’. Underwriters, sponsors and issuers are appreciative of the practice’s ability to ‘provide useful and practical analysis on related legal issues’, including as it pertains to regulatory analysis, ensuring that clients receive a holistic service that is fully compliant from a risk management perspective. The scope of the work is broad and includes advice on IPOs and listings on both the Main Board and Growth Enterprise Market of the HKSE, as well as a range of other related matters, including block trades, private placements, rights issuances and other secondary offerings. Maynard Leung is also recommended.

Hong Kong > Corporate (including M&A) Tier 3

As one of the oldest law firms in Hong Kong, Deacons has a long-standing reputation for corporate transactions, including cross-border deals. The team’s clients include companies based in Hong Kong and Mainland China as well as multinationals, and it leverages its expertise across capital markets, competition and regulatory issues to provide input on complex transactions. The group is co-led by corporate finance specialist Ronny Chow and Machiuanna Chu, who has deep expertise across both corporate and commercial dealmaking.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: international arbitration Tier 3

Independent Hong Kong-based heavyweight Deacons provides ‘practical advice’ to clients from a range of sectors engaged in arbitration proceedings before the HKIAC, in particular, and is also adept at enforcement of court work around arbitrations, such as enforcement and setting aside. As well as their advocacy work, a number of the team also regularly sit as arbitrators themselves, ensuring that the firm has an excellent perspective on matters, as well as strong ties with the relevant arbitration bodies. The ‘very personable and commercial’ Joseph Chung  is one such team member, particularly in relation to the wealth of experience he has built up handling construction and engineering-related arbitrations. KK Cheung also acts as an arbitrator, as well as providing ‘practical advice’ to clients engaged in construction and broader commercial disputes. Justin Yuen is ‘efficient and client-friendly’, particularly in the context of construction disputes.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Independent Hong Kong-based heavyweight Deacons provides ‘exceptional value and quality advice’ to local and regional companies, public sector entities and private clients, across a wide variety of disputes. ‘Extremely innovative and hardworking’ team head Joseph Kwan‘s eclectic practice – which includes advice on shareholder disputes, financial services regulatory mandates and trusts matters – is emblematic of the diversity of the firm’s offering, ensuring that clients are well-served irrespective of the nature of the dispute. Other key practitioners include the ‘innovative and approachable’ Peter So, who excels at advising financial institutions on contentious regulatory and securities law-related issues, the ‘very experienced‘ KK Cheung, and associate Michelle Li.

Hong Kong > Domestic and International Corporate Tax Tier 3

Although it does handle some tax planning and advisory work for corporate clients, Deacons has gained most acclaim in the market for its skilled litigation offering on behalf of private clients and corporates across a range of disputes, including as it relates to direct and indirect taxes and stamp duties. Central to the firm’s success in this area has been the work of team head Stefano Mariani who takes the lead on all the cases, frequently handling the advocacy himself; including in a recent successful Court of Appeal case relating to the chargeability of certain post-employment payments to salaries tax in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong > Private Client and Family Tier 3

A renowned firm in Hong Kong, Deacons draws on its multidisciplinary nature to construct a skilled private client and family practice; covering a wide scope of areas such as matrimonial law, vulnerable clients, contentious probate and tax and trusts. The addition of Sherlynn Chan and senior associate Hazel Wong from Stevenson, Wong & Co was a boost to the family offering, the former advising on complex matrimonial disputes including divorce, cohabitation and child custody. Cecilia Lau is also skilled regarding family matters and on the private client side and Stefano Mariani brings extensive tax and trusts experience when handling private wealth disputes, such as estate planning and trust restructuring.

Hong Kong > TMT Tier 3

Housing practitioners with technology and science backgrounds, Deacons‘ TMT practice is particularly active in relation to digital assets. Its experience covers cryptocurrencies and the tokenisation of assets, blockchains, smart contracts and the metaverse. The team can also draw upon the expertise of the firm’s experienced IP, corporate and commercial practices. Charmaine Koo‘s practice covers IP litigation, data privacy and entertainment; and Machiuanna Chu regularly advises new economy clients and emerging businesses, including technology companies, cryptocurrency issuers and fintech companies (among others). On the IP side, Ian Liu, Kelley Loo and Amy Chung are also active partners.

Hong Kong > Banking and finance Tier 4

Headed by Ronny Chow, the ‘client-friendly’ three-partner team at Deacons provides a solid service to borrowers and lenders engaged in a wide spectrum of transactional work, including on domestic and cross-border syndicated/bilateral loans, acquisition finance and real estate finance matters. Erica Wong  is ‘technically very strong’ and has brought more firepower to the firm’s ability to service clients on corporate finance transactions since she joined from Ogier in June 2021. As well as his transactional expertise, consultant Simon Deane has an excellent grounding in relation to financial services regulatory matters, including as it relates to fintech and traditional banking.

Hong Kong > Insurance Tier 4

With practitioners qualified in Kong Hong, England and Australia, Deacons has ‘vast experience in a wide range of contentious matters, including casualty claims such as employees’ compensation, public liability and third party motor claims, as well as general claims’. The team typically acts for international and domestic insurers, intermediaries and government organisations, and is led by Alfred Tam, who is specialised in arbitration and litigation. Linda Lee is recommended for policy disputes and personal injury and professional indemnity matters. Road traffic accident and property-related claims is the area of expertise of Gere Sit.

China > Labour and employment: foreign firms Tier 3

Advising regularly on sensitive employment-related matters, Deacons is adept at assisting its clients with navigating the complexities of PRC labour law. PRC Bar qualified Helen Liao advises both Chinese state-funded enterprises and multinational companies across a range of industries including shipping, telecoms and tourism. Liao's key areas of expertise include cross-border employment arrangements, income tax compliance, immigration and more generally, the multi-jurisdictional labour issues arising from global talent mobility. Notably, the firm counts other law firms among its client roster which it advises on high-level terminations.

China > Intellectual property: foreign firms

Deacons‘ Hong Kong-based IP team, which also leverages support from representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, acts for some of the world’s best-known brands. The firm houses patent attorneys, who are  qualified in Australia, China, Europe and the UK, and has a longstanding track record  in handling large trade mark portfolios and prosecution matters. The IP department is co-led by IP expert Charmaine Koo, and Annie Tsoi, who consistently acts for leading companies from the luxury goods, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, entertainment, fashion and electronics sectors. Also integral to the group are patents and designs practice leader, Catherine Zheng, a specialist in China IP protection strategy and contentious matters; Dora Si, who provides ‘quick responses‘ and ‘firm and concise advice‘, and advises on China-related data privacy and cybersecurity issues; and China-focused technology specialist Ian Liu, who is particularly active in IP litigation and enforcement work, along with commercial IP matters.