Firm Profile > Howse Williams > Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Howse Williams Offices
27TH FLOOR, ALEXANDRA HOUSE
18 CHATER ROAD, CENTRAL
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
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Howse Williams > The Legal 500 Rankings
Labour and employment Tier 2
Independent Hong Kong law firm Howse Williams continues to pick up market share since its inception in 2012, acting for a balanced roster of employers and employees across a range of labour issues, including as it relates to immigration, remuneration, termination, and post-termination matters. As well as picking up an increased flow of work from the education and airline sectors, the practice continues to handle a considerable amount of financial services-related litigation for employers and employees, including on matters relating to unpaid bonuses and clawback provisions. 'Very sensible' team head Patricia Yeung is at the heart of many of the firm's financial services-related mandates, and as well as advising on employment litigation in the sector, also frequently negotiates exit packages in relation to high-level employees of banks, brokerages, and insurance companies.
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Testimonials
‘The team is extremely knowledgeable, dedicated, and professional, and able to explain concepts in layman’s terms.’
‘Patricia Yeung and Angela Wu are professional, dedicated, and a pleasure to work with. Nothing is ever too much trouble for them.’
Key clients
Mr. Tang Yi
BGC Securities Hong Kong Limited / Sunrise Brokers (Hong Kong) Limited
Mr. Bing Lin
China Everbright Securities (HK) Limited / Everbright Sun Hung Kai Company
L’Oreal Travel Retail Asia Pacific
Hong Kong Airlines Limited
Mr. Chad Holm
Shipping Tier 2
Instructed directly by clients, including charterers, shipowners, and insurers, as well as receiving a significant amount of law firm referrals, independent Hong Kong-based law firm Howse Williams has an excellent pedigree across a wide array of wet and dry shipping litigation. 'Very capable and well-connected' founding partner Chris Howse has lots of experience in the local market, with particular expertise handling problems arising from the shipment of coal, iron ore, nickel ore, and fluorspar. David Coogans co-heads the team, alongside Howse, and as well as representing clients in charterparty and bills of lading disputes, is also well-versed at handling admiralty matters, including collision, salvage, and pollution cases. The team also has niche expertise handling personal injury work for shipowners and terminals, where it benefits from the ability to tap into the expertise of a medico-legal department (that includes two partners also qualified as doctors).
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Testimonials
‘Chris Howse is very capable and well-connected.’
Insurance Tier 3
Howse Williams is well known for handling professional indemnity defence work, and is also noted for its strength in healthcare matters, for example advising pharmaceutical companies on drug liability claims. Marine insurance is another area of expertise for the team. Chris Howse is the main name.
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Private Client (tax, trusts, wealth management and contentious probate) Tier 3
Led by the 'excellent' Linda Heathfield, Howse Williams' four-partner family team is 'flexible, sensible and easy to work with' and provides a 'strong' service for clients across a range of matrimonial issues, often involving families with assets in multiple jurisdictions around the world, as well as highly contested children matters. The arrival of 'well-balanced litigator' Kevin So from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in June 2019, adds to the firm's bandwidth and strengthens its ability to handle private wealth and trusts disputes.
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Testimonials
‘The firm has recently developed a strong private wealth and family practice.’
‘The team is flexible, sensible and easy to work with.’
‘Linda Heathfield has enjoyed an excellent reputation well before heading up the firm’s family department.’
‘I rate Kevin So as one of the best litigators in town and a go-to solicitor for private wealth, trust, and commercial disputes. His experience is unusually well balanced, having acted for high-profile private wealth clients and large multi-national commercial institutions in litigation, while also enjoying a thriving practice serving mid-sized clients (which provides him with more frequent court experience especially on bread-and-butter matters). His breadth of experience and ability to communicate with all types of clients makes him easy to recommend.’
Corporate (including M&A) Tier 6
Under the leadership of Chris Williams, the corporate and commercial department at Howse Williams handles M&A transactions in the mid-market space across East Asia. It acts for public companies on M&A, and regulatory and compliance work. Other areas of focus include corporate finance, direct investment and corporate restructurings and reorganisations.
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Testimonials
‘Howse Williams has the international reach and local expertise, whilst keeping modest and practical’.
‘Chia Ching Tan is experienced in cross-border M&A transactions, and is quick and familiar with doing businesses in Hong Kong, China and South East Asia’.
‘Brian Ho has the experience and ability to see issues from different perspectives, which not all lawyers possess’.
‘Chia Ching Tan is quick in giving her responses, provides alternative solutions during deadlocks and ensures deals are done in a satisfactory manner’.
‘Chia Ching Tan is hands-on in leading transactions, and leads her team members really well so that clients are always taken care of’.
Key clients
Deson Development International Holdings Limited and two other shareholders
A listed company in Thailand which provides media service with a network coverage in Thailand
Hanergy Thin Film Power Group Limited
Shareholders and Management of AQM
Egis
An online e-commerce platform operating in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the PRC and Southeast Asia (the “Platform”)
DA Wolf Investments I Limited
Starlite Holdings Limited (stock code: 403)
Starrise Media Holdings Limited
Lippo Limited
Howse Williams > Firm Profile
The firm: Howse Williams is an independent Hong Kong law firm with 26 partners and a total headcount of approximately 200. As an independent Hong Kong firm, the partners are able to minimise legal and commercial conflicts of interest and act for clients in every industry sector. The partners have spent the majority of their careers in Hong Kong and have a detailed understanding of international business and business in Asia.
Areas of practice
Dispute resolution: HW handles complex multi-jurisdictional commercial cases involving sale of goods; trade finance; media law; fraud; shareholder, joint venture, intellectual property, employment, property, trust and franchise disputes; injunction proceedings; jurisdictional challenges; public inquiries; and judicial reviews.
Corporate and corporate finance: HW’s team advises clients on a diverse spectrum of practice areas in all Asian jurisdictions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, direct investment, capital markets and securities, private equity and venture capital, shareholder/joint venture agreements, corporate restructuring/reorganisation, corporate governance and general commercial matters including operational contracts and intellectual property commercialisation.
Clinical negligence and healthcare: HW advises doctors, dentists and their indemnity providers and other healthcare professionals. It also advises private hospitals, medical group practices, corporate healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies on issues relating to the import and distribution of drugs and pharmaceutical products, drug liability claims and regulatory matters. Three members of the team (including two partners) are dual-qualified as lawyers and medical practitioners.
Shipping: HW has considerable experience in all types of wet and dry shipping litigation. The team (which includes solicitors with seagoing experience) deals with collision, salvage, wreck removal and pollution cases as well as charterparty, bill of lading and other contract of affreightment disputes. The firm advises ship-owners, P&I clubs, hull and machinery insurers, salvors, charterers and freight forwarders.
Insurance/professional indemnity: HW advises on general insurance, professional indemnity, D&O and specialised insurance lines acting for underwriters, brokers, mutual and fixed premium insurers of ships, a wide range of insurers for freight forwarders, warehouse operators, transport intermediaries, cargo owners and trade insurers. The firm also represents insurers who provide professional indemnity insurance for various professional bodies in Hong Kong.
Employment: HW provides contentious and non-contentious employment and immigration advice to both employers and employees in Hong Kong.
Family and matrimonial: HW’s cases often involve families with assets in multiple jurisidictions. The firm handles all manner of children’s issues including custody, care and control and other parenting disputes, such as access, child maintenance, paternity and schooling applications both in respect of married and unmarried couples and cohabitants. The firm has experience in handling private adoptions; cases involving child abduction and family finances including property transfers, prenuptial agreements and separation deeds.
Fraud: HW regularly acts for victims of all types of fraud to recover misappropriated assets. The firm is the Hong Kong representative of the International Fraud Group (IFG), an elite group of lawyers across 17 countries focussed on unravelling fraud and tracing and returning assets.
Property and building management: HW’s clients include some of the largest international real estate agencies, listed property developers, international and local building management companies, quasi government bodies, property investment funds, incorporated owners of of commercial/residential buildings, and commercial and individual landlords and tenants in Hong Kong.
Regulatory and compliance: HW’s regulatory team advises financial institutions and corporates on a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious regulatory and compliance issues.
Banking and finance: HW’s banking team has experience in a broad range of banking and finance matters, including bilateral and syndicated lending, international trade finance, project finance, acquisition finance, ship finance, general cash management and liquidity products, asset and debt recovery, security enforcement actions, banking regulation and compliance, sanctions, AML, KYC and various regulatory project and remediation work. The team also specialise in a diverse range of trade finance matters.
Trusts, assets and wealth management: We advise ultra high-net-worth individuals and their families; entrepreneurs and family businesses both in Hong Kong and the PRC. We are trusted legal advisers providing advice and support to our clients on the management of their wealth and assets, and on a wide range of inheritance and succession matters. We have experience in establishing trusts, in particular family trusts, educational trusts and charitable trusts. Our team includes solicitors who are full members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Wills, probate and estate management: We handle wills, probate, estate management and general civil litigation matters.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
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Senior Partner and Managing Partner; Dispute resolution | Chris Howse | chris.howse@howsewilliams.com | 28033600 |
Clinical negligence and healthcare; Insurance | David Kan | david.kan@howsewilliams.com | 28033658 |
Shipping; Dispute resolution; insurance; fraud | David Coogans | david.coogans@howsewilliams.com | 28033672 |
Dispute resolution | Alison Scott | alison.scott@howsewilliams.com | 28033604 |
Dispute resolution | Michael Withington | michael.withington@howsewilliams.com | 28033612 |
Dispute resolution; Fraud; Trusts, assets & wealth management | Kevin So | kevin.so@howsewilliams.com | 28033602 |
Clinical negligence and healthcare | Bernard Murphy | bernard.murphy@howsewilliams.com | 28033606 |
Clinical negligence and healthcare | Oonagh Toner | oonagh.toner@howsewilliams.com | 28033697 |
Clinical negligence and healthcare | Maureen Liu | maureen.liu@howsewilliams.com | 28033667 |
Shipping; Insurance/professional indemnity | William Leung | william.leung@howsewilliams.com | 28033782 |
Family and matrimonial | Linda Heathfield | linda.heathfield@howsewilliams.com | 28033624 |
Family and matrimonial | Stacey Devoy | stacey.devoy@howsewilliams.com | 28033724 |
Family and matrimonial | Karen Lam | karen.lam@howsewilliams.com | 28033639 |
Regulatory and compliance | Jill Wong | jill.wong@howsewilliams.com | 28033670 |
Corporate and commercial | Christopher Williams | chris.williams@howsewilliams.com | 28033622 |
Corporate and commercial; M&A | Gilles Cardonnel | gilles.cardonnel@howsewilliams.com | 28033772 |
Corporate and commercial; Capital markets | Brian Ho | brian.ho@howsewilliams.com | 28033623 |
Corporate and commercial; capital markets | Heidi Lee | heidi.lee@howsewilliams.com | 28033718 |
Corporate and commercial; capital markets | Christopher Yu | chris.yu@howsewilliams.com | 28033638 |
Capital markets | Chia Ching Tan | chiaching.tan@howsewilliams.com | 28033615 |
Capital markets | Stephen Leung | stephen.leung@howsewilliams.com | 28033625 |
Capital markets | Denise Che | denise.che@howsewilliams.com | 28033666 |
Shipping; Insurance/professional indemnity | Eviana Leung | eviana.leung@howsewilliams.com | 28033687 |
Employment | Patricia Yeung | patricia.yeung@howsewilliams.com | 28033748 |
Property and building management | Janet Lee | janet.lee@howsewilliams.com | 28033761 |
Banking and finance | Antony Yung | antony.yeung@howsewilliams.com | 28033774 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Mr Gilles Cardonnel | Gilles is a Partner in Howse Williams’ corporate practice. He regularly advises… | View Profile |
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Ms Denise Che | Denise is a Partner in Howse Williams’ corporate practice. She has a… | View Profile |
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Mr David Coogans | David is a commercial disputes lawyer specialising in international trade disputes. David… | View Profile |
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Ms Stacey Devoy | Stacey is a Partner in Howse Williams family and matrimonial team. She… | View Profile |
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Ms Linda Heathfield | Linda is a Partner in Howse Williams’ family and matrimonial practice. Linda’s… | View Profile |
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Mr Brian Ho | Brian Ho is a partner in Howse Williams’ corporate practice. He specialises… | View Profile |
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Mr Chris Howse | Chris is the senior partner and managing partner of Howse Williams. His… | View Profile |
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Mr David Kan | David is a dual qualified medical doctor/solicitor and is a Founding Member… | View Profile |
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Ms Karen Lam | Karen was admitted to practice law in New South Wales, Australia in… | View Profile |
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Ms Heidi Lee | Heidi is a Partner in Howse Williams’ corporate practice. Heidi has extensive… | View Profile |
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Ms Janet Lee | Janet is a Partner in Howse Williams’ property department. She advises on… | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Leung | Stephen is a partner in the firm’s corporate practice. He is experienced… | View Profile |
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Mr William Leung | William is a Partner in Howse Williams’ dispute resolution practice. His practice… | View Profile |
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Ms Eviana Leung | Eviana is a Partner in Howse Williams’ dispute resolution team. She specialises… | View Profile |
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Ms Maureen Liu | Maureen is a Partner in Howse Williams’ medico-legal and healthcare team. Maureen… | View Profile |
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Mr Bernard Murphy | A medically qualified solicitor, Bernard represents healthcare organisations, doctors and other healthcare… | View Profile |
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Ms Alison Scott | Alison is a Partner in Howse Williams’ dispute resolution practice. She specialises… | View Profile |
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Mr Kevin So | Kevin is a Partner in Howse Williams’ dispute resolution practice. He is… | View Profile |
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Mr Chia Ching Tan | Chia Ching is a partner in Howse Williams’ corporate practice. She has… | View Profile |
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Ms Oonagh Toner | Oonagh is a Partner in Howse Williams’ dispute resolution practice. She specialises… | View Profile |
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Mr Christopher Williams | Chris is one of the founding partners of Howse Williams. Chris specialises… | View Profile |
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Mr Michael Withington | Michael is a Partner in Howse Williams’ dispute resolution practice. He is… | View Profile |
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Ms Jill Wong | Jill is a partner in Howse Williams’ financial services and corporate regulatory… | View Profile |
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Ms Patricia Yeung | Patricia is a partner and heads up Howse Williams’ employment team. She… | View Profile |
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Mr Christopher Yu | Chris is a partner in Howse Williams’ corporate practice. He is experienced… | View Profile |
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Mr Antony Yung | Antony has experience in a broad range of banking and finance matters,… | View Profile |