Firm Profile > Withers > Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Withers Offices
20/F GLOUCESTER TOWER
15 QUEEN'S ROAD
CENTRAL HONG KONG
Hong Kong
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Withers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Tax and trusts Tier 1
With 15 practitioners on the ground in Hong Kong and experts from across Asia, US and UK, the 'very responsive and efficient' team at Withers has the strength-in-depth and geographical diversity to handle a tremendous volume and variety of private client-related tax and trusts work, including succession planning, family and matrimonial matters, tax planning and governance. Able to combine the expertise of practitioners with significant international private client nous with lawyers benefiting from strong local connections, as well as the ability to advise in Mandarin and Cantonese, the team has expertise 'in all areas covering the trust and tax needs of wealthy individuals with global connections'. The team is 'at the top of the list for working with complex US tax and wealth planning issues for anyone with a US connection', an area that Timothy Burns is noted for his ability to 'articulate complex issues in a clear and engaging way' and Wei Zhang is recognised in the market for working 'exceptionally well with Chinese families that have US tax issues'. The arrival in 2018 of the 'very thorough and competent' tax expert Tim George from the firm's London office has further bolstered the firm's credentials in the area, given his reputation as 'one of the go-to persons for UK advice in Asia'.
Practice head(s):
Katie Graves
Other key lawyers:
Tim George; Timothy Burns; Wei Zhang; Michelle Chow; Mimi Hutton; Deirdre Fu; Ying Hui; Sophie Huang
Testimonials
‘They have a long established private client team, have offices globally and they can cover many countries internationally.’
‘Michelle Chow is a very experienced private client lawyer in the philanthropy space.’
‘Tim George is excellent with clients and is able to articulate complex issues in a clear and engaging way.’
‘Tim George is great at coming up with sensible solutions to complex trust-company structures.’
‘Wei Zhang is extremely attuned to the expectations of our clients and also the nuances of the concerns which they may have.’
‘Timothy Burns is one of the pre-eminent authorities on the (very grey!) area of residency claims under double taxation agreements.’
‘Wei Zhang and Timothy Burns are very knowledgeable in their US tax practice and always give good advice to our clients.’
‘Wei Zhang well understands the benefit of doing planning in advance to protect clients wealth accumulation and to prevent surprises that the US tax system may have hiding.’
‘Mimi Hutton has long been known in Hong Kong as working with families with US connections and has a particular interest in assisting families with their philanthropic planning.’
Withers > Firm Profile
The firm:
Withers is one of the world’s first international law firms dedicated to the business, personal and philanthropic interests of successful people, their businesses, families and advisers. With over 160 partners and more than 850 other staff members in 17 offices across Europe, US, Asia Pacific and the Caribbean, Withers has unparalleled expertise in the key legal issues facing individuals, their businesses and their families. Its clients’ interests span 80 countries and the firm has acted for 63% of the top 100 UK ‘Sunday Times Rich List’, and a significant number of the US ‘Forbes List’ of Richest Americans and the Asian ‘Hurun Rich List’.
In 2008, Withers established its Hong Kong office to offer on-the-ground support in Asia for the Firm’s international client base. Today, its multinational team of lawyers and legal professionals offers one of the most comprehensive arrays of client services in relation to UK, US and Hong Kong law.
Areas of practice:
Corporate and commercial
The corporate and commercial team in Hong Kong combines international deal execution capabilities with PRC regulatory expertise for a varied client base including listed and private companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, families and high net worth individuals and not-for-profit organisations. The team is very experienced in all corporate-related matters, including M&A, capital markets, private equity, corporate finance, banking & finance, tax, real estate and investment funds.
Withers continues to expand its expertise and capability in the Greater China region, with Mabel Lui leading the Greater China corporate and commercial practice. With significant experience in China-focused corporate matters, her team continues to bring a well-rounded Greater China corporate background, complementing the Firm’s other practices.
Partners: 5 in Hong Kong, 6 in Singapore, 5 in Tokyo
Other fee earners: 13 in Hong Kong, 12 in Singapore, 3 in Tokyo
Contact Name: Mabel Lui
Tel: +852 3711 1638
Email: mabel.lui@withersworldwide.com
Dispute Resolution
Withers has an established international dispute resolution practice acting in complex multi-jurisdictional disputes and is well known in the art, sport, luxury brands, fashion and assets sectors. The Hong Kong dispute resolution team focuses on complex corporate commercial disputes, joint venture and shareholders’ disputes, contentious insolvency proceedings, arbitration, compliance and regulatory issues, including investigations, enforcement and disciplinary actions. The team is adept at providing client-tailored strategies and solutions.
Partners: 3 in Hong Kong, 19 in Singapore
Other fee earners: 2 in Hong Kong, 23 in Singapore
Contact: Soo Khim Keoy
Tel: +852 3711 1688
Email: sookhim.keoy@withersworldwide.com
Family
Withers is widely regarded as one of the best and largest family and matrimonial law firms in Hong Kong. Our clients receive specialist advice on all aspects of family law, from divorce and finances, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, family wealth protection, asset management, trusts, mental health proceedings and elder law, to children custody, international child abduction, maintenance and child support, tax and immigration advice post-divorce. The team forms part of the firm’s leading global divorce and family practice and is well-equipped with the right set of skills to handle clients’ cases in the most effective and efficient way possible and to secure the best outcome.
Partners: 5 in Hong Kong
Other fee earners: 11 in Hong Kong
Contact: Sharon Ser; Rita Ku
Tel: +852 3711 1674 (Sharon Ser); +852 3711 1670 (Rita Ku)
Email: sharon.ser@withersworldwide.com ; rita.ku@withersworldwide.com
Private Client & Tax
Withers has the largest private client and tax team on the ground in Hong Kong and Asia. It has a wide range of clients, including but not limited to family offices, charities, families, financial institutions, high net worth individuals, and trustees. What sets Withers apart from its peers is that the team typically acts for the creators of wealth and their families, and focuses on developing long term relationships with those clients across its international offices. Withers’ multi-disciplinary capabilities cover issues on immigration, philanthropy, matrimonial, cross-border investments, litigation, real estate and pre-IPO planning, providing clients with a fully integrated, one-stop service that other law firms cannot match.
Partners: 4 in Hong Kong, 9 in Singapore
Other fee earners: 11 in Hong Kong, 9 in Singapore
Contact: Katie Graves
Tel: +852 3711 1636
Email: katie.graves@withersworldwide.com
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital markets | Mike Suen | mike.suen@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1686 |
| Corporate and Commercial | Mabel Lui | mabel.lui@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1638 |
| Corporate and Commercial | Daniel Tang | daniel.tang@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1668 |
| Corporate and Commercial | Polly Chu | polly.chu@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1633 |
| Corporate and Comercial | Junko Shiokawa | junko.shiokawa@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1628 |
| Corporate and Commercial | Mike Suen | mike.suen@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1686 |
| Dispute Resolution | Soo Khim Keoy | sookhim.keoy@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1688 |
| Family | Sharon Ser | sharon.ser@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1674 |
| Family | Rita Ku | rita.ku@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1670 |
| Family | Billy Ko | billy.ko@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1656 |
| Family | Jocelyn Tsao | jocelyn.tsao@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1609 |
| Family | Samantha Gershon | samantha.gershon@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1606 |
| Immigration | Mark Lanning | mark.lanning@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1669 |
| Investment Funds | Junko Shiokawa | junko.shiokawa@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1628 |
| Joint Ventures and M&A | Mabel Lui | mabel.lui@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1638 |
| Joint Ventures and M&A | Daniel Tang | daniel.tang@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1668 |
| Philanthropy | Michelle Chow | michelle.chow@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1640 |
| Philanthropy | Mimi Hutton | mimi.hutton@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1611 |
| Private client and Tax | Mimi Hutton | mimi.hutton@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1611 |
| Private client and Tax | Katie Graves | katie.graves@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1636 |
| Private client and Tax | Timothy Burns | timothy.burns@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1615 |
| Private client and Tax | Wei Zhang | wei.zhang@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1644 |
| Probate | Polly Chu | polly.chu@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1633 |
| Real Estate | Mabel Lui | mabel.lui@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1638 |
| Real Estate | Polly Chu | polly.chu@withersworldwide.com | +852 3711 1633 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Timothy Burns | View Profile | |
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Polly Chu | View Profile | |
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Deirdre Fu | View Profile | |
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Tim George | View Profile | |
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Katie Graves | View Profile | |
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Soo Khim Keoy | View Profile | |
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Billy Ko | View Profile | |
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Rita Ku | View Profile | |
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Mabel Lui | View Profile | |
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Sharon Ser | View Profile | |
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Junko Shiokawa | View Profile | |
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Mike Suen | View Profile | |
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Daniel Tang | View Profile | |
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Jocelyn Tsao | View Profile | |
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Wei Zhang | View Profile |