Firm Profile > Withers > Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Withers Offices
30/F United Centre
95 Queensway
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
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Withers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Private Client (tax, trusts, wealth management and contentious probate) Tier 1
Withers is trusted by an eclectic mix of clients, including family offices, families, trustees, and high-net-worth individuals, to advise on estate and succession planning, by virtue of its deep-rooted expertise in the sector and its 'commercial and real-world experience' across geographies. The firm excels at helping wealth creators, often with assets dissipated across many global locations, achieve effective wealth preservation through complex tax advice and trusts structures. Team head Katie Graves exemplifies the firm's expertise at handling complex cross-border mandates and has a particular strength advising on UK tax issues for non-resident clients in the region, as well as Asian families with a connection to the UK. Other complementary areas of strength include Graves' expertise in relation to structuring family offices, as well as on the establishment of private trust company structures. The 'very friendly and pleasant' Tim George is another key member of the team and is noted for his skill at advising high-net-worth individuals and families in relation to succession planning, particularly those with complex international affairs. The office also has a particular strength advising on US tax issues, an area that Timothy Burns has vast experience on behalf of high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and fund principals. Wei Zhang also has substantial US tax, wealth planning, and succession expertise, both in terms of clients expatriating from the US, as well as for PRC and Hong Kong-based clients (including many business founders) on complex tax and trusts matters, including as it relates to the establishment of Hong Kong and US charitable foundations.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The firm’s Hong Kong-based US tax team is very experienced in dealing with the US tax issues regarding PRC private clients who are US tax persons.’
‘Withers has a Hong Kong-based US tax team that is in high demand because of its strong technical skills, its ability to provide commercially practical advice, and its Chinese-speaking capability. They have worked with many PRC private clients and are highly regarded.’
‘Wei Zhang is my go-to-person for my clients’ US tax-based estate planning needs. I have found her very pleasant to work with.’
‘Tim George is very friendly and pleasant.’
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: 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 and 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 | |
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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 | Partner | View Profile |
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Polly Chu | Partner | View Profile |
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Deirdre Fu | Senior Associate | View Profile |
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Tim George | Tim advises high net worth individuals in relation to tax, trusts and… | View Profile |
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Samantha Gershon | Partner | View Profile |
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Katie Graves | Partner | View Profile |
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Mimi Hutton | Of Counsel | View Profile |
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Soo Khim Keoy | Partner | View Profile |
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Billy Ko | Partner | View Profile |
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Rita Ku | Partner | View Profile |
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Mabel Lui | Head of Greater China Commercial | View Profile |
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Sharon Ser | Partner | View Profile |
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Junko Shiokawa | Partner | View Profile |
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Mike Suen | Partner | View Profile |
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Daniel Tang | Partner | View Profile |
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Jocelyn Tsao | Partner | View Profile |
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Sherlin Tung | Partner | View Profile |
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Wei Zhang | Partner | View Profile |