Samantha Gershon > Withers > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile

Withers
30/F United Centre
95 Queensway
HONG KONG
Hong Kong

Work Department

Family

Position

Partner

Career

She has over 20 years’ experience in litigation and uses her commercial litigation experience to provide a unique perspective to family law cases. Samantha has an established team and a particular interest in the law concerning prenuptial agreements, an evolving area in Hong Kong both in law and procedurally. She has acted for a number of high-net-worth individuals in divorce proceedings where she has sought on their behalf an order in terms of pre-nuptial agreements signed by the parties.

Samantha is currently the Chair of the Hong Kong Family Law Association (‘HKFLA’) and has recently been appointed by the Chief Justice as a Practising Solicitor Member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel. She was previously the Honorary Secretary of the HKFLA from 2016 to 2018.

Samantha has worked on a number of cases where she had to advise on multi-jurisdictional corporate issues, which has meant advising on international trust structures involving the jurisdictions of Cayman, the BVI or Jersey. With her commercial litigation experience she is able to obtain worldwide injunctive relief if required.

Although Samantha is a tenacious litigator, she is a strong advocate for mediation. She assists a number of parties through the mediation process in order to avoid contested proceedings and often attends mediation sessions for complicated legal issues in an effort to reach amicable solutions.

Samantha has brought a number of cases to a successful conclusion at the Financial Dispute Resolution stage. She also advises on children issues and attends Children’s Dispute Resolution hearings. At times, she has to deal with acrimonious and highly contentious cases where no issues can be agreed upon.

Prior to moving to Hong Kong, Samantha worked as a solicitor for the Metropolitan Police Service. She was solely responsible for an action that was to be the largest jury trial ever to be held in a County Court in London. She was awarded a police Commendation for her legal advice and case management skills in handling that action. Whilst with the Metropolitan Police she had a special role within the department dealing with children and wardship issues.

 

Languages

English

Memberships

Hong Kong Family Law Association, Chair (Present)
Hong Kong Family Law Association, Honorary Secretary (2016 – 2018)
Hong Kong Collaborative Practice Group
International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (HK network)
Mentor on the TWF Mentoring Programme for Women Leaders 2015-2016
Prosecution Panel for Disciplinary Tribunal Proceedings for the Hong Kong Law Society

Education

College of Law, 1996
Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, 1995

Lawyer Rankings

Hong Kong > Private Client and Family

Lauded by a client as ‘the most experienced and well-resourced private client and family team in Hong Kong’, Withers continues to excel in advising high-net-worth individuals, their families, advisers, and family offices. International and cross-border issues, such as complicated financial arrangements or estate planning, form a sweet spot of the firm’s offering. Katie Graves has particular expertise in advising UK expatriates and Asian families with UK connections on their personal tax issues, and co-leads the team alongside Jocelyn Tsao, who is praised as ‘simply the best, whether in terms of legal knowledge, or team and client management’ and has represented clients in some of the most high-profile cases before the courts of Hong Kong. Tsao is a keen advocate for the voices of children throughout the divorce and custody process. Other key names at a partner level include the ‘dynamic and hard-working’ Billy KoAlex Chung, who specialises in cross-border probate matters with an emphasis on estates with US connections; as well as Anisha Ramanathan, who is experienced in all areas of matrimonial law with a ‘deep understanding of children’s arrangements’. Trust and succession planning expert Deirdre Fu and experienced litigator Samantha Gershon are also recommended. In team news, Anisha Ramanathan was recently promoted to partnership, while Vanessa Duff joined Charles Russell Speechlys LLP in June 2023 and Tim George left to become the CEO at Loke Family Office.