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Hong Kong Teams 2018

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Hong Kong Teams 2018

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Brian Pong is EY’s Asia Pacific area counsel and general counsel of the Greater China region, supervising along with deputy general counsel, Judy Wong, a team of 15 legal counsel and five support staff in EY’s Greater China General Counsel’s Office (GCO) based in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and Guangzhou. The team serves 467 partners and nearly 17,000 staff in 19 offices, and the firm’s Asia Pacific litigation matters are overseen by Hong Kong based senior legal counsel and cross-border litigation specialist Adrienne Chan. The lawyers in the team are divided into subject groups (contracts, transactions, and litigation) and regularly advise on issues spanning from acquisitions, corporate structures, innovative engagement structures, employment matters, data privacy, disputes, and regulatory investigations. In the last two years the firm has undergone some changes in the region, establishing a Taipei and Guangzhou based general counsel office, providing local support to growing practices in the region, and rolling out an engagement consultation review protocol to streamline the consultation process and improve turnaround time. This initiative will improve business efficacy and help the business close deals even more efficiently. Additionally, the legal team established a Greater China precedent library which contains undated templates to ensure that the practice in the region is consistent. As part of its Vision 2020+ strategy, EY is pursuing a variety of new technology-driven offerings and alternative business models. To lead and support these new offerings the team is involved in developing solutions including: ownership and licensing of IP and patents within the EY network; supporting innovation including technology procurement; technology licensing and software as a service; alternative business models and technology tools such as development of an automated tax recovery platform supported by block chain technology. EY initiated a new alternative career platform known as GigNow, enabling flexible work arrangements to accommodate an individual’s working preferences. The legal team advised on the legal implications of a contingent workforce, consideration of different engagement models, mitigating risk, and creating bespoke documentation to on-board this technology. It has also been a thought leader on the implementation of policy to respond to the evolving regulatory environment, social and market trends, including GDPR, contracting guidance and workplace behaviour guidance in response to the “#MeToo” movement to provide transparency to EY’s approach when such issues are escalated. On the litigation front, the team settled a proceeding brought by a prior client, protecting the business from the throes of a high profile 90-day trial. Pong describes the nature of the team as being ‘trusted advisors, constantly adding value by providing legal solutions which mitigate risks and support the vision of EY’. He places great importance on the workplace dynamic theme and allows legal counsel to work one day from home, adopt flexible hours, and or work part time all the while supporting and propelling EY’s business at all times.

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