ALB Hong Kong Rising Stars 2024
ABOUT
In its second annual list, Asian Legal Business highlights Hong Kong’s next generation of standout lawyers who continue to demonstrate exceptional potential in the industry while earning strong praise from their clients.
Jason Chiang
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Jason Chiang is a seasoned corporate and M&A lawyer at Jingtian & Gongcheng, where he has served as a partner since 2018 and as one of the founding associates of the firm, Jason has consistently collaborated with his mentor, Nicholas Chan, throughout his career, which spans over a decade across prestigious firms, including Sidley Austin and Mayer Brown. With extensive experience in handling initial public offerings (IPOs), Jason has successfully completed around 15 IPOs for various companies, including Zhong An Intelligent Living Service Limited and B. Duck Semk Holdings International Limited. He serves as the go-to legal advisor for nine listed companies, demonstrating his expertise in navigating complex corporate structures and compliance issues. Notably, Jason played a pivotal role in the spin-off IPO of Zhong An Intelligent Living Service Limited, skillfully managing the intricate legal landscape and coordinating with stakeholders to ensure a successful outcome. In addition to his transactional work, Jason is dedicated to legal mentorship, actively participating in programs that support the development of aspiring lawyers. He has cultivated a team of junior lawyers who thrive independently and have progressed to reputable in-house positions, underscoring his commitment to fostering the next generation of legal professionals.
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Derek K. Ho
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Derek K. Ho is a partner heading the Family and Private Client team at Tonys Lawyers, specialising in family law and matrimonial law. With 13 years of legal experience, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the field, recognised for his expertise as a specialist practitioner. Ho is trained in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and parental coordination, which enhances his ability to navigate complex family dynamics. He serves as a lecturer for the Family Law module in the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) course at both the University of Hong Kong and the City University of Hong Kong. Additionally, Ho has been an invited speaker at various events, including the “Mediate First” panel organised by the Hong Kong Department of Justice and in symposiums across China. Ho also sits on the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Family Law Association as its Secretary. Ho’s notable cases include the successful Court of Appeal judgment in AVT v VNT, which addressed the division of matrimonial assets in short, childless marriages, and GY v YJ, where he secured sole custody for a mother against a mentally ill father’s objections. A client has remarked, “Derek always goes above and beyond to provide tailored advice that considers my unique situation and concerns. His deep understanding of family law complexities has provided me with clear explanations and realistic expectations regarding my case. His attention to detail and dedication to my best interests has been evident in every aspect of his work.”
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Christy Leung
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Christy Leung is a partner at Eric Chow & Co., in association with Commerce & Finance Law Offices, with 14 years of experience specialising in dispute resolution and investigations. Leading the firm’s dispute resolution practice, Leung advises investment banks, financial institutions, listed companies, licensed corporations, and directors in white-collar investigations, including those initiated by key regulatory bodies, including the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx), the Hong Kong Police Force, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Leung also has extensive experience in handling complex civil and commercial litigation in Hong Kong courts and arbitral tribunals. Her areas of focus include shareholder disputes, boardroom conflicts, contractual disputes, private equity disputes, and insolvency cases. She is also in judicial review proceedings. Recently, under Leung’s leadership, her firm was shortlisted as Civil Litigation Law Firm of the Year at the ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2024. Additionally, Leung represented Moody Technology Holdings Limited in a landmark case [2024] HKCFI 452, in which the Court allowed modification to a scheme of arrangement after court sanction.
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Gordon Tsang
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Gordon Tsang is a partner at Stevenson, Wong & Co., bringing over 11 years of legal experience, including nine years at the firm. His areas of expertise encompass China Practice, corporate commercial law, corporate services, and corporate finance. Tsang has established a distinguished reputation for his exceptional work in advising clients on complex capital market transactions and corporate acquisitions. In 2024, he played a pivotal role in advising QMMM Holdings Limited on its successful listing on the Nasdaq, facilitating an offering that raised $8.5 million through the sale of 2,125,000 ordinary shares. He also advised Spartan Capital Securities, the underwriter of Junee Limited in the successful listing on the Nasdaq that generated $8 million in gross proceeds. His significant achievements include advising Garden Stage Limited on its Nasdaq listing, which raised $10 million, and his involvement with GT Steel Construction Group Limited in an acquisition valued at approximately HK$110 million. He has also been instrumental in guiding Prestige Wealth Inc. and Millennium Group International Holdings Limited through their successful Nasdaq listings. Mr. Bong Lau, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Intelligent Living Application Group, remarked, “We deeply appreciate Gordon’s dedicated efforts in assisting our group in the intended listing on the Nasdaq in the United States. We are particularly grateful for their dedication and commitment to assisting us throughout the listing process.”
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Lin Yang
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Lin Yang is a senior associate at Steptoe HK with over 10 years of legal experience, including 9 years at the firm. A highly accomplished attorney, Yang consistently provides exceptional legal representation to some of Steptoe’s most important clients. As noted by managing partner of Steptoe, Wendy Wysong, “Lin Yang is one of the exceptional young leaders at Steptoe, serving as the necessary link between China, Hong Kong, and the United States.” Her work involves handling complex matters requiring professional expertise, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate rapidly changing situations. Yang has extensive experience advising Chinese companies on cross-border litigation and investigations, with a proven track record of successfully addressing specific legal challenges. Her outstanding professional service has earned her high praise from clients who appreciate her responsiveness, attention to detail, and ability to deliver results. Since joining Steptoe in 2015, she has played a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s reach in Greater China, significantly contributing to the growth of Steptoe’s APAC practice, which is now renowned for its exceptional legal services. Additionally, Yang has served on several key firm-wide committees, including the Associate Committee and the Pro Bono Committee, showcasing her commitment to the firm and the legal community. Her relentless efforts have solidified Steptoe's reputation as a trusted advisor to clients facing challenging legal issues in the region, while also promoting the firm across the Greater China area.
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Charles Yim
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Charles Yim, a partner at Dentons Hong Kong, specialises in debt financing, investment fund formation, and regulatory licensing and compliance. He has extensive experience advising on bond issuances, structured notes offerings, liability management, and syndicated loan and bilateral loan projects. Yim's expertise also extends to Hong Kong and offshore fund formation for fund managers, asset management companies and family offices. Before entering the legal profession, Yim worked at a major bank in Hong Kong, handling Asia Pacific syndicated loans and international debt capital market deals as a banker, which allows him to approach legal challenges with a nuanced understanding of commercial imperatives. In his career, Yim has led teams representing key international and local players for bond offering with various structures, including Deutsche Bank, Citicorp International, CCB Asia, Bank of China, CICC, China CITIC Bank International, ICBC International, CCB International, China Galaxy International, Soochow Securities (Hong Kong) and Donghai International. For Syndication loans, Yim has respectively represented the Bank of China (Hong Kong) in completion of a $605 million secured term loan facility and represented China Minsheng Bank in completion of a $515 million guaranteed term loan facility, for China Taiping Insurance Group. Yim also represented major fund managers in traditional Cayman funds and Hong Kong public and private OFC funds formation, including CNCB (Hong Kong) Capital, SDICS International, New China Life Insurance Group and Soochow Securities International. His depth of experience in multiple financial products and strategic market insights make him a trusted advisor in complex financing and regulatory matters.
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METHODOLOGY
Methodology
To qualify, lawyers need to be under the age of 40 and based permanently in Hong Kong. The list was chosen based on the following criteria:
Important deals or cases
Key clients
Significant accolades received in the form of public recognition, awards, etc.
THE LIST
ALB HONG KONG RISING STARS 2024 | |
Colin Au Jason Chan Vincent Chan Willa Chan Choi Fong Jason Chiang Ada Chow Tsz Ching Derek K. Ho Ruonan Duan Jora Guo Xue Jiao Alvin Ho Stephen Hui Jonathan Lam Christy Leung Rio Li Jiankun Shifeng Ni Bertha Ng Wilfred Ng Graham Price Sylvia Tee Martina To | Gordon Tsang Teresa Tsoi Erik Wang Joyce Wang Xin Clarissa Watt Wong Cho Ying Gerry Wong Isabella Wong Janice Wong Raphael Wong Joshua Woo Sam Wu Florence Yan Lin Yang Alex Ye Felda Yeung Ian Yeung Charles Yim Gigi Yuen Kevin Zhang |