Hong Kong’s status as a global financial centre has fostered a highly competitive legal market. Boutique law firms have emerged as significant contributors, demonstrating exceptional capabilities and a deep understanding of local business needs. This year, ALB continues to identify and recognise these standout firms for their achievements. the list is in alphabetical order, and some firms have been profiled.
Click below to read the Q&As with lawyers of some of the law firms
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Han Kun Law Offices (Han Kun Hong Kong)
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Established as a prominent and highly regarded full-service law firm in China, Han Kun Law Offices has gained widespread recognition for its expertise in complex cross-border and domestic transactions. With a diverse range of practice areas including private equity, capital markets, investment funds, and more, the firm offers comprehensive legal solutions to meet the evolving needs of its clients. With nearly 800 legal professionals distributed across strategic locations in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Haikou, Wuhan, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York City, Han Kun Law Offices expanded its footprint as a registered foreign law firm in Hong Kong in 2014, marking the firm’s first venture outside mainland China. Led by Mr. Dafei Chen, the Hong Kong office has enhanced the firm’s ability to cater to clients’ legal requirements in the Greater China region. Han Kun Law Offices Hong Kong and its associated firm officially merged in November 2022, enabling the firm to realize deeper integration in the local legal market. Upon the merger, a local Hong Kong law firm operated by Han Kun under the name “Han Kun Law Offices LLP” (“Han Kun Hong Kong”) was duly established. In recent years, Han Kun Hong Kong has garnered attention for its involvement in significant deals, such as representing Jiumaojiu, Yeahka Limited, Kindstar Global, and UBOX Online in their Hong Kong IPOs, and representing Yeahka Limited in its issue and listing of convertible bonds on the HKEX. Additionally, Han Kun Hong Kong advised a number of Hong Kong listed companies such as Ganfeng Lithium and Poly Property Services on Hong Kong compliance matters. Driven by its commitment to growth, Han Kun Hong Kong has witnessed a significant increase in headcount, demonstrating its dedication to meeting the expanding demands of its clientele. The firm prides itself on maintaining a team of key members, including Dafei Chen, Tao Li, Ethle Tang, Felix Miao, Lu Chai, Bonnie Yung, Allen Zhang, Yu Wang, Adrian Yip and Jiankun Li, who are recognized professionals within their respective fields.
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Tang & Co. (in association with Helmsman)
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Tang & Co. is the Hong Kong office of award-winning law firm Helmsman. Founded in 2019, Tang & Co. quickly gained a reputation in the industry for its handling of high-profile complex commercial disputes, exceptional legal acumen, unwavering commitment towards excellence and giving of “plain, practical advice”. Tang & Co. is presently instructed to act in connection with disputes over a heavy-sands mining business, with claims in excess of $200 million. Litigation proceedings have been brought across various jurisdictions, including Mozambique, Mauritius and Hong Kong. This complex and multi-faceted litigation involving partnership disputes, company law, shipping and banking law showcases Tang & Co’s deep subject matter expertise, and its strategic thinking and ability to deal with both conventional and non-conventional claims, both on an international and domestic level. Another case that Tang & Co. was instructed to act on is a ship sale and purchase dispute heard before a prominent London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Tribunal. Tang & Co. assisted the buyers of the ship from the outset of the disputes, advised them of the effect of the contractual provisions, hand-holding the Buyers into arresting the offending vessel twice over in Mainland China for different claims and obtaining substantial security as a result. The Buyers were successful in proving at the arbitration that the Sellers were on two occasions negligent in failing to tender the Vessel for delivery to the Buyers and obtaining an award for substantial damages against the Sellers. The award is currently the subject of an appeal in the English Commercial Court. This case stands as a testament to Tang & Co’s innovation and commitment to its clients navigate complex commercial disputes. Tang & Co. is also the first firm in Hong Kong to have initiated an ad hoc UNCITRAL investor-state arbitration on behalf of a Chinese national against a European state, in connection with a high-profile raid that was conducted by the European state on the Chinese national’s business premises that ultimately led to the demise of the business. This again demonstrates Tang & Co’s creative solutions, pioneering spirit and global outlook. Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Tang & Co. has experienced significant growth. The firm attributes its success to a combination of factors, including its dedication to client satisfaction, a strategic focus on high-value complex cases, and the exceptional talent of its team. The firm continues to actively recruit top talent to bolster its team and enhance its service offerings.
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Tian Yuan Law Firm (TYHK)
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Tian Yuan Law Firm LLP (TYHK) was established in 2016 and is one of the most important offices of Tian Yuan in Greater China legal service network. TYHK maintains a diverse and full-spectrum of services regarding Hong Kong capital market practice, advising on a variety of transactions, including pre-IPO financing, IPO, follow-on offerings, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, general offer and privatization. Led by Mr. Li King Wang, TYHK team has been built from scratch to more than 50 fee earners and has successfully filed about 60 A1 sub-missions and completed more than 30 Hong Kong mainboard Hong Kong IPOs in recent years, which topped the league table among the Hong Kong offices of all PRC law firms and achieved top ranking among all law firms. The partners and associates of TYHK have rich experience in assisting China-based enterprises in Hong Kong capital market and are skillful at solving special and crucial issues during the transactions. TYHK has deeply engaged in the New Economy related industries (new, high-growth industries that are on the cutting edge of technology and are believed to be the driving force of economic growth and productivity). With in-depth understanding and cutting-edge industrial know-how about business models and the clients’ needs, the team has successfully completed pioneering and innovative transactions in, among others, technology/AI, retail and consumption, healthcare, to B/SaaS and entertainment sectors. Leveraging its established track record and experience in Hong Kong capital market, TYHK not only provides clients with innovative and practical solutions to complicated legal issues, but also effectively assists the clients in communicating with regulators and connecting with potential investors, which is unanimously recognized by the clients and all professional parties they worked with. |
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ALB HONG KONG FIRMS TO WATCH 2024 |
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AllBright Law (Hong Kong) Offices BF & Co Bowers Charles Russell Speechlys China Commercial (Hong Kong) Law Firm Cocking & Co David Cameron Law Office (DCLO) GPS Legal Han Kun Law Offices (Han Kun Hong Kong) Hauzen |
Hugill & Ip Loeb Smith Attorneys Merits & Tree Ravenscroft & Schmierer Rita Ku & Ser Tang & Co (in association with Helmsman) Tian Yuan Law Firm (TYHK) Twiggy MH Liu Law Office Willa Legal Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati YYC Legal |
