Hank Lo, senior partner at AllBright Law (Hong Kong) Offices, talks about the unique qualities and services offered by the firm, as well as its strategic partnership with Stevenson Wong & Co. Additionally, he highlights the firm's recent notable work, showcasing its expertise across various practice areas and industry sectors.
What specific qualities or services set AllBright Hong Kong office apart from other law firms in Hong Kong, particularly in light of its recognition as one of the ALB Hong Kong Firms to Watch 2024? How does AllBright’s strategic partnership with Stevenson Wong enhance its ability to handle cross-border transactions and international litigations?
AllBright Law (Hong Kong) Offices LLP (“ABHK”) is not just a group of Hong Kong lawyers setting up a new Hong Kong law firm, with a licence to use a PRC firm’s name, AllBright Law Offices (“AB”). For more than 10 years, through the previous association with AB, Hong Kong partners in ABHK have already forged special relationships with lawyers and colleagues in AB’s 25 branches in mainland China, as well as in London, Seattle, Singapore and Tokyo.
Through its association with Stevenson, Wong & Co (“SW”) a local Hong Kong law firm with a reputation spanning more than 45 years and one of the founding members of Interlaw, an international network of law firms in over 150 cities around the world, ABHK is well equipped with a wealth of local legal expertise, extensive PRC connections and a self-founded international network of law firms to handle all client matters. All of which, has very much enhanced our ability to meet with the increasing demand for legal services in the current trend of “Globalization of Chinese Enterprises - 中国企业产业出海”.
AB has been particularly strong in the China capital market and in recent years, has enjoyed the largest market share in A share IPO work. With Hong Kong and PRC lawyers working under one brand, this has proved effective in promoting commercial expertise with PRC clients. In addition, with 4000 strong lawyers in mainland China, cross-referral and collaboration between Hong Kong and teams in China on international dispute resolution has also been very active.
What have been some of the firm’s work highlights in the past month that demonstrate its expertise across practice areas and industry sectors?
With its unique capabilities, connections, and extensive international network, ABHK has recently accomplished several notable projects. These include the corporate restructuring of a Hong Kong-listed company in the PRC property development sector, making it one of the first PRC property developers to successfully complete a court-sanctioned debt restructuring. The firm also provided advisory services to a Hong Kong-listed company in the aerospace sector in the UAE. Additionally, ABHK advised a Middle Eastern-controlled Canadian-listed company on its acquisition of a Hong Kong-listed electric vehicle manufacturer in China. Furthermore, the firm represented a Hong Kong private company in securing a UK-authorized payment institution license for approximately RMB 9 million and facilitated a Far East entity in acquiring and subsequently selling a debt with a principal amount exceeding HK$159 million. ABHK also, re-domiciled a Cayman Islands mutual fund to Hong Kong as an open-ended fund company and assisted a Hong Kong-based asset management firm in establishing a mutual fund in the Cayman Islands and successfully guiding its listing on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
