We advised a high-net-worth client on a succession plan arrangement of a core family business by way of establishing a special purpose trust for transferring the majority interest of the family business to its second-generation successor and for the maintenance of other family members via another family trust.
The subject family business is in a leading role in its industry in Hong Kong and globally. This innovative arrangement was meticulously designed by our team for the client to facilitate a smooth and harmonious transition of interest in the core family business and provide a stable and healthy base for further development of the business under the control and leadership of the successor. In this particular scheme and transition, the successor shall commit to shouldering part of the responsibilities on the maintenance and support of other family members in the future, involving a substantial and long-term undertaking exceeding hundreds of million Hong Kong dollars. The arrangement required a thorough analysis of the trust proposal and financial obligations to ensure compliance with legal requirements and enforceability of the agreed terms. In cooperation and coordination with the financial adviser of the client and the team of the professional trustee, we played a pivotal role in this trust scheme to deliver a sustainable and long-term solution to client’s succession plan. To complete this wealth succession project, we advised the client and made a bespoke will covering other particular assets and residuary estate for other family members and next generation. In recent years, the general public become aware of the benefit of Enduring Power of Attorney which allows the appointed attorney to act on and make decisions on behalf of the donor when the latter becomes mentally incapable. In order to take care of any situation that client might be unable to deal with his financial affairs due to his lack of mental capacity, we advised and created an Enduring Power of Attorney for the client as a precautionary measure.
This project underscores the rising demand from high-net-worth individuals and their families for sophisticated family trust structures capable of accommodating complex financial arrangements on business and wealth succession while preserving family harmony. We combine our expertise in trust law, family governance, and succession planning to provide practical, bespoke, and solution-oriented advice. We are delighted to have assisted in the creation of a framework that not only secures the succession of client’s wealth but also embodies their values of responsibility, unity, and care for next generation.
This case was led by our Partner Mr. Roy Leung, assisted by our Senior Associate Mr. Trevor Lee, and Paralegal Mr. Andes Leung.
Our Partner SidneyHo has been appointed as a Member of the Mediation Committee of the Law Societyof Hong Kong.
The MediationCommittee performs the following functions :-
1. Toconsider, review and formulate policies including educational and trainingprogrammes and regulatory aspects on matters relating to mediation, parentingco-ordination and early neutral evaluation;
2. Toco-ordinate the Society's policies by liaising and collating information onmediation, parenting co-ordination and early neutral evaluation from other LawSociety Committees;
3. To reportto Council on policy issues in relation to mediation, parenting co-ordinationand early neutral evaluation;
4. Toconsider, review and initiate law reform proposals relating thereto;
5. To assistand encourage practitioners in the development of their practices in relationthereto;
6. Topromote the profession as a provider of mediation, parenting co-ordination andearly neutral evaluation including collaborative law and generally;
7. To liaisewith and gather information from external organisations involved withmediation, parenting co-ordination and early neutral evaluation;
8. To dealwith matters arising from the development of mediation, parenting co-ordinationand early neutral evaluation;
9. Toconsider review and monitor policy relating to accreditation of mediators,parenting coordinators and early neutral evaluators;
10. To reviewand monitor judicial decisions practice directions and practices relating tomediation, parenting co-ordination and early neutral evaluation in relation tocivil disputes
Mr. Ho isan AccreditedGeneral Mediator of Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), The Law Society ofHong Kong and Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited(HKMAAL). Mr. Ho will contribute to theMediation Committee as well as the development of all kinds of disputeresolutions, as Hong Kong continues to grow as an international disputeresolution hub.
Our Partner Mathew Liu was a co-speaker with Alex Chan, Managing Director of FTI Consulting, in a training course organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA).
Titled “Overview of Administrations and Priorities of Creditors”, this training session focused on principles and practical issues relating to the order and priority of payment upon liquidation, the concept of provable debts, employee claims involving the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund Board, secured creditors, retention of title, ascertaining creditors’ claims, and procedures for declaring dividends.
The live Webinar training is part of the HKICPA Insolvency Preparatory series, seeking to equip participants from CPA firms, Big 4, law practices, specialist advisory, banking and finance, government and other sectors, who intend to pursue their career in the field of insolvency or related areas.
In a compelling discussion, our partners Roy Leung and Simon Siu explore the intensifying regulatory scrutiny impacting Hong Kong’s commercial real estate market. Their insights are particularly relevant as businesses navigate these challenging conditions.
Roy and Simon highlight the critical challenges faced by businesses during this turbulent period, as well as the implications for future investments in commercial real estate. With ongoing shifts in regulations, they stress the importance of agility and informed decision-making in this dynamic environment.
This article on Asian Legal Business by Thomson Reuters provides valuable strategies for stakeholders looking to adapt to the evolving landscape of Hong Kong's real estate sector. We invite you to read the full article to gain a deeper understanding of how these developments may impact your business.
We are pleased to be invited to the banquet organized by Copia Family Office for Shunde Women Enterprises Association, and had a joyous and fruitful exchange with successful female entrepreneurs and directors of the family office.
Shunde Women Enterprisers Association gathers female business talents in Shunde, and contributes to the its economic and social development under the spirit of “Shared Contribution, Shared Benefits, Shared Development”. This banquet is part of the educational tours of Raylove School under Shunde Women Enterprisers Association in Hong Kong.
During the banquet, as the legal advisor of Copia Family Office, our Senior Partner Mr. Peter Sit spoke about the concepts of trust and family office, and our Partner Mr. Roy Leung spoke on behalf of SFKS on a “Comprehensive Legal Sustainable Development Blueprint” with our strategic position “to back the company and to harbour the family”.
Apart from Mr. Peter Sit and Mr. Roy Leung, the banquet was also attended by our Partners Mr. Simon Siu, Mr. Joseph Wong, Ms. Jenny Wong and Mr. Mathew Liu, as well as Senior Associate Ms. Chung Wai Yin and Associate Ms. Carrie Li. Once again, we deliver our sincere gratitude to Copia Family Office and Shunde Women Enterprises Association.
We had a great chat with Ian Winter KC and Dean Brown from Cloth Fair Chambers during their visit in Hong Kong. Mr John Kelsey Fry KC of that Chambers was instructed to act for one of our clients in a bribery trial lasted for 113 days in 2013/4; owing to his tremendous skills and diligence in handling that difficult case, reputed as the most expensive bribery case in Hong Kong in view of the legal costs and expenses involved, our client was acquitted of all four charges leveled at him.
Cloth Fair Chambers is a barrister chambers in England specializing and renowned in the fields of fraud, criminal, defamation and regulatory matters. SFKS enjoys a good working relationship with them, other legal teams and specialist chambers across various jurisdictions, because of that, our clients have access to top rate legal services and support worldwide unrestrained by territorial limits.
(Left to Right in the Photo: Peter Sit, Ian Winter KC, Dean Brown, Roy Leung, Sidney Ho)
We enjoyed an insightful panel discussion at the In-House Forum hosted by MdME Macau, at Four Seasons Hotel Macau.
Panellists, comprising leading in-house legal counsel, discussed how external lawyers are expected to best assist in providing reliable, one-stop and cost-effective solutions.
As the learned speakers suggested, external law firms should provide a quick fix on legal issues, with a down-to-earth approach. Clear contact points and regular meetings would foster in-house outcomes. Disciplinary-specific knowhow e.g. on litigation and regulatory matters would be instructive.
SFKS is dedicated to supporting corporate in-house teams on all ranges of legal matters, providing pragmatic solutions.
We also congratulate MdME, our trusted teammate for over a decade, for their 18th anniversary in Macau.
Attendees from SFKS include Senior Partner Peter Sit, Partners Roy Leung and Mathew Liu, Associates Marco Chong and Koey Wong.
Our Partner Jenny Wong has been selected as one of the ALB Asia 40 Under 40 by Asian Legal Business this year.
Jenny was selected from nearly 500 outstanding nominees from diverse jurisdictions and practice areas, through a rigorous selection process.
We are proud of Jenny's continuous success.
We successfully obtained a Mareva injunction order, freezing assets of over HK$7 million, for our client being the victim of a fraudulent scheme.
An ancillary asset disclosure order was also granted to facilitate tracing and preservation of assets dissipated.
This case is led by our Consultant Mr. Tommy Tam, assisted by our Associate Ms. Agatha Mak and Trainee Solicitor Ms. Jaimie Ho.
Our Partner Mathew Liu gave a training workshop for the LabourRelations Division of the Labour Department, on the topic of “Insolvency Regimeand Debt Enforcement in Hong Kong: A Legal Perspective”.
In the Workshop, Mathew guided labour officers, including senior andexperienced officers, in comparing various debt enforcement avenues,summarizing compulsory and voluntary winding-up and bankruptcy processes, andblending such legal foundations with the Division’s day-to-day operation inorder to equip officers for consultation to employers and employees onemployment matters, as well as conciliation of disputes. Mathew went on introducing the concepts andlegal implications of liquidation, provisional liquidation and receivership.
Our Associate Winnie Hui assisted by sharing a landmark case whereSFKS cooperated with the Labour Department in the successful winding up ofPhysical Health Centre Hong Kong Limited, such that nearly 800 employees whodid not receive their salaries from the employer, in the total sum exceedingHK$75 million, received ex gratia payment under Protection of Wages onInsolvency Ordinance (Cap. 380).
SFKS has a vibrant insolvency practice, with thecapacity and capability to extend such expertise into the areas of employmentlaw and public policy. SFKS also advisesemployees and employers on legal issues.
At the gracious invitation of 環亞唯信管理（深圳）有限公司 (hereinafter referred to as "Global Vishon"), SFKS attended the grand opening ceremony held at the Shenzhen Qianhai CBD as the Guest of Honour. The ceremony gathered over thirty distinguished representatives from the legal, financial, family office, and business sectors to witness this significant moment as Global Vishon establishes its roots in the Greater Bay Area and embarks on a new chapter in the mainland China market.
With Shenzhen Qianhai as its strategic anchor, Global Vishon brings together senior experts from legal, tax, education, investment, and financing fields, focusing on providing three core services: global identity planning, overseas education planning, and cross-border corporate services. Executive Director Alvin emphasized in his opening speech that Global Vishon will "fully leverage Hong Kong's professional expertise and Shenzhen's innovative vitality, relying on the unique resources of the Greater Bay Area to provide clients with tailored professional solutions."
With profound expertise in cross-border legal affairs, corporate compliance, asset planning, and family wealth inheritance, SFKS has established a highly synergistic relationship with Vishon's three core business areas. During the ceremony, representatives from SFKS engaged in in-depth exchanges with numerous industry elites, sharing valuable insights on cutting-edge topics in cross-border services and laying a solid foundation for future multi-level strategic cooperation.
This opening ceremony not only marks an important milestone in Global Vishon's expansion into the mainland market but also signifies the further deepening and expansion of SFKS's legal services layout in the Greater Bay Area. Moving forward, SFKS will continue to fully leverage our traditional strengths under Hong Kong's common law system, combined with a deep understanding of Greater Bay Area policies. We will collaborate with more outstanding partners to provide clients with high-quality legal services that integrate international perspectives and local wisdom, jointly writing a new chapter of professional services in the vibrant land of the Greater Bay Area.
We are honoured to be a Diamond Sponsor of this year’s Cross Strait Four Regions Young Lawyers Forum, an annual flagship event organised by The Law Society of Hong Kong to promote in-depth exchange and collaboration among the next generation of lawyers across the Greater China region. Held on 25 November 2025 at the Charles K. Kao Auditorium (also known as the “Golden Egg”) in the Hong Kong Science Park, the Forum brought together over 300 legal talents from Hong Kong, Macau, the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan.
This year’s Forum, themed “DARE”, focused on four cross-disciplinary areas that are reshaping the global economy and legal professional landscape: “Data & Digitalisation”, “Artificial Intelligence (AI)”, “Robotics”, and “E-Commerce and Low Altitude Economy”. The theme also encapsulates four core values that legal professionals shall uphold when adapting to the ongoing changes – “Determination”, “Accountability”, “Resilience” and “Ethics” – which closely resonate with our firm’s motto “as much as we are able, that we should dare to do.”
The Forum featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including senior government officials, representatives from regulators, executives from leading international and regional technology companies, distinguished academics as well as experienced legal practitioners across the four regions, who contributed valuable insights into the evolving intersections of law, technology and ethics and explored how the legal profession can navigate the challenges and opportunities brought by the technological innovations in a data-driven era.
Attendees from our firm included Mr. Simon Siu (Partner), Ms. Jenny Wong (Partner), Mr. Mathew Liu (Partner) (also a member of the organising committee of the Forum), Ms. Wai Yin Chung (Senior Associate), Mr. Marco Chong (Associate), Ms. Winnie Hui (Associate) and Mr. Manson Chan (Paralegal (Pending Admission)).
As a Diamond Sponsor of the Forum for two consecutive years and a forward-looking law firm, we remain steadfast in supporting the adoption of legal technology and innovation in professional practice. Our young lawyers are committed to harnessing emerging technologies responsibly and ethically to provide efficient, practical and high-quality legal services to our clients.
