Hong Kong SAR, China

Hong Kong SAR, China

Download PDFDownload PDF
Print
Share

25th Floor, Dorset House
Taikoo Place, 979 King's Road
Quarry Bay
Hong Kong SAR

Our Hong Kong SAR office forms an integral part in supporting our clients’ inbound and outbound investment strategies across key sectors such as real estate, infrastructure, energy & natural resources (with a focus on renewable & sustainable energy), financial services, sports & entertainment and food & agribusiness.

The team is focused on providing international, regional and local legal services. A significant proportion of the team is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. The majority of lawyers are Hong Kong SAR qualified, with many also qualified in other jurisdictions such as England and Wales, New York and PRC. The team has extensive knowledge of the cultural and legal systems that affect business and investments in Asia and getting “deals done” and matters settled.

Supported by over 700+ top real estate lawyers globally, our award-winning team offers Asian investors considering high-value acquisitions or developments leading insights in asset classes such as data centers, logistics, mixed-use developments, hospitality & leisure and office & retail, whether into local markets or internationally across the US, UK, Europe and Middle East.

Whether you are an international organization looking to expand your global footprint throughout Asia or a local business buying, selling, investing or developing a major capital asset in Greater China, we provide strong services across the entire life cycle incorporating advice on corporate, commercial, finance and disputes.

Introducing our key practice areas

We combine the breadth of our Asian practice and resources with a keen understanding of the global transactional environment. We provide corporate and legal services for Asian matters in areas including joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions and complex cross-border transactions. Complementing our corporate legal services, our firm offers comprehensive advice on employment, competition, data privacy & security and general corporate matters and commercial contracts. Our clients include local and international companies doing business in Greater China, as well as Asian companies doing business throughout the US, UK, Europe and Middle East.

On the finance side, we represent all types of entities including lenders and borrowers, funds and a variety of other non-bank financial institutions in finance, refinance and special situations. Our team possesses a formidable depth of sector-specific experience, enabling us to provide strategically sound and commercially meaningful advice on the most complex transactions.

Our team includes a broad mix of litigators experienced in handling disputes across a wide variety of industry sectors, able to offer clear and concise advice on a full range of issues. Our team has advised plaintiffs and defendants in numerous cases in Hong Kong, and has detailed experience of all aspects of court procedure, having acted on some of the largest and most complex matters throughout Hong Kong.

We also regularly advise our clients on all aspects of the arbitration process, from the drafting and negotiation of an arbitration agreement to the ultimate enforcement of an award locally or internationally. Our experience covers both domestic and international arbitration as well as other forms of alternative dispute resolution. We pride ourselves on our ability to use our knowledge and experience to help our clients achieve a successful resolution of disputes.

We also regularly act for clients in matters related to competition and anti-trust, data protection and privacy law as well as employment law.

Our award-winning real estate team has experience in dealing with all aspects of development from conception through funding, construction, leasing and occupation. Our track record in complex and challenging international markets enables us to assist our clients in making a success of their development opportunities.

We are committed to staying broad and deep across the real estate sector globally and therefore adopt a sector strategy, which means we have teams focused on all other core areas including real estate funds, finance, private equity and disputes.

Our multidisciplinary team brings together highly experienced locally based practitioners with deep understanding in Asian urban development, social and economic infrastructure, and public procurement.

We advise sponsors, lenders, developers and procuring authorities on all aspects of energy developments and investment with a particular focus on offshore and onshore wind, solar and energy from waste projects. We support clients through every step of their project pipeline, from consenting and competition issues, through to financing, structuring and eventual delivery and exit.

Andrew MacGeoch

Andrew MacGeoch

Partner and Head of Asia Real Estate & Infrastructure Group and Global Co-Head of Hospitality & Leisure Group, Singapore / Hong Kong SAR

+65 6571 6625
Andrew MacGeoch

Andrew MacGeoch

Partner and Head of Asia Real Estate & Infrastructure Group and Global Co-Head of Hospitality & Leisure Group, Singapore / Hong Kong SAR

+65 6571 6625

Meet The Team

Andrew MacGeoch

Andrew MacGeoch

Partner and Head of Asia Real Estate & Infrastructure Group and Global Co-Head of Hospitality & Leisure Group, Singapore / Hong Kong SAR

+65 6571 6625

Related Insights

Insights
Jul 25, 2024

Hong Kong unveils proposals for first cybersecurity law

The Hong Kong Government recently submitted its proposed legislative framework to enhance protection of computer systems of critical infrastructure (“Proposal”) to the Legislative Council (“LegCo”) Panel on Security for discussion on 2 July 2024. The Proposal notes that currently, Hong Kong does not have any statutory requirements on the protection of the computer systems of critical infrastructures (“CIs”). Given that there is an increasing risk of CIs being cyberattacked, the HK Government recognises the need to introduce new law to enhance cybersecurity of CIs. The proposed legislation tentatively is titled the “Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer System) Bill”.
Insights
Jul 24, 2024

Inadequately Reasoned Arbitral Award Not Enforced by Hong Kong Court

In the case of A v B & ors [2024] HKCFI 751 (date of reasons for decision: 13 March 2024) the Hong Kong court set aside an order granted to enforce an arbitral award dated 25 August 2022 made by the sole arbitrator in an arbitration at the International Center for Dispute Resolution, under the Rules for International Commercial Arbitration of the American Arbitration Association (“Arbitration”), on the grounds that the Arbitrator had failed to give reasons for her decisions on key issues.
Insights
Jul 23, 2024

HKIAC releases updated 2024 administered arbitration rules

On 1 June 2024, the latest update to the HKIAC’s administered rules, the 2024 Administered Arbitration Rules (“2024 Rules”) of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) came into effect. The 2024 Rules introduce a number of amendments to the 2018 Administered Arbitration Rules (“2018 Rules”), with the overall aim to improve time and cost efficiency of HKIAC administered arbitrations. The HKIAC has emphasised that the 2024 Rules are not a complete rework of the 2018 Rules, but rather a “refinement” of the 2018 Rules, given that the 2018 Rules have been well-received by users.
Insights
Jul 08, 2024

HK Court dismissed application to set aside arbitration award

In CNG v G & G (HCCT 29/2023) [2024] HKCFI 575 (date of reasons for decision: 27 February 2024), the Hong Kong Court of First Instance (“the Court”) dismissed an application to set aside an arbitration award, reiterating important principles regarding challenges to arbitration awards and/or enforcement of arbitration awards. The judgment began with the remark that: “[t]his is a typical example of a party which has agreed to submit its contractual disputes to the final and binding determination of an arbitral tribunal, but being aggrieved when the tribunal makes an award against it, makes all attempts to find loopholes and problems in the award”. The Court gave a timely reminder to legal professionals – that the Court can only look to and trust legal professionals to carry out their duties to the Court, and to act responsibly when advising their clients on whether an award can be “properly challenged”, and that “lengthy but at the root unmeritorious applications” take up precious judicial time and public resources in the process.
Insights
Jul 03, 2024

Hong Kong’s New Extension of Government Leases Ordinance

The new Extension of Government Leases Ordinance (the “Ordinance”) will take effect this Friday, 5 July 2024. In consideration of the significant number of owners affected by the expiration of Government leases from 2025 onwards[1], this new legislation aims at providing a more streamlined and efficient mechanism for extending Government leases. The market has been looking for clarity on this significant topic for some time. This is therefore a much welcomed initiative especially for international investors seeking comfort on what happens on the expiry of Government Leases in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC (“Hong Kong”). Below is a high-level summary of the scope of application, the new mechanism and some specific points-to-note in relation to the new Ordinance.
Insights
Jul 02, 2024

Foreign illegality in fraud proceeds arising from underground currency exchange arrangements

This note considers the current state of the law in Hong Kong with respect to foreign illegality and whether it can set aside defences of bona fide purchaser for value without notice or change of position, in the context of fraud schemes where the fraud proceeds in one way or another were transferred to the recipient by way of currency exchange arrangements.
Insights
Jul 02, 2024

HK High Court refuses leave to appeal against interim measures

In W v Contractor [2024] HKCFI 1452, the Hong Kong High Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal against the interim measures granted by an arbitrator to restrain an employer from calling on a bond in relation to a construction contract. The key issue was whether the arbitrator’s ruling was an “award” (for which leave to appeal on questions of law can be sought under Schedule 2 to the Arbitration Ordinance) or not an award (for which leave to appeal cannot be sought). In gist, the court was of the view that, although the arbitrator had expressed his ruling and decision to be an “award”, in substance it was an interlocutory decision and therefore was not an “award” for which leave to appeal can be sought. This decision is consistent with the court’s decision in G v N [2024] HKCFI 721 (handed down on 11 March 2024), in which the court found that the arbitrator’s interim order was not an “award” which could be set aside under section 81 of the Arbitration Ordinance. See our summary of G v N [2024] HKCFI 721 (handed down on 11 March 2024).

Related Insights

Insights
Jul 25, 2024
Hong Kong unveils proposals for first cybersecurity law
The Hong Kong Government recently submitted its proposed legislative framework to enhance protection of computer systems of critical infrastructure (“Proposal”) to the Legislative Council (“LegCo”) Panel on Security for discussion on 2 July 2024. The Proposal notes that currently, Hong Kong does not have any statutory requirements on the protection of the computer systems of critical infrastructures (“CIs”). Given that there is an increasing risk of CIs being cyberattacked, the HK Government recognises the need to introduce new law to enhance cybersecurity of CIs. The proposed legislation tentatively is titled the “Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer System) Bill”.
Insights
Jul 24, 2024
Inadequately Reasoned Arbitral Award Not Enforced by Hong Kong Court
In the case of A v B & ors [2024] HKCFI 751 (date of reasons for decision: 13 March 2024) the Hong Kong court set aside an order granted to enforce an arbitral award dated 25 August 2022 made by the sole arbitrator in an arbitration at the International Center for Dispute Resolution, under the Rules for International Commercial Arbitration of the American Arbitration Association (“Arbitration”), on the grounds that the Arbitrator had failed to give reasons for her decisions on key issues.
Insights
Jul 23, 2024
HKIAC releases updated 2024 administered arbitration rules
On 1 June 2024, the latest update to the HKIAC’s administered rules, the 2024 Administered Arbitration Rules (“2024 Rules”) of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) came into effect. The 2024 Rules introduce a number of amendments to the 2018 Administered Arbitration Rules (“2018 Rules”), with the overall aim to improve time and cost efficiency of HKIAC administered arbitrations. The HKIAC has emphasised that the 2024 Rules are not a complete rework of the 2018 Rules, but rather a “refinement” of the 2018 Rules, given that the 2018 Rules have been well-received by users.
Insights
Jul 22, 2024
Comments from HK LegCo members regarding the Security of Payment Bill
Insights
Jul 09, 2024
Hong Kong Privacy Commission publishes personal data protection framework for AI users
Insights
Jul 08, 2024
HK Court dismissed application to set aside arbitration award
In CNG v G & G (HCCT 29/2023) [2024] HKCFI 575 (date of reasons for decision: 27 February 2024), the Hong Kong Court of First Instance (“the Court”) dismissed an application to set aside an arbitration award, reiterating important principles regarding challenges to arbitration awards and/or enforcement of arbitration awards. The judgment began with the remark that: “[t]his is a typical example of a party which has agreed to submit its contractual disputes to the final and binding determination of an arbitral tribunal, but being aggrieved when the tribunal makes an award against it, makes all attempts to find loopholes and problems in the award”. The Court gave a timely reminder to legal professionals – that the Court can only look to and trust legal professionals to carry out their duties to the Court, and to act responsibly when advising their clients on whether an award can be “properly challenged”, and that “lengthy but at the root unmeritorious applications” take up precious judicial time and public resources in the process.
Insights
Jul 03, 2024
Hong Kong’s New Extension of Government Leases Ordinance
The new Extension of Government Leases Ordinance (the “Ordinance”) will take effect this Friday, 5 July 2024. In consideration of the significant number of owners affected by the expiration of Government leases from 2025 onwards[1], this new legislation aims at providing a more streamlined and efficient mechanism for extending Government leases. The market has been looking for clarity on this significant topic for some time. This is therefore a much welcomed initiative especially for international investors seeking comfort on what happens on the expiry of Government Leases in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC (“Hong Kong”). Below is a high-level summary of the scope of application, the new mechanism and some specific points-to-note in relation to the new Ordinance.
Insights
Jul 02, 2024
Foreign illegality in fraud proceeds arising from underground currency exchange arrangements
This note considers the current state of the law in Hong Kong with respect to foreign illegality and whether it can set aside defences of bona fide purchaser for value without notice or change of position, in the context of fraud schemes where the fraud proceeds in one way or another were transferred to the recipient by way of currency exchange arrangements.
Insights
Jul 02, 2024
HK High Court refuses leave to appeal against interim measures
In W v Contractor [2024] HKCFI 1452, the Hong Kong High Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal against the interim measures granted by an arbitrator to restrain an employer from calling on a bond in relation to a construction contract. The key issue was whether the arbitrator’s ruling was an “award” (for which leave to appeal on questions of law can be sought under Schedule 2 to the Arbitration Ordinance) or not an award (for which leave to appeal cannot be sought). In gist, the court was of the view that, although the arbitrator had expressed his ruling and decision to be an “award”, in substance it was an interlocutory decision and therefore was not an “award” for which leave to appeal can be sought. This decision is consistent with the court’s decision in G v N [2024] HKCFI 721 (handed down on 11 March 2024), in which the court found that the arbitrator’s interim order was not an “award” which could be set aside under section 81 of the Arbitration Ordinance. See our summary of G v N [2024] HKCFI 721 (handed down on 11 March 2024).