Our solicitors have achieved outstanding results in the most recent editions of Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, Asialaw, Benchmark Litigation, Who’s Who Legal, Spear’s 500, Private Client Global Elite, Citywealth’s Leaders List and Doyle’s Guide.
They have been recognised multiple times by Asian Legal Business and Community Business and been awarded by The Law Society of Hong Kong for their pro bono service to the community.
Praised for its ‘attention-to-detail and proactive approach‘, Hugill & Ip has picked up a considerable amount of private client-related work since its establishment in 2018. The ‘resourceful and knowledgeable‘ Alfred Ip leads the practice and is also noted for his family expertise, particularly as it relates to clients with “non-traditional” family arrangements, including advice in connection with international adoptions and same-sex surrogacy and other parenting issues which are not automatically recognised under Hong Kong law.
‘A strong technical base and comprehensive skill set. I think the difference would be a dedication to customer service.’
‘Hugill & Ip are very responsive to queries and always provide helpful comments and suggestions as appropriate.’
‘They stand out for being a highly-focused boutique firm filled with calm, welcoming, yet effective lawyers who truly recognise and empower talent.’
Employment law is a core area of focus for Hugill & Ip, and since its establishment in September 2018, under the guidance of ‘knowledgeable and responsive‘ name partner Adam Hugill, the team has rapidly made inroads into the local market on behalf of both employers and employees. Work covers the waterfront of issues facing companies and individuals, including advice on employee transfers and team moves, data privacy, immigration, and discrimination.
Hugill has an excellent track record guiding individuals and employers in Labour Tribunal matters, including representation in any pursuant High Court litigation, and has established a strong reputation in advising on high-profile equal opportunity/discrimination cases.
The arrival in June 2020 of Jade Tang from Oldham, Li & Nie strengthens the firm’s capacity on the non-contentious front, in particular, and adds further weight to a team that also includes Christopher Hooley, who regularly handles strategic employment advice as an offshoot of his corporate and commercial practice.
‘The firm provides a fast and professional turnaround.’
‘Adam Hugill is very professional, knowledgeable, and responsive.’
Adam Hugill is well respected by interviewees for his work assisting companies and individual employees with employment law advice and dispute resolution across a range of subjects, including immigration, discrimination issues, disciplinary actions and terminations. He represents clients in matters brought before the Hong Kong Labour Tribunal and the High Court.
Alfred Ip maintains a strong reputation for his contentious probate, trust and estate planning practice. He typically represents families and private individuals in estate disputes, probate actions and applications for declaratory relief. One source confirms that he is “very adept at dealing with probate matters.”
Christopher Hooley is held in high regard for his wide-ranging corporate law practice, with his recent activity spanning M&A transactions and joint ventures to commercial agreements and corporate organisation mandates. He co-heads the corporate and commercial law practice group at Hugill & Ip Solicitors.
Three of Hugill & Ip partners ranked as Asialaw Leading Lawyers in the following practice areas:
- Adam Hugill for Labour and Employment (Highly Recommended Firm)
- Alfred Ip for Private Client and Dispute Resolution (Recommended Firm)
- Christopher Hooley for Corporate and M&A (Notable Firm)
Client feedback:
“Excellent communication with clients. All issues, decisions, and implications are explained incredibly clearly, in a way that a non-legal person can understand and make decisions on. Extremely friendly, professional and responsive lawyers.” – Dispute Resolution
“Reactive and reliable. The firm is also very friendly.” – Labour and Employment
“Jonathan Gray is an excellent lawyer. Great at communication and explaining legal matters to a non-legal person, so that we are able to make a very well-informed decision.”
Asian Legal Business (ALB) presented the 19th Annual ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2020 on 27 November – the pre-eminent legal awards and ALB’s biggest and longest-running awards in Asia.
Hugill & Ip has been awarded the winning prize for Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year and has been shortlisted as finalist in 8 other categories:
- HKGALA Award for Corporate Citizenship
- Immigration
- Labour and Employment
- Matrimonial and Family
- Private Wealth
- Rising Law Firm
- Tax and Trusts
- Transactional Boutique Law Firm
Alfred Ip, senior partner, said, “We are thankful for the recognition of Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year. Hugill & Ip’s reputation is rooted on handling a wide range of litigation cases: from general commercial and contractual cases, financial and partnership disputes, to banking, trusts, estate, employment and tax litigation.”
The Law Society of Hong Kong has presented the 2020 Awards for the Pro-bono and Community Recognition Programme to the firm and four partners:
- Hugill & Ip – Gold Law Firm Award
- Alfred Ip (Ip Woon Shun 葉煥信) – Individual Gold Award
- Adam Hugill – Individual Bronze Award
- Gary Wong – Individual Bronze Award
- Carmen Tang – Individual Bronze Award
Alfred Ip commented: “I am proud to dedicate part of my efforts and legal knowledge to pro bono campaigns, fundraisers and advisory activities to different causes and charitable organisations: from LGBT rights to people affected by illness (Cancer or HIV/AIDS). I look forward to the future and to contribute even more to causes that can positively impact Hong Kong society overall, both s an individual and as a founder of a law firm”.
Adam Hugill added: “At Hugill & Ip we are really proud to contribute our legal knowledge and time for different social responsibility activities, supporting different charity organisations about causes we feel very passionate about: from food banking and waste reduction to the BRACE Awards – from fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS and eliminating stigma for people living with HIV to raising funds and awareness about cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection and treatment”.
Client Service Excellence. Hugill & Ip has been recognised one of the highest rated firms to work with. The most successful law firms go to great lengths to ensure they provide their clients with consistent and high quality service.
As part of the research process for Asialaw Profiles, the survey screens buyers of legal services and ask them to assess and rate law firms for their quality of service in the following attributes:
- Clients management
- Fees and billing
- Firm setup
- Knowledge
Adam Hugill is recognised as Recommended Lawyer in the category of Leading Employment & Labour Lawyers.
Alfred Ip is recognised as First Tier Lawyer in the category of Leading Estates, Probate & Succession Litigation Lawyers.
They have been identified by their fellow Hong Kong-based lawyers and barristers for their expertise and abilities in the area.
Hugill & Ip has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation in the following practice areas:
- Notable Firms for Commercial and Transactions
- Highly Recommended for Private Client
Hugill & Ip is recognised for its work in dispute resolution and the firm has a distinct focus on employment and private client litigation. Key names in the dispute resolution team include partners Alfred Ip and Adam Hugill who led the majority of cases worked on during the research period.
One highlight saw the firm advise a beneficiary in challenging an action of the professional administrator in his estate administration by selling the family home. The home in question used to be the recording studio of Crown Records, one of the most renowned record labels in Hong Kong in the 1970-80s.
Testimonials
What our Clients Say
Caroline McNally is the most respected practitioner in family practice. She has seen and done it all before and she knows how to get things done. She is strategically patient and will not allow the client to do something that will hurt them in the long term. She is excellent in negotiations – a real poker face.
Alfred Ip is very creative. We have benefited from his responsive attitude throughout our retainer with him. He achieved our mandate phenomenally and I have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone with a similar issue. He has a stellar reputation in trust and estate, and this reputation is well deserved. He is one of the smartest lawyers I have ever met, and he has turned things around since he was on board. I would call him ‘Prince of Trust’, not only because of his practice area but also because he has my trust!
Hugill & Ip provides expert advice to clients in labour and employment law. They have a significant amount of experience in anti-discrimination law in an employment context and have assisted employees as well as employers in disputes concerning sexual harassment, sex/family status discrimination, race discrimination and disability discrimination. They have assisted their clients throughout the litigation process with involvement in drafting the pleadings at the outset all the way to trial and appeals (where necessary).
I was very impressed with the level of service I received from Hugill & Ip. They were extremely knowledgeable, responsive and professional, and helped me navigate some complex probate issues with ease. I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal assistance.
Kajal Aswani is very experience and gives excellent strategic advice. She is highly respected and always gives sensible and strategic advice to her clients.
I needed some document notarised and processed for use overseas and Hugill & Ip were, by far, the most professional and efficient firm I’ve come across in Hong Kong. The Notary Manager I dealt with (Ms Miu) was outstanding. She was very personable, exhaustive in explaining the process, and kept me posted on completion of each step, which was highly appreciated. Truly excellent customer service.
This is a growing employment practice in Hong Kong. Having set up a few years ago, it has gone from strength to strength under Adam Hugill’s guidance.
They provide a professional, efficient and reliable service. They get straight to the point and do not waste client money. Their advice is clear and strategic. They are excellent at solving seemingly intractable problems.
Alfred Ip is stellar in every way. His advice and delivery are tailored to the client. He is knowledgeable, experienced, insightful and reassuring in conference. He is not afraid to take on difficult opponents or complex cases. He is always the one you want if you are going into a fight.