Podcast S4E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Family Disputes Involving Companies
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Alfred Ip
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Family disputes can take many different forms, from the traditional probate disputes to family company shareholder disputes. Clients who are involved in family disputes can only be benefited from experienced litigators who have extensive knowledge of both probates and trusts from both non-contentious and contentious perspectives.
Hong Kong families are generally familiar with using different assets holding structures (including off-shore structures) to hold their family assets, businesses, real estate and investment portfolios. However, such structures may have been set up without the assistance from professional advisors or may no longer be fit for purpose which can give rise to disputes.
We have a deep understanding of the needs of our private clients and the dynamics of families, family businesses and personal relationships.
Podcast S3E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Challenging a Will
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Alfred Ip
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Podcast S3E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Challenging a Will
References
Two of Hugill & Ip team members ranked as Doyle’s Guide for Leading Estates, Probate & Succession Litigation, as well as the firm (Tier 1):
- Alfred Ip (Tier 1)
- Fiona Chan (Tier 2)
Doyle's Guide - Estates, Probate & Succession Litigation - 2025
Four of Hugill & Ip team members ranked in 2025 Chambers High Net Worth Guide:
- Alfred Ip: Private Wealth Disputes and Private Wealth Law (Band 1 and Band 2)
- Caroline McNally: Family & Matrimonial (Band 1)
- Kajal Aswani: Family & Matrimonial (Band 3)
- Jacqueline Cheng: Private Wealth Law (Associates to watch)
The firm is recognised in Band 2 for its Private Wealth Disputes and Family/Matrimonial practice.
Chambers High Net Worth Guide - 2025
Hugill & Ip is recognised in four different contentious categories in Benchmark Litigation 2025 rankings: Private Client (highly recommended), Family and matrimonial (tier 2), Labor and employment (recommended), Commercial and transactions (tier 3).
The following practitioners are ranked:
- Litigation Stars: Adam Hugill, Alfred Ip and Caroline McNally (also ranked Top 100 Women in Litigation, Asia Pacific)
- Future Stars: Kajal Aswani and Geraint Ho
Benchmark Litigation - 2025
Three of Hugill & Ip partners ranked as Chambers High Net Worth Guide:
- Alfred Ip: Private Wealth Disputes and Private Wealth Law (Band 1 and Band 3)
- Caroline McNally: Family & Matrimonial (Band 1)
- Kajal Aswani: Family & Matrimonial (Up and Coming)
The firm has been recognised in Band 2 for its Private Wealth Disputes practice.
Chambers High Net Worth Guide - 2024
Hugill & Ip is recognised by Doyle’s Guide as First Tier Law Firm in the Estates, Probate & Succession Litigation category in Hong Kong.
Two Partners of the Contentious Trusts & Estates team are recognised in the same category:
- Alfred Ip – First Tier Lawyer
- Fiona Chan – Second Tier Lawyer
Doyle's Guide - Estates, Probate & Succession Litigation - 2024
How we can help you
- Challenging the validity and enforceability of a Will
- Dispute over who to be appointed as administrator of an estate, including appointment of independent professional estate administrator
- Advising trustee and estate administrator in seeking directions from Court when beneficiaries are in dispute, in particular Beddoe application
- Bringing/defending claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Ordinance
- Disputes among family members as shareholders of assets holding vehicles for family wealth, with one party seeking to be brought out by accusing the controllers of the family company for oppression
- Financial control of vulnerable clients (contentious committee applications) and Mental Health Ordinance applications
Advice
Our clients include private individuals, trust companies and professional administrators.
Our experience goes beyond Hong Kong and we work regularly with foreign law firms in multi-jurisdictional trust and estate dispute.
Insights
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Trusts and the Impact of Divorce Proceedings
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Legal 500 | Predatory Marriages and the Lui Ming Lok Decision
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Hong Kong Lawyer | Family Court Reaffirms the “Divorce Standard” in Inheritance Provisions Claim
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Anti-Bartlett Clauses and Their Role in Trust Administration
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Hong Kong Lawyer | A Key Judgment on Interim Maintenance For a Child Under the Inheritance (Provision For Family and Dependants) Ordinance
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Reflecting on “All Shall Be Well” and Related Legal Issues
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Post Edgar Ng on Intestacy and Inheritance Provisions
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Webinar | Distributing and dealing with trust assets: the boundaries of discretion
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Tatler | Mistresses, Secret Children, Inheritance Shocks: How to Make a Will in Hong Kong
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STEP Hong Kong | Protection from Protectors
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Probate Focus Week: Sound Mind, Strong Will!
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