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
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
Hugill & Ip has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation in the following practice areas:
- Highly Recommended for Private Client
- Recommended in Labor and Employment
- Tier 2 in Family and Matrimonial
- Tier 3 for Commercial and Transactions
Hugill & Ip is recognised for its work in dispute resolution and the firm has a distinct focus on employment and private client litigation. The firm is also increasingly involved in general commercial disputes. 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.
Hugill & Ip is one of the 6 law firms shortlisted in the Asia Pacific region for the Labour and Employment Firm of the Year Award.
Caroline McNally recognised with the prestigious award Top 100 Women in Litigation in Asia Pacific by Benchmark Litigation for the Family and Matrimonial category.
Benchmark Litigation - 2024
Alfred Ip of Hugill & Ip Solicitors offers a range of services to high net worth clients, including trust and probate-related matters, along with estate administration. He is often appointed by courts as an administrator in estate disputes, and is also a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
Strengths
“Alfred is excellent and has a very good feel for the systems and courts.”
Chambers High Net Worth - 2023
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
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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Safeguards on Will-Writing in Complex Family Situations
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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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The Barrister Series S5E4 | Kerby Lau on Trust & Estate Administration Disputes
The Barrister Series S5E4 | Kerby Lau on Trust & Estate Administration Disputes https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Hugill-and-Ip-the-HIP-talks-gavel_1400x788.jpg 1400 788 Alfred Ip https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-hugill-and-ip-solicitors-Alfred-Ip_500x700-4-96x96.jpg
Reflecting on “All Shall Be Well” and Related Legal Issues
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Post Edgar Ng on Intestacy and Inheritance Provisions
Post Edgar Ng on Intestacy and Inheritance Provisions https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/doors-486621-pxhere_1921x1080sm.jpg 1921 1080 Alfred Ip https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-hugill-and-ip-solicitors-Alfred-Ip_500x700-4-96x96.jpg
Webinar | Distributing and dealing with trust assets: the boundaries of discretion
Webinar | Distributing and dealing with trust assets: the boundaries of discretion https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Picture-DVC.jpg 1200 470 Hugill & Ip https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-hugill-and-ip-LogoMark_512x512-96x96.png
Hong Kong Lawyer | Passing Over the Reigns
Hong Kong Lawyer | Passing Over the Reigns https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/hugill-and-ip-wills-of-concern-background_1920x1080sm.jpg 1920 1080 Hugill & Ip https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-hugill-and-ip-LogoMark_512x512-96x96.png
Podcast S4E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Family Disputes Involving Companies
Podcast S4E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Family Disputes Involving Companies https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/hugill-ip-hong-kong-hdr-piles-blu_1920x700.jpg 1920 700 Alfred Ip https://www.hugillandip.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-hugill-and-ip-solicitors-Alfred-Ip_500x700-4-96x96.jpg
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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RTHK: The 1 2 3 Show | Alfred Ip: My Story
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Podcast S3E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Challenging a Will
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Hong Kong Lawyer | Inheritance Claims for Financial Provision of Dependants
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Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants
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Who Died First? Survivorship in Joint Tenancy
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LexisNexis | Conflicting Wishes of the Settlor and Courts’ Interpretation
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STEP Hong Kong | Removal of Trustees
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LexisNexis | Leading Estates Cases: Disputes Between Beneficiaries and Executors or Administrators
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LexisNexis | Leading Estates Cases: Disputes Between Beneficiaries
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LexisNexis | Contesting a Will: Legal Grounds and Proceedings
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Unauthorised or Unfair Transfers During the Life of the Deceased
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Pitfalls of Homemade Wills
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LexisNexis Webinar | Estate Planning to Avoid Family Disputes
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Podcast S1E5 | Private Client: Estate Planning & Probate Process
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The Impact of Divorce Proceedings on Trusts
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Trust Focus Week: Breach of Trust and “Anti-Bartlett” Provisions
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Testamentary Freedom and Disinheritance in Hong Kong
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The Potential Pitfalls of Mutual Wills
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Probate Focus Week: Sound Mind, Strong Will!
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