Contentious Trusts & Estates

We are one of the few law firms in Hong Kong with a dedicated practice in contentious trusts and estates, combining our expertise in advising private clients in their wealth and estate planning and resolving any potential disputes among family members

Partner

Alfred Ip

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 1200 675 Alfred Ip

Podcast S3E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Challenging a Will

References

Alfred Ip is recognised for his Contentious Trusts practice

Citywealth’s Leaders List is a curated directory of the leading individuals in international private client and wealth management. Over 15 years of research, Citywealth has identified the advisors and managers who regularly assist clients with £5million + in investable assets and some of the wealthiest billionaires in the world. All entries have been nominated for inclusion by their peers or organisations and independently verified by Citywealth with peer or client references.

Peer reviews:

“In the course of working with Alfred Ip in the past three years on one of the most complicated Estate Administration matters, he has repeatedly demonstrated his strong sense of fairness and practicality in his advice. I closely work with many different lawyers in my professional capacity as liquidator and estate administrator, and I am thoroughly impressed with the prompt and responsive support that Alfred and his Private Client team at Hugill & Ip consistently offered us.”
“I am a litigation solicitor of more than 35 years of standing. I have known Alfred Ip of Hugill & Ip for a number of years. We have worked together for parties in the same side of litigations as well as against each other. Alfred has always impressed upon me as a very seasoned professional in that he has been able to formulate effective litigation strategies to deal with complex litigation issues, especially in trust and matrimonial matters. I have no doubt that he is one of few top solicitors in Hong Kong in the field of Private Client matters.”

 

Citywealth's Leaders List - 2021

Alfred Ip of Hugill & Ip Solicitors is well respected in the Hong Kong private client market and has particular expertise assisting high net worth individuals on trust and probate issues, as well as estate administration and disputes.

An interviewee says: “Alfred Ip leads from the front – he is intelligent, curious, and has a desire to consume knowledge and deliver advice in a succinct and logical manner.” Another source enthuses: “His expertise and professional attributes gave me the confidence that he was giving me the best advice. He does a tremendous job explaining the risk options and strategies for the next steps.”

Chambers High Net Worth - 2021

Hugill & Ip has been ranked by Benchmark Litigation in the following practice areas:

  • Highly Recommended for Private Client
  • Recommended in Labor and Employment
  • Tier 3 for Commercial and Transactions 

Adam Hugill and Alfred Ip are rated Litigation Stars. 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.

One highlight saw the firm advise Hawaiian company Adon Construction recover misappropriated funds as a result of internet fraud. It also acted on a cross-border joint venture dispute between a garment manufacturing and retail company, High Fashion New Media, and an asset holding vehicle, Hansen. Another case highlight includes defending claims on behalf of Charles Taylor and nine other defendants against allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties and unlawful conspiracy. The firm also acted for KPMG’s court-appointed administrator to administrate the estate and conduct various recovery actions against the former executor of the estate.

Benchmark Litigation - 2021

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.

 

Chambers Asia and Chambers Global - 2021

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

Podcast S3E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Challenging a Will

 Podcast S3E3 | Contentious Trusts & Estates: Challenging a Will 1200 675 Alfred Ip

Hong Kong Lawyer | Inheritance Claims for Financial Provision of Dependants

 Hong Kong Lawyer | Inheritance Claims for Financial Provision of Dependants 1200 800 Hugill & Ip
  • Hugill & Ip

Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants

 Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants 1200 800 Alfred Ip
Plane crash

Who Died First? Survivorship in Joint Tenancy

 Who Died First? Survivorship in Joint Tenancy 2000 1330 Alfred Ip

LexisNexis | Conflicting Wishes of the Settlor and Courts’ Interpretation

 LexisNexis | Conflicting Wishes of the Settlor and Courts’ Interpretation 800 597 Hugill & Ip
  • Hugill & Ip

STEP Hong Kong | Removal of Trustees

 STEP Hong Kong | Removal of Trustees 1480 896 Hugill & Ip
  • Hugill & Ip

LexisNexis | Leading Estates Cases: Disputes Between Beneficiaries and Executors or Administrators

 LexisNexis | Leading Estates Cases: Disputes Between Beneficiaries and Executors or Administrators 900 642 Hugill & Ip
  • Hugill & Ip

LexisNexis | Leading Estates Cases: Disputes Between Beneficiaries

 LexisNexis | Leading Estates Cases: Disputes Between Beneficiaries 1200 800 Hugill & Ip
  • Hugill & Ip

LexisNexis | Contesting a Will: Legal Grounds and Proceedings

 LexisNexis | Contesting a Will: Legal Grounds and Proceedings 1600 1201 Hugill & Ip
  • Hugill & Ip

Unauthorised or Unfair Transfers During the Life of the Deceased

 Unauthorised or Unfair Transfers During the Life of the Deceased 800 565 Alfred Ip

Pitfalls of Homemade Wills

 Pitfalls of Homemade Wills 1200 800 Alfred Ip

LexisNexis Webinar | Estate Planning to Avoid Family Disputes

 LexisNexis Webinar | Estate Planning to Avoid Family Disputes 1200 800 Hugill & Ip
  • Hugill & Ip

Podcast S1E5 | Private Client: Estate Planning & Probate Process

 Podcast S1E5 | Private Client: Estate Planning & Probate Process 1920 700 Alfred Ip

The Impact of Divorce Proceedings on Trusts

 The Impact of Divorce Proceedings on Trusts 1800 1200 Alfred Ip

Trust Focus Week: Breach of Trust and “Anti-Bartlett” Provisions

 Trust Focus Week: Breach of Trust and “Anti-Bartlett” Provisions 600 800 Alfred Ip

Testamentary Freedom and Disinheritance in Hong Kong

 Testamentary Freedom and Disinheritance in Hong Kong 799 604 Alfred Ip

The Potential Pitfalls of Mutual Wills

 The Potential Pitfalls of Mutual Wills 1016 710 Alfred Ip

Probate Focus Week: Sound Mind, Strong Will!

 Probate Focus Week: Sound Mind, Strong Will! 1599 900 Alfred Ip

Execute the Executor! How to Replace an Executor in Hong Kong

 Execute the Executor! How to Replace an Executor in Hong Kong 1601 899 Alfred Ip
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