In today’s competitive global markets, businesses need wisely crafted and bespoke legal advice.
We advise a wide range of corporate clients and businesses ranging from multi nationals, local businesses, start-ups, deal makers and entrepreneurs, in Hong Kong and internationally. We also offer tailor-made solutions to complex regulatory problems and daily operations.
We help our clients identify and manage risk so that they can make the right choices for their business and offer practical support help grow the business while protecting its assets.
We carefully consider every aspect of a transaction in the light of the specific needs of our clients, to ensure that our clients’ legal and economic concerns in the transaction are sufficiently and properly addressed and protected.
We are experienced in advising local, regional and global organisations on public and private M&A transactions and restructuring and regularly act for client in connection with complex legal, regulatory and transactional issues. Our strong experience and practical understanding of local market allows us to provide end to end advice that extends beyond the law.
We also advise clients in respect of the tax issues and the ever-changing laws and regulations affecting their businesses, to help them to resolve all the legal challenges that they may face.
We tailor all documents to facilitate our clients’ needs on a particular transaction and certainly our approach of understanding our clients’ business and needs helps us keep this objective in focus throughout the process. We advise our clients at every stage of a transaction and are available to assist clients from the development of strategies through to their implementation.
We excel in corporate governance, directors’ liabilities and responsibilities and shareholders’ rights.
References
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.”
Since its establishment in September 2018, boutique independent law firm Hugill & Ip has quickly gained traction in the market for existing clients of lead employment partner Adam Hugill , many of whom followed him to his new firm. Praised for his ‘no-nonsense attitude and helpful, realistic way of giving advice’, Hugill is particularly accomplished at handling employment litigation for individuals in the financial services sector, including on disputes involving payment and clawback of bonuses, and vested and unvested remuneration rights. On the non-contentious front, Christopher Hooley excels at handling the employment aspects of M&A mandates and reorganisations.
‘The team provides direct advice within a practical framework.’
‘Adam Hugill clearly knows his stuff, but manages to exude a casual and relaxed air during meetings.’
Podcast S1E4 | Corporate & Commercial: Essential Considerations
How we can help you
M & A Transactions
• Share sale and purchase acquisitions
• Cross border business and asset transfers
Corporate Finance
• Private Equity funds
• Investment agreements
• Private placements
• China investments
• Corporate restructuring
• Facility agreements
• Joint ventures and shareholder agreements
Commercial
• Security documents
• Opinion letters
• Commercial agreements
• Sales agreements
• Franchising agreements
• Licensing agreements
• Manufacturing and distribution agreements
• Trademark agreements
• Standard terms and conditions
• Management services agreements
• Non disclosure agreements
Debt and Equity Financing
• Bank and loan documentation
• Regulatory matters
Digital
• Fintech advisory
• Regulatory and compliance
Regulatory
• SFC licensing, investigations and regulated activities
• Competition
• Privacy
Company Secretarial
• Company formation and secretarial services
• Directors’ responsibilities
• Corporate governance audits
• Company formations and provision of nominee services
Advice
We have acted for our clients on either the sale side or the buy side in respect of merger and acquisition transactions on businesses with different profiles ranging from SME to multinational conglomerates. Our clients are pleased with the effective and comprehensive manner that we handle the process, from the initial due diligence to the post-completion requirements.
With a team of experienced lawyers, and assisted by associates across the Asia region, we have the ability to assist our clients in both local and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. We are especially skilled at dealing with the legal issues facing international companies seeking to have a presence in Hong Kong and China.
Insights

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