Bio
Notable Cases
Awards
Writing
Bio
A qualified solicitor in Hong Kong since 2000, Alfred’s speciality is dispute resolution, an area in which he is ranked by Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific as a ‘Leading Individual’. Until recently he was partner in the Dispute Resolutions team and head of Private Client at a leading Hong Kong law firm.
Alfred is skilled in helping individuals and their families manage personal and wealth-related matters, including trust and probate (both contentious and non-contentious), family office, and mental capacity issues.
He is vastly experienced in all areas of probate and can help clients with estate planning, ranging from the proper drafting of a will to constructing complicated trusts, airtight from any potential perils.
Alfred is appointed by court as an administrator in estate disputes, and advises professional administrators on legal aspects of estate administration, both in Hong Kong and internationally.
In contentious cases, he acts for clients in probate actions, ranging from propounding the Will to having an executor removed. For clients requiring help in estate administration problems such as declaratory relief or disclosure of account, Alfred will apply to Court for the necessary directions and orders.
Alfred’s professional skills are enhanced by his membership of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“TEP”), and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is a CEDR accredited Mediator and a Notary Public.
In 2012, he won the Law Society of Hong Kong’s Gold Award for services to the community for his pro bono initiative, “FreeWill”, and he has received pro bono service awards every year since.
In addition to his Private Client practice, Alfred has 20 years of experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. In March 2017, Alfred was appointed to sit as a Deputy District Judge.
Alfred is Chairman of Pink Alliance.
Alfred speaks Cantonese, Mandarin and English.
Notable Cases
Probate and Estate Management
- Loo Che Chin [2013] 2 HKLRD 739 — applied to pass over the executor appointed by the testator for a group of beneficiaries on the ground of swift and effective administration of the estate.
- Estate of Wong Shu Pui — successfully resisted the application to pass over the administrator of the estate on the ground of the alleged bad character.
- Estate of Ngan Chow Wah – successfully passed over the widow of the Deceased as administrator.
- Estate of Yeung Wai Him – the Court determined the issue of the Deceased’s marriage and the validity of its purported dissolution.
- Appointed by the Court as professional Administrator in the Estates of Lai Suet Ching; Chow Kwok Leung; and Leung Kam Wah.
Commercial Litigation
- Oriental Press Group Limited and Others v. Fevaworks Solutions Limited 16 HKCFAR 366, [2012] — Court of Final Appeal – represented hkgolden.com, one of Hong Kong’s most popular internet forums, in defending claims by Oriental Daily Group in Hong Kong for defamatory comments made on their forums and their founders by internet users on the forum based on innocent dissemination.
- High Fashion New Media Corporation Ltd v. Leong Ma Li – successfully held the Defendant in contempt of Court.
- Perrine Chamonix Limited – Star League Limited and ors – successfully sought costs against the opposite party after stopping its premises being used as vice establishment.
Awards
2019
- Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution: Litigation – Chambers Asia-Pacific
2018
- Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution: Litigation – Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Leading Lawyer in Dispute Resolution and Private Client – Asialaw Profiles
2017
- Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution: Litigation – Chambers Asia-Pacific
2016
- Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution – Chambers Asia-Pacific
2015
- Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution – Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Pro Bono and Community Service Awards 2015 – Silver Award – The Law Society of Hong Kong
2014
- Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution – Chambers Asia-Pacific
Writing
Alfred has written an extensive number of publications on a wide variety of topics ranging from Probate and Estate Administration to Mediation and Civil Litigation.
Alfred edited Atkin’s Court Forms Hong Kong, Probate Edition 2012 and Encyclopedia of Forms and Precedents Will Edition 2013.
References
Alfred Ip of Hugill & Ip Solicitors is noted for his private client work, having particular expertise in litigation arising from wills and inheritance provisions. Clients praise his “strategic” approach and describe him as a “big-picture lawyer”. “He is pragmatic and goes straight to the point”, a source also reports.
Chambers Asia - 2019
Alfred Ip is an “experienced and aggressive litigator who can always come up with good strategies” and “is able to adopt a pragmatic approach”. His practice encompasses a range of contentious probate matters, including litigation relating to inheritance and wills.
Chambers Asia - 2018
With the full spectrum of experience in probate, Alfred can provide practical advice to a client’s estate planning, from a properly drafted will to a complex trust structure, with the aim of avoiding any potential pitfalls that may lead to family dispute. His unique experience in probate sets him apart from other estate planning practitioners.
Legal 500 - 2018
Three of Hugill & Ip partners ranked as Asialaw Leading Lawyers in the following practice areas:
- Adam Hugill for Labour and Employment
- Alfred Ip for Private Client (the only one in Hong Kong) and Dispute Resolution
- Christopher Hooley for Corporate and M&A
Asialaw - 2018
Alfred Ip is “a confident lawyer” who is “not afraid to go up against big opponents” and is “very smart and considerate of clients’ interests”. He has particular experience of litigation relating to guardianships, inheritance and wills.
Chambers Asia - 2017
Alfred Ip is a contentious probate specialist. Clients respect his advice saying “he uses his legal experience to tell me my options and the pros and cons, so that I can have a clear picture about the situation and can make the right decision”.
Chambers Asia - 2015
Alfred Ip receives high praise from a number of satisfied clients. “He guided us through the complex litigation process with clear explanations and an ingenious sense of strategy”. Ip has considerable experience in probate work, both contentious and non-contentious.
Chambers Asia - 2014
Alfred Ip is commended for his broad-ranging expertise: “He shows genuine interest in knowing more about our industry, so we don’t have to explain ourselves too much. There are a lot of lawyers who are quite conservative in understanding specialist industries, but he goes the extra mile to learning about us”.
Chambers Asia - 2013
Alfred Ip is “a considered practitioner and a good listener – he knows what clients need and pays attention to what we want. He is very solution-orientated”.
Chambers Asia - 2012
Insights
Mediation Focus Week: Mediation Styles
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Mediation Focus Week: The Structure of Mediation
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