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Results of 2019 Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide announced
04Dec2018Tanner De Witt is delighted once again to be recognised by Chambers & Partners in their 2019 Asia-Pacific Guide for each of its main practice areas in particular its Band 1 rankings for Restructuring and Insolvency and Labour and Employment.
2019 Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific Guide
Corporate/M&A: Independent Hong Kong Firms (Band 2)
What the team is known for
Covers the full range of corporate and commercial matters, including investments, joint ventures and M&A transactions. Remains part of a global referral network with elite law firms, frequently handling cross-border mandates. Strong in dealing with regulatory compliance work related to corporate transactions. Additionally able to assist clients on venture capital transactions.
Strengths
Clients value the team’s detail-orientated approach, one source explaining that “they understand our business and their legal service is provided from our business’ view point. They provide strong attention to detail, experience and valuable advice.”
Another source reports: “They deliver solid work and are reliable. They are responsive, friendly and offer good commercial judgement.”
Notable practitioners
Tim Drew has attained a premier reputation for high-value corporate transactions, including M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. He draws praise from clients for his responsiveness, with one stating: “He has strong experience and is always available and able to provide quick advice.”
Edmond Leung is held in high regard in the market and is regularly instructed by Hong Kong-based clients to advise on outbound investments across the Asia-Pacific region. His clients speak positively about his responsiveness.
Eddie Look offers a broad range of expertise in corporate transactions and private equity work, advising on M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. He is highly rated by a range of international companies with operations in Hong Kong.
Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms) — China (Band 4)
What the team is known for
Respected, independent Hong Kong firm, acknowledged for its broad commercial disputes offering. Areas of expertise include professional negligence claims, shareholder disputes, debt recovery and fraud matters. Often acts for clients in the telecoms, hospitality and automotive sectors. Also adept at handling private client matters and matrimonial disputes.
Notable practitioners
Jeff Lane has substantial expertise in cyber fraud matters and regularly assists clients with asset tracing and recovery. Commentators note his good reputation in this area and consider him to be “a safe pair of hands.”
Mark Side has a wide-ranging litigation practice that includes expertise in restrictive covenant and professional duty disputes, matrimonial asset tracing and white-collar crime.
Robin Darton focuses on disputes arising from restructuring and insolvency proceedings. He also advises on debt recovery, security enforcements and fund investment disputes.
Employment: Hong Kong Law (International Firms) — China (Band 1)
What the team is known for
Strong contentious employment team with notable expertise representing employees in high-profile litigation cases. Active on matters involving individuals employed in Hong Kong, including supporting foreign domestic workers on a pro bono basis. Also advises employers on the transfer of employees to and from the PRC, work policies, contracts and post-employment restrictions. Highly active on cases related to race, disability and sex discrimination, and white-collar crime investigations.
Strengths
One client describes the firm as “professional and attentive” and says: “I feel I am being well guided.”
Another client appreciates the firm’s responsiveness, “enabling clients to make informed decisions promptly,” as well as its “expertise in multiple of practice areas.”
Notable practitioners
Kim Boreham is a highly regarded litigator whose expertise spans claims for unpaid wages, severance payments and wrongful termination, assisting other firms with employment-related due diligence and contract review and policy documentation. One market commentator calls her a “solid, sensible lawyer.”
Russell Bennett is experienced in handling all aspects of employment disputes and litigation, from mediations relating to terminations and harassment claims to court proceedings and pro bono employee defence. Market commentators call him a “good technical lawyer” and a “safe pair of hands with regard to financial services clients.”
Family/Matrimonial (International Firms) — China (Recognised Practitioner)
Joanne Brown “is very reassuring with clients, very professional and practical. She is the kind of person that people would go to if they want some very practical advice or if they want the case to be handled by someone with immediate maturity,” according to a client. She continues to serve a diverse range of clients from HNW individuals and expatriates to locals.
Restructuring/Insolvency (International Firms) — China (Band 1)
What the team is known for
Well-established independent Hong Kong firm with a strong reputation, particularly in relation to high-stakes contentious insolvency cases. Regularly handles large, complex domestic litigations. Also able to handle cross-border Hong Kong–Mainland China restructurings and is increasingly handling both contentious and non-contentious work.
Strengths
A client reports: “I find the team very approachable and personable and take comfort in the service provided not being delegated by the partners to subordinates. The strengths for me stem from the broad range of experience the partners collectively share on matters which rarely appear in court proceedings and are novel to the legal system in Hong Kong.”
Another client appreciates that “the advice from the team is straightforward and to the point, but they don’t simply cut and paste elementary knowledge to us.”
Notable practitioners
Robin Darton is a seasoned expert in Hong Kong insolvency disputes, acting for trustees in bankruptcy cases, disputes relating to shareholders’ agreements and applications for the appointment of receivers. A client describes him as “very competent, very practical and commercially oriented.”
Ian De Witt is a veteran at handling a range of insolvency matters, from debt recovery to pre-emptive actions and the appointment of provisional liquidators. One client enthuses:“Ian’s approach is very personal and reassuring. He has a very casual manner about him which really helps, as these situations are very stressful, taking away a lot of the pain of the process in what was not a very savoury situation.”
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