Legal Updates

  • Questions regarding same-sex marriage to be heard in the Court of Final Appeal

    On 10 November 2022, the Court of Appeal granted leave to appeal against its judgment in Sham Tsz Kit (岑子杰) v Secretary for Justice [2022] HKCA 1247. The Court of First Instance had dismissed Mr Sham’s application for judicial review, which argued that the (1)…Read More

  • Data Transfers: Protecting personal data by contractual means

    The personal data protection regime in Hong Kong does not contain a statutory restriction on the transfer of personal data outside Hong Kong. However, this does not mean that there are no protections in respect of cross-border personal data transfers. In this article, Pádraig Walsh…Read More

  • Joanne Brown admitted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers

    Following the recent Family Law Firm of the Year award from Asian Legal Business, we are delighted to announce Joanne Brown has been admitted as a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. IAFL: International Academy of Family Lawyers is a worldwide association of practising lawyers who are…Read More

  • Ian De Witt and Jeff Lane attend C5 Fraud, Asset Tracing and Recovery Miami

    Restructuring and Insolvency Partner Ian De Witt and Fraud and Asset Tracing Partner Jeff Lane are in Florida for the 11th Edition of the C5 Fraud, Asset Tracing and Recovery Conference. Held in Miami, the conference gathered the full spectrum of professionals specialising in fraud,…Read More

  • Data Transfers: Frameworks for organising cross-border data transfers

    There are serious legal consequences to a mishandled cross-border personal data transfer. In this article, Pádraig Walsh from our Data Privacy practice explores the steps a business should take when conducting an international data transfer process. Policy and process Good practice does not happen by…Read More

  • Legal Update: “Consultant” to employer company held criminally liable for non-payment of wages

    Introduction Any employer who, “wilfully and without reasonable excuse”, fails to pay wages to an employee within 7 days of the wage period or date of termination of employment may commit an offence under section 63C of the Employment Ordinance (the “EO”). The punishment can…Read More

  • Data Transfers: The ground rules in Hong Kong

    The starting point for understanding data transfers under Hong Kong law is to understand the interpretation of key data privacy concepts in Hong Kong. This may seem obvious first principles, but as Pádraig Walsh from our Data Privacy practice explains, sometimes those principles are same…Read More

  • Tanner De Witt joins the Hong Kong Legal Walk

    Tanner De Witt will be joining the Hong Kong Legal Walk this year, which aims to raise funds and awareness for the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, the Changing Young Lives Foundation, the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accidents Victims and HELP for Domestic Workers….Read More

  • Legal update: Security assessment measures on PRC cross-border data transfers

    In this snapshot legal update, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (“PCPD”) reminded businesses in Hong Kong to take timely follow-up actions and seek professional advice to comply with the relevant requirements of the Security Assessment Measures on Cross-border Transfers of Data…Read More

  • Legal update: SFC review of online investment services

    In this snapshot legal update, we report that on 31 August 2022, the Securities and Futures Commission issued a circular to licensed corporations in relation to the SFC’s review of online brokerage, distribution and advisory services (the “Circular”). The SFC conducted a review of the…Read More

  • Tanner De Witt’s Family Practice has once again won Asian Legal Business’s Matrimonial and Family Law Firm of the Year 2022

    Our Family Practice has been recognised for the second time in the 2022 Kingfisher ALB Hong Kong Awards as Matrimonial and Family Law Firm of the Year. The Practice is led by Joanne Brown and Mark Side, who have built a strong reputation for dispute…Read More

  • Tanner De Witt Supports Fat Boy 10s Charity Event

    This past weekend, we were happy to join with sponsors DHL, KPMG and Ogilvy–plus many volunteers–as the Pot Bellied Pigs RFC Hong Kong held another successful Fat Boy 10s Charity Event. Our own Marthinus Steyn was in attendance, playing three matches as part of the…Read More