Hong Kong’s most notable lawyers under 40

Eleven men and nine women made it to the list.

In search of the best lawyers in the region, Hong Kong Business reached out to over 80 legal firms in Hong Kong.

After rigorous review of all nominations submitted by firms, 11 men and nine women made it to the final cut.

Agents in this year’s list come from Appleby, Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co., Cornerstone Chambers, HFW, Oldham, Li & Nie, Robertsons, Stephenson Harwood, Tanner De Witt , Timothy Loh LLP,  and Withers.

Leading the pack is Withers with three representatives. The youngest in this year’s list is from Timothy Loh LLP.

This year’s lawyers excel in financial services, international law, mergers and acquisitions,  real estate, and family law.

Many of this year’s awardees assisted clients in million-dollar cases, such as securing a US$34m award in an unsafe port dispute, and billion-dollar deals, including advising a New York Stock Exchange-listed asset manager on a US$720m acquisition.

Here are this year’s awardees arranged from the youngest to the most senior in years.

Sally Lau, 28
Timothy Loh LLP

Sally, recently promoted to Managing Associate, specialises in financial services regulation, virtual assets, crypto derivatives, FinTech, and investment funds. She advises on regulatory compliance, investigations, and disputes, including for banks, investment firms, and digital asset businesses. Notably, Sally has represented some of the top 5 global digital asset exchanges with HK$50b and HK$200b of average daily trading volume, as well as an SFC-licensed VA fund manager regarding its Web3.0 private equity fund. Sally is trusted for her strategic insight and perceptiveness in this evolving regulatory landscape, and her case management expertise.

Mary Lam, 32
Timothy Loh LLP

Mary is a Managing Associate that specialises in corporate law, M&A, financial services regulation, and private equity funds. She advised a U.S. investment firm on Hong Kong regulatory issues for its HK$19.5b acquisition of a majority stake in an international insurance broker. In M&A, she guided a NYSE-listed asset manager through a HK$5.6b acquisition of a global alternative asset manager, navigating complex Hong Kong due diligence and regulatory challenges. Mary also led the formation of a HK$46.8b Asia-focused LPF private equity fund, ensuring compliance with sovereign investment requirements.

Jessica Lee, 33
Clyde & Co.

Jessica, Counsel in the Professional & Financial Disputes team at Clyde & Co’s Hong Kong office, specialises in professional liability and financial lines disputes. She handles complex professional negligence litigation across multiple sectors and jurisdictions.  Jessica regularly advises auditors, directors, insurance professionals, and construction professionals.  She is conversant with various dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation, judicial settlement conferences and other forms of ADR.  Jessica also has extensive experience handling regulatory investigations and disciplinary proceedings. Outside of work, she actively engages in pro bono initiatives and has a keen interest in public interest law.

Alex Chung, 34
Withers

Alex, a partner in the private client and tax team at Withers, specialises in trust and estate planning, US taxation, and cross-border probate matters. Qualified in Hong Kong, New York, and England & Wales, he advises high-net-worth individuals on establishing and restructuring family trusts, pre-US immigration tax planning, and relinquishment of US citizenship or green cards. Alex also assists individuals with coming into compliance with their US tax.  Recognised as a Tier 1 Private Client Global Elite Lawyer in 2024, Alex is a trusted adviser for private clients navigating complex tax and estate planning globally.

Winnie Chung, 34
HFW

Winnie, a Senior Associate at HFW’s Hong Kong shipping team, specialises in shipping arbitration and litigation, excelling in charterparty disputes. She represents shipowners, charterers, and clubs in arbitrations and court proceedings across Hong Kong, London, and Singapore. Winnie’s notable cases include securing a over HK$260 million award in an unsafe port dispute and resolving complex shipbuilding and delivery issues. Active in the shipping community, she is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a frequent industry speaker. Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, Winnie has also worked on shipping projects throughout Asia.

Whitney Chan, 34
HFW

Whitney, a Senior Associate at HFW's Hong Kong Aerospace team, specialises in aircraft financing, leasing, and trading transactions. Triple-qualified in England & Wales, Hong Kong, and the British Virgin Islands, she primarily advises leading aircraft leasing companies and financial institutions. Her expertise includes aircraft portfolio financing, sale and leaseback deals, portfolio asset sales, JOLCOs, and P2F cargo leases, as well as corporate jet transactions. Fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, Whitney has led significant aviation finance and leasing projects across Asia, working with airlines and stakeholders throughout the region.

Matthew Cheung, 35
Cornerstone Chambers

Matthew, called to the Bar in 2015, specialises in civil and commercial litigation with a focus on construction disputes, building management, family law, land law, intellectual property, and trust matters. He also handles criminal cases, acting for both prosecution and defence. As a Society of Construction Law Hong Kong Scholar, Matthew holds a Bachelor of Building Engineering and is currently a visiting lecturer at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He also frequently speaks on land and building management topics for various institutions.

Jonathan Lam, 35
Oldham, Li & Nie

Jonathan specialises in commercial and contractual disputes, representing clients in landmark cases in both the High Court and Court of Appeal of Hong Kong. His expertise spans from shareholders’ disputes, derivative actions on behalf of companies, debt recovery, insolvency matters, to civil fraud cases. As an affiliate member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Jonathan has a deep understanding of trust and estate matters, making him a trusted adviser in both contentious and non-contentious cases.

Samuel Leung, 35
Cornerstone Chambers

Samuel, a Charles Ching Scholar, was called to the Bar in 2022 and is developing a broad civil and criminal practice. He holds a Juris Doctor with Dean’s List from CUHK and a Master of Laws with Distinction from UCL. A former Judicial Assistant at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, he assisted judges in substantive appeals and leave applications. Samuel is fluent in Chinese and frequently advises Mainland clients. He also lectures at CUHK and City University of Hong Kong. His publications are cited by apex courts and leading texts, including Snell’s Equity.

Yvonne Kong, 36
Oldham, Li & Nie

Yvonne, a Partner since 2020, specialises in matrimonial and family law, with expertise in complex children applications, including Hague Convention cases, adoption, surrogacy, and custody matters. She advises high-net-worth clients on asset division, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and estate planning. Yvonne has represented clients in high-conflict trials, including an 18-day High Court case, and handled notable cases such as securing a favourable settlement in a HKD700m asset division. She is a member of the Hong Kong Family Law Association and contributes to global family law publications.

Alex Ye, 36
Withers

Alex, a special counsel in the international arbitration and litigation team at Withers, specialises in cross-border disputes, including international arbitration, commercial disputes, regulatory investigations, restructuring and insolvency, and contentious probate matters in Hong Kong and Mainland China. He has acted under various arbitral institutional rules and as a tribunal secretary in complex international arbitrations. Experienced in Hong Kong and offshore court proceedings, Alex’s dual civil law and common law background, along with qualifications in Hong Kong, England & Wales, and the People’s Republic of China bar exam, makes him adept at handling multi-jurisdictional contentious matters.

Ross Davidson, 36
Stephenson Harwood

Ross is a private wealth lawyer based in Hong Kong, advising clients across Asia Pacific. Specializing in international tax, trust law, estate planning, and family business governance, he assists globally mobile families, executives, entrepreneurs, and their advisers with cross-border legal and tax matters. Collaborating with teams and independent firms in Asia, Europe, and the US, Ross provides comprehensive advice. Recognized as a leading lawyer, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Trustees' Association and is an associate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Simon Tong, 36
Robertsons

Simon, a seasoned litigator, specialises in civil and commercial disputes, including international arbitrations, shareholder conflicts, regulatory enforcement actions, and IP licensing. He has acted in high-profile cases, such as shareholder disputes involving hedge funds and investment claims exceeding HK$1b, and has represented former management in investigations by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission and Independent Commission Against Corruption. Simon’s expertise includes handling just and equitable winding-ups, unfair prejudice claims, and statutory derivative actions. He has been instrumental in leading complex litigation and arbitration projects across Asia, representing clients in high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Teresa Tsoi, 37
Stephenson Harwood

Teresa, a banking and finance lawyer, has more than a decade of experience in syndicated and bilateral loan transactions, real estate financing, and restructuring and insolvency. She successfully led numerous high-profile debt restructuring projects in recent years. Her valuable secondments with Standard Chartered Bank and ANZ Bank have deepened her understanding of internal banking practices. Promoted to Partner in May 2024, Teresa is praised for her negotiation skills, logical approach and efficiency in delivering high-quality legal service. With extensive experience in finance and complex transactions, she is known for her client-focused solutions and professionalism.

Chiu Ho Yin (Mark), 37
Tanner De Witt

Mark, a Consultant in the Employment Practice, advises employers and employees on recruitment, termination, misconduct, post-termination restrictions, and employment documentation. He specialises in anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws, grievance management, and contentious employment matters. Mark has represented clients in the Labour Tribunal, District Court, Court of First Instance, and Court of Appeal, and conducted internal investigations into misconduct and breaches of employment contracts. He has considerable experience in conducting large scale internal trainings and seminars for clients.

Wilfred Ng, 37
Bird & Bird

Wilfred is a partner at Bird & Bird in Hong Kong, specialising in technology, media, telecoms (TMT) sectors and data protection, with over 10 years of experience. Bilingual in Chinese and English, he advises clients on all commercial, transactional and regulatory matters, including complex cross-border technology contracts, large-scale data protection audits, cross-border data transfer and cybersecurity incident management. Prior to Bird & Bird, Wilfred was an in-house lawyer with Tencent specialising in international privacy matters. His clients span all sectors affected by technology, including cloud services, financial services, media, telecommunications, retail, healthcare and public institutions.

David Bulley, 38
Appleby

David Bulley, Managing Partner of Appleby for Hong Kong and Mainland China, is an Asia based offshore lawyer and the only lawyer in Mainland China who has been admitted in the Cayman Islands.  David specialises in private equity, public and private M&A, and restructuring. Over the past five years, he has advised on over HK$1,326bn in M&A transactions and HK$4,290bn in restructuring and distressed mandates including representing many China real estate companies on their debt restructurings and representing sponsors, investors, companies and special committees on high-profile public M&A and de-SPAC transactions.

Sharon Tam, 38
Bird & Bird

Sharon is a senior associate at Bird & Bird and leads the real estate practice in Hong Kong. She regularly advises multinational and local private equity funds and developers on significant property transactions. Sharon is devoted to serving the community and the legal profession and serves on numerous Hong Kong government panels and nonprofit boards, including as the Chairlady of the Hong Kong Law Society’s Greater China Legal Affairs Young Solicitors' Sub-Committee and the Non-Official Member of the HKSARG Steering Committee on Rule of Law Education. She is also a guest lecturer at HKU’s Postgraduate Certificate in Laws program.

Pan Tsang, 38
Robertsons

Pan, a corporate lawyer and partner in the firm’s commercial and corporate finance teams, specialises in M&As, joint ventures, and corporate governance. He advises public and private companies, banks, and individuals across Hong Kong, Mainland China, and internationally, offering pragmatic and cost-effective legal solutions tailored to client needs. Among the first Hong Kong lawyers eligible to practice People’s Republic of China law in the Greater Bay Area, Pan frequently speaks on regulatory topics, including AI governance. His insights have been featured in publications like Hong Kong Business.

Anisha Ramanathan, 39
Withers

Anisha, a partner in the divorce and family team at Withers, specialises in matrimonial law with a focus on complex, international cases. She advises on divorce, separation, financial disputes, child custody, maintenance, and relocation, often involving intricate asset structures, family trusts, and third parties. Anisha’s civil litigation background adds depth to her expertise in enforcement applications and high-net-worth cases. Anisha is an accredited and trained general commercial and family mediator with HKMAAL, as well as a trained collaborative practitioner. Aside from matrimonial cases, she has experience in drafting wills, probate and general civil litigation matters.