Introduction

Wang Jing & GH Law Firm, based in the Greater Bay Area and just celebrated its 14^th anniversary earlier this year, stays true to its original aspiration and keeps forging ahead to realize the vision of becoming a top tier foreign-related commercial legal service platform in the Greater Bay Area (“GBA”). As a pioneer in foreign-related legal services rooted in the GBA, Wang Jing & GH actively responds to the country’s GBA development strategy, continuously pools talents in foreign-related practices to provide professional and efficient legal services to residents in the GBA.

Founded in London in 1832, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP (“HFW”) has a long history of 190 years. It has over 700 lawyers working across 20 offices around the world. September 2022 saw a number of lawyers of HFW Hong Kong office pass the GBA legal professional qualification examination.

Recently, Wang Jing & GH Law Firm ushers in four Hong Kong lawyers, namely Mr. Henry FUNG, Mr. Wing CHEUNG, Ms. Karen CHEUNG and Mr. Max HUI, which not only further expands the size of practice teams but also enhances the firm’s strength in foreign-related commercial practices. All of the four Hong Kong lawyers have rich practice experience and extensive experience in other legal sectors, and enjoy high reputation in the field. They will act as a bridge and link to promote the convergence and integration of the legal and judicial systems of the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao.

Wang Jing & GH extends a warm welcome to the four lawyers for joining in the firm. We are also ready to welcome other Hong Kong and Macao lawyers who have obtained practise license (in the GBA) for joining us for better communication, exchanges and integration so as to jointly promote the high-quality development of the GBA legal services to a new level.

Profiles of the Four HFW Lawyers

Henry FUNG

Henry graduated from the University of Hong Kong and China University of Political Science and Law respectively in 1990 and 1996 with the Bachelor of Laws degree. He is qualified in Hong Kong SAR, England and Wales and the GBA.

Henry’s practice covers a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters. His contentious work covers traditional shipping and yachting-related work (charterparty disputes, cargo claims, personal injury claims and insurance claims), as well as other commercial disputes (litigations/arbitrations), including cross-border multi-party litigations/winding ups. Henry also acts for clients in a wide range of non-contentious matters, including liaising with various regulatory bodies and regularly advises regulatory, compliance and sanction issues.

Henry is recommended in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019 for Shipping, where he is noted for his “professionalism” and “ability to anticipate problems”. He is also listed as a shipping expert in Who’s Who Legal.

Wing CHEUNG

Wing graduated from the University of Hong Kong in 1990 with the Bachelor of Laws degree and obtained the Master of Laws degree from the University of Hong Kong in 2008. He is qualified in Hong Kong SAR, England and Wales and the GBA.

Wing assists clients in relation to a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. He advises clients on legal and regulatory issues arising under the Hong Kong listing rules and takeovers code. Additionally, Wing’s practice has a strong emphasis on regulatory enforcement and compliance, particularly in relation to inquiries, investigations, disciplinary and other proceedings initiated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Recently, Wing and his team provided legal services in relation to the listing of Swang Chai Chuan Limited on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and acted as Hong Kong counsel to the sponsor. He and his team also advised on an SPV disposal project valued over HK$ 2.5 billion. The project involves the sale of an SPV that owns special buildings in Hong Kong, and the transaction structure thereof involves different jurisdictions and complex escrow arrangements.

Wing was the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong, where he was responsible for coordinating policy and other matters among government bureaus and external bodies of the Hong Kong Government. Before re-joining private practice, Wing was a law draftsman in the Department of Justice of Hong Kong. He regularly attended meetings of the Executive Council and Legislative Council of Hong Kong as well as drafted legislation.

Karen CHEUNG

Karen obtained her LLB with Business from Keele University (U.K.) in 2006. She is qualified to practice in Hong Kong SAR and the GBA.

Karen’s practice covers a broad spectrum, ranging from complex cross-border corporate and commercial litigation, white-collar crime, regulatory matters, shareholders disputes, shipping law, employment law, land disputes to judicial review. Apart from advising SOEs and multi-national clients, she also advises high net worth individuals and families in Hong Kong and China on a wide range of disputes, including contentious probate litigation and matrimonial proceedings.

Karen began her legal career as a barrister before practising as a solicitor. She has more than a decade’s experience as an accredited mediator and has acted as counsel on arbitrations seated in numerous jurisdictions and subject to the institutional rules of the HKIAC, ICC, and LMAA, as well as ad hoc arbitrations. Karen is also recognised in the Asian Legal Business’ (ALB) annual “Asia Super 50 Dispute Resolution Lawyers”, which profiles 50 of the most outstanding dispute resolution lawyers in Asia in respect of client service. She is praised as being “professional, efficient” and “gives clients the confidence that they’re being represented in the best possible manner” (ALB 2022). She was also short-listed as a finalist for Litigator of the Year (North Asia) in ALB Women in Law Awards 2021.

Karen is actively involved in community engagement as well. She is the founding Vice Chair of the Greater Bay Area Union and serves as the Chair of the Youth Committee of the Hong Kong and Mainland Legal Professional Association. She actively participates in and promotes the exchange of talents between Hong Kong and the Mainland for common progress.

Max HUI

Max graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London with the Bachelor of Laws degree in 2009. He also obtained the Master’s degree in Management from the Imperial College of Technology, UK. He is qualified to practice in the Hong Kong SAR and the GBA.

Max focuses his practice on corporate and commercial matters, including corporate finance, initial public offerings, secondary fund raising transactions, compliance and regulatory issues, and mergers and acquisitions. He is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin and capable of providing professional and efficient legal services to GBA residents.

Summary

The practices of the four lawyers who recently joined Wang Jing & GH are broad and diversified, including capital market, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance, and all four of them are leading individuals in their respective practice. Apart from legal profession, the four lawyers also have experience in different social institutions. They have passions for the community development and solid understanding of different cultures and social backgrounds in the GBA, which coincides with the values of Wang Jing & GH.

Over the years, Wang Jing & GH has been exploring and innovating in opening up avenues for Hong Kong and Macao lawyers to practice in the Mainland and building a bridge for legal talents in the GBA. It is beyond any doubt that the joining of the four Hong Kong lawyers will substantially expand Wang Jing & GH’s diversified cross-border practices and enhance the firm’s strength to realize its vision of building the firm into a top tier foreign-related commerce legal service platform in the GBA.

As an important part of the GBA, Wang Jing & GH is vigorously promoting the development of foreign-related practices and building the future of foreign-related legal professionals. In the days to come we will stay true to our original aspiration of “providing professional and high-quality legal services”, and join hands with the four Hong Kong lawyers to actively adapt to the new era and new development. We will work hand in hand with all sectors of the community to provide better legal support for the construction of the GBA, and promote the integration of legal services and high-quality development in the GBA.