Asia

Asia

Our award-winning Asia team has been advising individuals, families, and businesses across the region for over 30 years. Pioneering private wealth services to the wealthiest families in Asia, we have been at the forefront of devising cutting-edge wealth structuring and succession planning solutions to ensure the successful transition of wealth from one generation to the next and to protect assets from divorce and litigation.

In addition to our succession planning and structuring work with local families, we work with clients in the region who wish to make the most of investment opportunities in the UK and we advise on the UK tax implications of relocation to the UK.

Deep roots and blossoming results across Asia

With the initial roots of our practice established in Hong Kong and Singapore in the 1990s, demand for our bespoke succession planning services and asset protection advice has grown over the years as more families recognise the importance of governance to ensure the sustainable transmission of wealth. We travel to the region every month, seeing clients based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and other jurisdictions. With such an eclectic and ever-changing blend of cultures and customs across the region, we recognise the importance of taking time to get to the heart of what really matters to the families that we support, both as individuals and as a whole family unit, including spending time with family members on an individual basis and together to understand their concerns, their goals, and their aspirations.

Many of our clients have established international businesses, with assets and family members spread across the globe. Renowned for our ability to coordinate cross-border advice, this is facilitated by our trusted connections with local professionals across jurisdictions, built up over many years.

Investing and moving to the UK

With strong historic ties between the UK and many countries in the region, the UK is an appealing destination for many, both for investment and as a place to live. Our specialist commercial real estate, residential property, and corporate teams advise Asian individuals, businesses, and institutions on investing in UK real estate and businesses. We also help those moving to or from the UK to navigate the relocation process and the wider long-term impact of their move on their estate and succession planning.

World-class reputation

Our reputation as leaders in advising Asian clients has been recognised by the industry, as award winners of the 2024 Wealth Briefing’s Estate Planning Team of the Year for Greater China, whilst Partners Nick Jacob and Daniel Ugur are two of only three lawyers in the world ranked as ‘Foreign Experts for Singapore’ in the Chambers HNW Guide.

Moving to the UK

Moving to the UK is an exciting life event whether it be a short-term move for work to explore business prospects or a more permanent relocation with the whole family; the UK offers an eclectic range of options to live, work and learn.

Moving to the UK

 

Key experience

Refurbishment of a luxury hotel

We advised a Chinese developer on all construction aspects of a multi-hundred-million pound refurbishment of a luxury hotel and residential apartments in Prime Central London, additionally advising on any contentious matters as they arose on site.

Trusts law and UK tax

We advised a Chinese Forbes-listed billionaire assisting with the unwinding of a multimillion-dollar Channel Islands discretionary trust and advising on the related trusts law and UK tax issues.

Business succession

We advised a family based in Hong Kong, with a successful business in the financial sector, on the structuring and succession of the business, as well as putting in place a family office structure.

Regeneration of a department store

We advised a JV including a Hong Kongese company in relation to their £1 billion regeneration of a historic department store in London, developing both luxury living and retail quarters.

Acquisition of a Prime Central London property

We advised a Malaysian family on their acquisition of a £15m Prime Central London apartment including third party financing with a well-known private bank.

Bulk purchase of apartments

We advised a Singaporean investment company on a bulk purchase of 6 apartments within a hotel branded residence in Prime Central London with a value of £9.5m.

Family governance and succession planning

We advised on a family governance and succession planning project for a HNW multi-generation family in Hong Kong, who own several multi-national businesses, drafting shareholder agreements, developing structures for the passing of shares between generations and co-ordinating tax and regulatory advice.

Succession planning and probate process

We advised the Patriarch of a significant Hong Kong family, who held assets through corporate vehicles in numerous jurisdictions including Bermuda, Panama and Hong Kong, on their succession planning to simplify the probate process and produced a Will to ensure the assets passed as the patriarch wishes.

Wealth protection

We advised the single family office of a substantial Chinese family with a net worth of several billion US dollars, reviewing their existing structures and implementing a robust framework around the family wealth to protect against internal and external risk.

Meet our team