Practice area: Asia

Tracy Evlogidis

  • 7 November 2024
Tracy Evlogidis

Listed in The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for Immigration, Tracy is described as “the best lawyer on earth” and recognised as being “very patient, very well educated and knowledgeable”. With more than 25 years of experience, Tracy advises businesses and high net worth individuals on all aspects of UK immigration.

As Head of Immigration, Tracy leads a market-leading team advising on UK immigration and nationality law. She has particular expertise in providing strategic advice to businesses and senior executives, helping clients navigate issues including the EU Settlement Scheme, permanent residence, and complex citizenship and passport applications.

Tracy is known for her personal approach, helping clients navigate complex issues and administrative processes with care and attention. Combined with her extensive experience and well-established industry relationships, this has contributed to a strong track record in securing successful outcomes, including on residency and citizenship applications that require Home Office discretion. Her international network also enables her to coordinate the global immigration needs of her clients.

Tracy acts for high net worth individuals and senior leaders across a wide range of sectors, including finance, fintech, legal, luxury brands, fashion, sport, education, design and charities. She also has significant experience advising tech founders on immigration and visa-related matters.

Tracy’s corporate clients value her strategic advice on sponsor licence compliance, right to work audits, and evolving workforce trends, including digital nomad and hybrid working arrangements. She is actively involved in policy discussions affecting the immigration sector, working closely with the Home Office through her role as convener of the Business and Operational Forum and as a member of UKVI’s steering group.

Asia

  • 21 September 2024
  • Asia
Lotus flower symbolising 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.

Part of a bridge in London

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

 

Lanna Chen

  • 29 August 2024
Lanna Chen

Lanna is a Senior Associate in the Residential Property team where she is involved in all aspects of freehold and leasehold transactions including purchases and sales, refinancing, lease extensions, equity transfers and contract assignments.

She has a long track record of helping high net worth overseas investors particularly from the Far East investing in prime London off plan properties. Lanna has extensive experience in bulk purchases and is the expert on Sharia finance.

Her clients include various banks from China, Hong Kong and Singapore where she advises on property related matters.

Georgina Haddon

  • 29 August 2024
Georgina Haddon

Georgina is Counsel in the Residential Property team where she acts for both domestic and international clients on a variety of freehold and leasehold transactions, including acquisitions and disposals of prime London property, secured lending, management work, landlord and tenant advice.

Well versed in both single property transactions and large-scale portfolio investments and refinances, she is committed to exemplary client service irrespective of the size, value or nature of the matter.

She has a wealth of experience acting on luxury new build estates; both on the purchaser side for ultra high net worth investors and for large-scale developers. She has also travelled frequently to South East Asia, developing relationships in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Georgina takes a commercial and solution focused approach to her transactions. She is decidedly aware that all matters are unique, as are the people and businesses behind them and aims to deliver carefully tailored advice accordingly.

Georgina was named a “Rising Star” in Spear’s Property Index 2026.

Daniel Ugur

  • 29 August 2024
Daniel Ugur

Described by Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024 as “incredibly bright and personable”, Daniel is also recognised for his “deep understanding of complex family dynamics and governance structures” and his extensive experience advising clients in Asia. He is a Recommended Tax Lawyer in Spear’s 500 and is ranked in The Legal 500.

As a Partner in the Private Client team, Daniel advises international individuals, families, trustees, beneficiaries, family offices and private banks on succession planning, personal taxation and trust law.

Daniel has particular expertise in the succession of family businesses, including the creation of family governance structures that support successful transitions between generations. He takes the time to understand each family’s objectives before helping them establish an appropriate legal and governance framework.

He has extensive experience advising families based in Asia, as well as those relocating to or from the region. Chambers High Net Worth Guide also recognises Daniel as a Foreign Expert in Singapore, one of only three individuals recognised in this area of private wealth law. Alongside his Asia-focused practice, Daniel advises on complex cross-border tax and structuring matters involving multiple jurisdictions.

Daniel is known for his commercial and solution-focused approach. He recognises that tax and legal frameworks change over time and works with clients to establish structures that provide long-term flexibility while supporting their evolving objectives.

Alfred Liu

  • 29 August 2024
Alfred Liu

Alfred is an international private wealth lawyer who advises multi-generational families, family offices and fiduciaries on a range of matters. These include cross-border estate, tax & succession planning, offshore trust & private foundation (re)structuring, and family and family office governance.

He has extensive experience designing bespoke wealth structures for families, often working with business founders and families on succession planning. He is Co-Chair of the Business Families Global Special Interest Group within STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and a member of the Family Firm Institute (FFI).

Known for his client-focused approach, Alfred provides practical advice on complex issues in a clear and accessible way. Described as ‘very hard working and reliable’ in The Legal 500 2024, he advises clients across the world on wealth preservation, succession and governance matters. He is also recognised as a Rising Star in The Legal 500 and included in Spear’s Tax & Trust Indices 2025.

Alfred has a particular focus on advising international families in Asia. With family roots in Hong Kong and conversational Cantonese capability, he brings a personal understanding of the cultural and generational considerations that often arise in succession planning and wealth preservation for clients in the region. This insight helps him advise families navigating the intersection of traditional values and modern commercial realities. He regularly travels to Asia to support clients and strengthen relationships across the region especially Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

Since 2025, Alfred has co-led the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee alongside fellow Partner Maryam Oghanna. In this role, he helps support initiatives that contribute to an inclusive workplace where people are encouraged to thrive and be themselves.

Hannah Mantle

  • 29 August 2024
Hannah Mantle

Hannah is a Partner in the Trust and Estate Disputes team and is recognised for her expertise in domestic and international private client disputes, including contentious probate, trust disputes, Court of Protection and capacity matters.

She combines emotional intelligence with technical expertise to advise clients on sensitive and complex matters. Taking a proactive and strategic approach to disputes, she works to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients. Hannah also recognises the value of mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution where these align with her clients’ objectives. She acts for a wide range of onshore and offshore clients, including professional and lay fiduciaries, beneficiaries and other parties, across the full spectrum of private wealth disputes.

Hannah values effective collaboration with clients, colleagues across Forsters and professionals in other jurisdictions. She regularly coordinates cross-jurisdictional teams on international matters, as well as multidisciplinary teams advising on both contentious and non-contentious issues alongside colleagues in the Private Client, Family and Property teams.

Ranked in Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024 and praised in The Legal 500 2023 for her ‘excellent litigation management skills’, Hannah is also described in the directories as ‘brilliant’ and ‘practical, collaborative and sensible’. She is a full member of ACTAPS, STEP and AIJA, and serves as Deputy Chair of STEP’s Contentious Trusts and Estates Special Interest Group.

Joanne Edwards

  • 29 August 2024
Joanne Edwards

Hailed as ‘simply one of the leading family lawyers of her generation’ (Chambers UK 2024), Jo is recognised for her expertise in complex finances on divorce, child arrangements (including relocation) and nuptial agreements, especially in cases with an international element and/or involving trusts or wider family wealth. Clients describe her as ‘a first‑class lawyer who provides a first‑class service’, and fellow professionals say, ‘I feel confident if I refer a case to her that she will do a brilliant job’ (Chambers Ultra High Net Worth 2024).

Head of Family, Jo works with a range of clients, from professional sportsmen and women (with a particular interest and expertise in football work), business owners, entrepreneurs, landed gentry, those in private equity, lawyers/accountants and other professionals, those from the political sphere, creatives and various others, as well as spouses/partners of the same.

Whilst Jo has extensive court experience, she embraces a conciliatory and pragmatic approach to settling cases when beneficial to her client. Recognised in Chambers High Net Worth as one of only a couple of dozen leading family mediators nationwide, mediation is an increasingly significant part of Jo’s practice as the family justice system requires couples to focus ever more closely on alternatives to court. She is skilled in mediations involving married and unmarried couples, often where there are complex, high‑value assets involved or where a parent wishes to relocate overseas with the children. She often mediates with court proceedings ongoing in the background and frequently succeeds in getting couples to agreement, no matter how far advanced the litigation. Increasingly, Jo is also called upon to mediate in cases where thinking outside the box is required, e.g. helping couples resolve key terms of nuptial agreements before taking advice, helping families in crisis repair adult relationships or resolving disagreements over provision on death.

As a fearless campaigner for family law reform, Jo has sat on Resolution’s National Committee (the national family lawyers’ association) since 2009, having previously held the position of Chair from 2014 to 2016. She leads on policy work and has featured in several high‑profile family law campaigns, met with MPs and the judiciary, given evidence to various parliamentary committees and appears regularly on national TV and radio and in the broadsheets.

Internationally, Jo is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, to where she travels regularly. Closer to home, she has ties north of the border, with a home and extensive family law contacts in Scotland.

Howard Gill

  • 29 August 2024
Howard Gill

Howard is an immensely experienced commercial real estate practitioner. He was a partner at Forsters since 1999 and Head of the Commercial Real Estate team for ten years.

With his extensive knowledge and intimate understanding of the market, Howard advises a range of domestic and international funds, investors and developers in relation to sales and acquisitions, development funding agreements, joint ventures as well as asset management.

He is passionate about building relationships, teams, reputations and about connecting people to advance positive outcomes. As a senior member of the Commercial Real Estate team, Howard manages key client relationships for Schroders and LaSalle Investment Management. In addition, he leads the Forsters team focusing on Asian real estate investment in the UK and regularly travels to Asia to see clients and develop new business relationships.

Howard has been with Forsters since it was founded in 1998 and has spent the majority of his career investing in the firm’s success. He is committed to supporting colleagues and helping them to develop their careers. Howard also enjoys the team dynamic at Forsters, frequently working alongside colleagues in the firm’s Private Client, Corporate, Banking and Tax, Real Estate Disputes, Construction, Planning and Residential Property teams.

Nick Jacob

  • 29 August 2024
Nick Jacob

Ranked in the latest Legal 500’s Hall of Fame and Band 1 in Chambers HNW Guide, Nick is recognised as ‘a leader in his field’ for his ‘sophisticated private wealth planning advice’, and a first class lawyer.

A Consultant in the Private Client team with over 40 years’ experience, Nick is a world renowned specialist in family governance and succession planning. Working with multi-generational business families, Nick makes it a priority to understand the psychology of the family, in order to uncover the issues and deal with these head on. Only then can Nick put in place the necessary legal structures to ensure the successful transition of wealth from one generation to the next.

Nick advises a number of globally significant families, trustees and family offices with assets and family members based in multiple jurisdictions. He specialises in all aspects of cross-border estate planning, especially trusts holding family businesses, that protect against family disputes, including divorce.

With ‘a phenomenal reputation in Asia’, (Chambers 2024), Nick has a particular focus on advising families in East Asia and understands the evolving cultural dynamics facing different generations in this region. This is demonstrated by Nick’s recognition as a foreign expert in Singapore in the latest Chambers HNW Guide; one of only three individuals named for this expertise. He has also been cast as “The Godfather of Asian Family Governance”.

He also specialises in UK taxation for individuals and trusts, cross-border taxation coordination, and advises banks and trust companies on technical issues. Nick is a STEP Emeritus Member and was named ‘Trusted Advisor of the Year’ at the STEP Private Client Awards 2024. He is also Who’s Who Global Private Client Practitioner of the Year 2023.

Patricia Boon

  • 29 August 2024
Patricia Boon

Patricia is ranked as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500, where she is singled out for her pragmatic approach to advising high net worth individuals within and outside the UK. She is also recognised in Private Client Global Elite’s ‘Global Excellence’ listing.

As a Partner in the Private Client team, Patricia has in‑depth expertise in all relevant areas of UK tax. She advises ultra‑high‑net‑worth individuals across the full range of personal estate planning and succession matters, including advising on will planning, cross‑border estate planning, mental capacity issues and asset protection. She frequently advises on the creation of non‑UK‑resident trusts (including PTC structures), as well as reviewing existing structures and advising on the termination of trusts.

With a particular specialism in advising Asian families on cross‑border family governance, Patricia frequently travels to the region to advise on succession planning for owners of family businesses and structuring assets for passing down to the next generation in a sustainable manner. Patricia has particular expertise in dealing with multi‑jurisdictional matters, enabling her to quickly identify the most suitable structures for clients with cross‑jurisdictional touchpoints.

Her wide network of intermediaries allows her to help clients identify the right service provider for their needs and requirements, particularly in cases where they are considering setting up a trust and need advice choosing a trustee with whom they can establish a long‑term relationship.