Hong Kong Legal Articles & Insights

Author: Stefan Schmierer, Managing Partner Good news for frequent travelers to China, and for those who have always wanted to visit but were deterred by the visa application procedure: Mainland China has launched a trial visa-free travel policy for 5 EU nationalities, namely France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. As announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, this policy starts on December 1, 2023 and will last for one year. From the outset

Enforcement of arbitral awards in Hong Kong on public policy grounds remains a critical area of legal development, particularly in cross‑border disputes involving Mainland China awards. While Hong Kong courts maintain a pro‑arbitration stance, recent decisions demonstrate that enforcement remains subject to strict procedural fairness standards.

Author: Kelly Leung , Trainee Solicitor Losing a loved one is undoubtedly a challenging experience. But dealing with their assets and financial affairs adds an additional layer of complexity and stress to the grieving process. If your loved one held assets or accounts in Hong Kong, it is important to understand the inheritance process in Hong Kong requires for managing and distributing their estate. Whether it is bank accounts, property, investments or other assets, this arti

Author: Kristen Tang , Summer Legal Intern Insights from a Legal Intern at Ravenscroft & Schmierer I had the privilege of spending my 1L summer (1L refers to the first year of law school in North America) at Ravenscroft & Schmierer, a full-service boutique law firm based in Hong Kong. During my time there, I had the opportunity to assist the firm’s lawyers in conducting legal research for a case regarding garnishee proceedings, a completely foreign concept to me. Here is what

Author: David Ravenscroft , Senior Consultant Hong Kong Mediation in Litigation and How the Practice Has Evolved Mediation in litigation has evolved over the last decade, with facilitative and sometimes evaluative mediation styles being used. Pre-mediation meetings have become a significant trend, allowing mediators to understand the dispute, gauge the temperature and apply the most suitable mediation style. Mediation has now been part of the litigation landscape in Hong Kong

The legal industry has traditionally been slow to adopt technological advancements. However, with the recent emergence of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence), it seems that technology may bring about a revolution in the legal industry sooner than anticipated. Having worked in the LegalTech sector for several years, I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to experience the LegalTech world from the user's perspective as a legal intern this summer.

Discover how I merged my passions for marketing, business and law during my summer internship at Ravenscroft & Schmierer. From organising...

The Ravenscroft Schmierer asialaw ranking 2023 marks an important milestone in the firm’s development and recognition within the Hong Kong and Asia Pacific legal market. Rankings of this nature reflect independent evaluation based on client feedback, peer review, and demonstrated legal work.

Author: Chloe Lau , Associate Solicitor Understanding the Hong Kong Certificate of Resident Status The IRD issues a CoR to prove resident status for tax benefits under the DTA. From June 12, 2023, the IRD will use the DTA definition of “resident of Hong Kong”. The application process for Mainland China tax benefits is also simplified. However, a CoR doesn’t guarantee successful claims and entities may need to show economic substance in Hong Kong. What Is a Hong Kong Certifica

The German "Act on Corporate Due Diligence to Prevent Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains" (LkSG) took effect in 2023, requiring companies in Germany to implement risk management systems and report on their measures. Vague reporting requirements led to confusion, prompting authorities to introduce a detailed questionnaire. Although still complex, the questionnaire provides guidance. Nevertheless, in-depth preparation and involvement of external advisors is advisable.

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Ravenscroft & Schmierer for three weeks. Read my article and listen to my podcast...

Author: David Ravenscroft , Senior Consultant While mediation develops differently in each jurisdiction, the global pandemic has introduced the worldwide practice of online mediation – a change that is here to stay. As a consequence, the importance of pre-mediation meetings has increased, reflecting the flexibility of mediation, a core principle of the service. How Mediation Practices Have Evolved in Hong Kong and Globally Flexibility is one of the core principles of mediati

As cryptocurrency grows increasingly popular, so does the number of victims affected by crypto scams. With offenders protected by the anonymity of blockchain technology, courts are exploring new methods of serving legal notices, including the use of crypto products against those who misuse such tools. In Wang Chichen v FeCommerce fDeals Co., Limited and 20 Others, Ravenscroft and Schmierer secured the first grant authorising service via NFT in Hong Kong. This development repr

While the term "Campus Ambassador" may be unfamiliar to many in Hong Kong, it is a popular position in places like the UK and the US....