Law firm Lewis Silkin has expanded its employment practice in Hong Kong with two new local hires. The firm has also become the official Hong Kong member of international employment law network Ius Laboris.
Lewis Silkin Hong Kong launched in 2015 and, following its conversion to a Hong Kong partnership with effect from 15 January 2019, the firm becomes one of the largest employment, immigration and incentives specialists in the region.
The new practice will be led by employment partner and head of Lewis Silkin Hong Kong, Kathryn Weaver, along with fellow partner Andrew Wanambwa, who specialises in dispute resolution. Both Kathryn and Andrew are dual-qualified in Hong Kong and England & Wales. Immigration partner Antonia Grant will continue to run the Asia Pacific immigration practice for the Hong Kong firm.
The local practice will be further bolstered by the hires of Catherine Leung and Kenneth Leung. Catherine Leung joins Lewis Silkin from Baker McKenzie Hong Kong as a Legal Director (equivalent to ‘Of Counsel’). She is dual qualified in Hong Kong and England and Wales, with more than 12 years’ experience in both contentious and non-contentious employment law. In Chambers and Partners Catherine is singled out as a “diligent, very responsive and attentive” lawyer. Clients enjoy working with her, praising her for offering “prompt replies and excellent, thorough advice.”
Kenneth Leung joins as a Senior Consultant, having previously worked at Clifford Chance from 1995 to 2017, where he established and led the Hong Kong Tax, Pensions and Employment practice. He is active in public service and is a member of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Advisory Committee and Trade and Industry Advisory Board. Kenneth is also dual qualified in Hong Kong and England and Wales. In the Legal 500, Kenneth is noted as a “Leading Individual” on tax and trusts.
Kathryn Weaver, partner and head of Lewis Silkin Hong Kong, commented: “The establishment of a strong local law practice was the logical next step for Lewis Silkin in Hong Kong, with client demand for local employment and immigration services continuing to rise since we first launched in 2015. We are very pleased to welcome Kenneth and Catherine who together will further our second-to-none ability to provide both market leading global employment and mobility advice across Asia-Pacific and specialist in-country legal services to our clients within Hong Kong.”
Lewis Silkin Hong Kong continues to operate as a hub for international employment and global mobility services for clients, working with Ius Laboris, the world’s leading employment law network, and its member firms throughout the region. Already representing the network in the UK and Ireland, Lewis Silkin becomes the official member for Ius Laboris in Hong Kong as of 15 January 2019.
“The landscape for employment and immigration law continues to grow in complexity as well as diversity, and our clients are increasingly requiring a specialist blend of local expertise and a global perspective,” says James Davies, divisional managing partner at Lewis Silkin. “We are pleased to become the member firm for Ius Laboris in Hong Kong, and look forward to further developing the world’s leading global HR offering and providing clients access to comprehensive employment law expertise across the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.”
Sam Everatt, executive director of Ius Laboris, commented: “Hong Kong is a critical jurisdiction for our global client base, operating as a significant gateway location for business between APAC and the rest of the world. We welcome Lewis Silkin as our member firm in Hong Kong and look forward to working with the team and our other member firms in the region to seamlessly deliver clients international coverage and local understanding of workplace law and regulation.”
