We are delighted to announce that our firm’s senior associate Mr. Gordon Tsang and associate Mr. Ian Chu have been recognised for their pro bono services in the Community Work Recognition Programme 2019. Organised by the Law Society of Hong Kong, the awards aims to recognise and commend its members’ selfless contributions in pro bono services.

Mr. Gordon Tsang has received an Individual Bronze Award which is the 5th consecutive year for him to be recognised by the Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Programme.

Our firm’s senior associate Mr. Gordon Tsang (3rd from the left)

Mr. Ian Chu has been awarded with an Individual Gold Award which is his 3rd consecutive year for receiving this award. He said, “I always believe that lawyers have additional obligations in society, that is, to apply their knowledge for the betterment of society. Participating in Pro Bono and Community services can help achieve this purpose.”.

Our firm’s associate Mr. Ian Chu (1st from the right)

About the Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Programme

The Law Society of Hong Kong’s Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Programme aims to encourage law firms and members to carry out pro bono and community focused work; it was set up in January 2010. All members, trainee solicitors and registered foreign lawyers who are active in giving back are given the opportunity to be recognised and appreciated.

For more information, please contact Mr. Gordon Tsang or Mr. Ian Chu.

On 18 Dec 2019, the Wealth APAC – IPWM & IFWM 2019 China Awards Ceremony was held at Wanda Reign Hotel in Shanghai. Our firm was named “Best Legal Advisory” for 3 consecutive years, senior associate Mr. Calvin Lo and marketing and communication executive Ms. Julia Yeung attended the award ceremony.

Our firm’s senior associate, Mr. Calvin Lo

Sponsored by Wealth Management Magazine and jointly sponsored by China Chief Economist Forum, the Wealth APAC – IPWM & IFWM 2019 China Awards aims to recognise outstanding firms and services in the Asia-Pacific region. The scoring criteria are “Representatives cases of family legal services, wealth planning & management and inheritance services”, “Effective education activities for Chinese customers” and “Corporation of institutions and projects of China and overseas”.

Our firm is delighted to receive the honour for 3 consecutive years and appreciate the recognition of Wealth Management Magazine. With a full spectrum of practice areas, our firm will continue to provide clients with excellent, reliable legal services and solutions.

Our firm’s senior associate Mr. Calvin Lo and marketing & communications executive Ms. Julia Yeung

Please contact Ms. Catherine Por or Mr. Calvin Lo for any inquiry or further information.

Stevenson, Wong & Co. is delighted once again to be recognised by Chambers and Partners in their 2020 Asia Pacific Guide in the following categories:

● Family/ Matrimonial (International Firms)- Band 3

Chambers’ Review:
Solid family law practice handling a range of complex, contentious matters involving high-value assets. Especially skilled in ancillary relief cases. In addition to advising on divorce law, the team is also well versed in succession planning, probate applications and wardship issues. Also notable for non-contentious work, such as prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

● Ms. Catherine Por; Family/ Matrimonial (International Firms-China)- Band 2

Chambers’ Review:
The “very reputable” and “solid” Catherine Por is well respected for her deep experience in the family and matrimonial space. She is especially skilled in financial settlement matters and cases involving children. “Catherine will sort things out for her clients,” reports an impressed source, going on to describe her as “very measured and good at settling things down.”

As one of the leading family law practices in Hong Kong, our Private Client team also uniquely provides legal services on wealth protection and succession planning, Committee work and wealth & asset management.

About Chambers and Partners

Chambers has been the leading source of legal market intelligence for over 30 years with the aim to offer reliable recommendations on the best law firms and lawyers in Asia-Pacific, providing the information necessary for clients to make an informed decision. Candidates are reviewed based on 5 criteria: client services, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, value for money and professional conduct.

For more information, please visit https://chambers.com/law-firm/stevenson-wong-co-asia-pacific-8:22408023 or contact Ms. Catherine Por.

Stevenson, Wong & Co. has been named as “Best Full-Service Law Firm 2019” at the Acquisition International (AI) Legal Awards.

AI Legal Awards aims to share insights into the standard of legal services and expertise. By conducting extensive research driven by merit, candidates are reviewed based on their demonstration of expertise, dedication to client service and on-going commitment to excellence and innovation. The awards are to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and worthy of recognition.

Stevenson, Wong & Co. is pleased to be recognized for our firm’s achievements made in the past year. With a full spectrum of practice areas, we will continue to provide our clients with excellent, reliable legal services and solutions to personal or commercial problems.

About Acquisition International Magazine

Acquisition International is a monthly magazine published by AI Global Media Ltd. Covering topical news in the field of corporate finance, the magazine is widely distributed and in a unique position to reach the deal makers in the global deal market.

For more information about this award, please visit: https://www.acq-intl.com/winners/stevenson-wong-co/ or contact Mr. Willy Cheng, Mr. Hank Lo and Ms. Catherine Por.

Stevenson, Wong & Co. is pleased to announce that our partner, Ms. Heidi Chui, has been recognised as “Leading Commercial Litigator of the Year, Hong Kong” in the 2019 Leading Adviser Awards by Acquisition International (AI). The Leading Adviser Awards recognizes and highlights the most renowned and innovative professionals across the world. Award recipients are selected based on their achievements, endeavours and efforts made over the past 12 months by the in-house research team of AI.

As the head of our firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice, Ms. Chui specializes in commercial litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution. She frequently assists banks, insurance companies, property management companies, funds and listed companies in resolving their problems.

For more information about this award, please contact Ms. Heidi Chui.

(中文)

一、  简介

最高人民法院发布《最高人民法院关于内地与香港特别行政区法院就仲裁程序相互协助保全的安排》(以下简称“《仲裁保全安排》”)，于2019年10月1日 在内地和香港同时生效。

《仲裁保全安排》于2019年4月2日签署，是自香港回归祖国以来，内地与香港商签的第七项司法协助安排，也是内地与其他法域签署的第一份有关仲裁保全协助的文件，标志着两地在“一国两制”方针下实现了更加紧密的司法协助。

内地与香港商签的司法协助安排一览

二、  《仲裁保全安排》的签订背景

香港回归以来，内地与香港人员交往日益频繁密切，经贸合作不断拓展深化，由此跨境法律纠纷日益增多且形式多样，内地与香港的司法互助也随着两地经济社会发展而不断深化。

如今，内地、香港特别行政区和澳门特别行政区正共同推进粤港澳大湾区建设，粤港澳大湾区“一国两制三法域”的独特性决定了大湾区建设过程中互涉法律纠纷不可避免、区际法律冲突客观存在，区际司法协助亟需加强，包括加强仲裁裁决的相互认可和执行以及仲裁保全相互协助。

《仲裁保全安排》与《关于内地与香港特别行政区相互执行仲裁裁决的安排》(以下简称“《相互执行仲裁裁决安排》”) 的共同实施，既成功解决了内地与香港在仲裁裁决相互认可和执行问题，又使当事人可便利地开展跨境仲裁保全协助，通过预防性救济措施的完善来保障终局性仲裁裁决的顺利执行。

三、  对《仲裁保全安排》的简要介绍

《仲裁保全安排》全文一共13条，大致可分为两个部分：(1) 规定内地仲裁程序的当事人可以向香港特别行政区的法院申请强制令及其他临时措施；和 (2) 规定香港仲裁程序的当事人可以向内地法院申请保全。本文为读者简要对比及总结了条文的规定：

1.    对仲裁保全的内容进行规定

《仲裁保全安排》的第一条对“保全”内容作出规定，旨在于仲裁裁决作出前维持现状、恢复原状、采取行动防止目前或即将对仲裁程序发生的危害或者损害的行动，以及保全资产及其他相关重要证据。

本条的规定对于推动香港与内地之间的跨境仲裁起到重大作用。在《相互执行仲裁裁决安排》中已对仲裁裁决的承认和执行进行规定，《仲裁保全安排》对保全措施又作出了明确规定，通过“保全+承认与执行”，使仲裁互助措施几乎覆盖整个仲裁程序，进一步确保资产可被执行到，大大增强了当事人选择仲裁的信心和利益保障。

当事人可根据案情，在案件进展的不同阶段，向香港法院申请强制令和其他临时措施，包括但不限于向香港法庭申请资产冻结令 (Mareva Injunction)、容许查察令 (Anton Pillar Order)、强制令/禁制令 (Mandatory/Prohibitory Injunction)、禁诉令 (Anti-suit Injunction) 及资产披露命令 (Ancillary Disclosure Order) 等，及时准确地保障当事人权益。

2.    对“香港仲裁程序”进行规定

《仲裁保全安排》第二条通过对“香港为仲裁地+争议解决机构或常设办事处在香港”的界定方式，规定了“香港仲裁程序”的范围。另外，由最高人民法院和香港特区政府律政司共同确认的争议解决机构名单也已公布，为当事人在订立仲裁协议时提供必要参考。

另一方面，《仲裁保全安排》通过采用对“香港仲裁程序”的界定方式，也排除了在香港开展的临时仲裁以及不在争议解决机构名单上的仲裁机构在香港开展的仲裁程序。

最高人民法院和香港特区政府律政司共同确认的争议解决机构名单

3.    当事人提出仲裁保全申请的香港或内地法院

《仲裁保全安排》第三条和第六条对当事人提出仲裁保全申请的法院亦作出规定，并在其他相关条文中详细订明申请人应当向香港或内地人民法院提交的文件材料以及材料内应包含的具体内容。

4.    当事人需向法院提交的材料

5.    当事人对法院作出的担保或保证

结语

我们相信，在《仲裁保全安排》与《相互执行仲裁裁决安排》一同实施下，不仅能更成功地解决内地与香港在仲裁裁决相互认可和执行问题，更能使当事人便利开展仲裁保全协助，通过预防性救济措施保障仲裁裁决的顺利执行，并保障当事人权益的实现。

另一方面，内地和香港对鼓励仲裁的态度越发凸显，并在法律保障、制度推行、仲裁平台建设等各个方面，全力推进跨境仲裁事业的发展。我们期待通过《仲裁保全安排》的实行，可更好地发展跨内地和香港的仲裁事业，积极完善粤港澳大湾区多元化争议解决机制，巩固香港作为国际法律及争议解决中心的地位。

若阁下想了解更多关于本文及本所的信息，请联络本所合伙人，诉讼及争议解决部主管徐凯怡律师 heidichui.office@sw-hk.com。

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