2019年11月6日，上海市律师协会副会长、锦天城律师事务所高级合伙人朱林海律师到访史蒂文生黄律师事务, 与我所的合伙人劳恒晃律师、徐凯怡律师、张源辉律师，联同曾浩贤高级律师和高级行政主任卢韵洁女士会晤。

劳律师向到访的朱律师介绍了我所的专业领域和发展概况。 朱律师和劳律师雙方就粤港澳大湾区及长江三角州地区的跨境法律服务进行了深入的探讨，徐律师亦与朱律师分享了香港跨境国际仲裁的最新发展趋势与机遇。

是次到访不但促进了中港两地的法律交流，亦为史蒂文生黄和锦天城的合作伙伴关系的发展奠定深厚基础，带来更多的机遇共同拓展两地业务。

左起: 我所高级律师曾浩贤、合伙人劳恒晃律师、上海市律师协会副会长朱林海律师、我所徐凯怡律师和高级行政主任卢韵洁女士

如欲瞭解更多，請聯絡我所劳恒晃律师、徐凯怡律师或张源辉律师。

史蒂文生黄欣然宣布，我所合伙人徐凯怡律师获国际并购协会（Acquisition International）的”领先顾问奖”中获评选为 “2019年度香港最佳商业诉讼律师”。领先顾问奖旨在认可和表彰全球最知名和创新的专业人士。获奖者由国际并购协会内部研究团队根据候选者过去12个月中的成就和努力，经精挑细选后获得认可。

徐律师是我所诉讼及争议排解部门的主管律师，专门从事商业诉讼、国际仲裁和跨境争议解決。她经常协助银行，保险公司，物业管理公司，基金和上市公司解决各类问题。

如阁下欲了解更多详情，请联络本所徐凯怡律师。

2019年11月5日及6日，史蒂文生黃律師事務所合夥人陳連基律師出席了在新加坡舉辦的STEP Asia Conference 2019。該會議吸引了數百位參加者從世界各地而來，包括法律界人士、信託服務提供者以及金融機構。

STEP Asia Conference 2019的主題是 “opportunities in complexities”。在會議的第一天，參加者從宏觀角度探討了不少議題，包括：經濟實質、信託人以及金融機構在與信託公司合作時遇到的挑戰，以及這些挑戰對高淨值資產家庭或信託及遺產從業員的重要性。會議的第二天則以微觀角度出發，探討英國稅制上的改變為信託人、委託人及受益人帶來的影響，以及「捐者建議基金」如何改變家庭價值觀以及慈善事業的管理。

是次會議統籌良好，讓出席者有充分的機會進行知識交流及建立關係。

如有興趣知道更多有關是次講座的資訊，請聯絡本所的陳連基律師。

2019年10月31日，史蒂文生黄律师事务所合伙人郑炎潘律师联同曾浩贤高级律师、洪鸿涛律师助理及高级行政主任卢韵洁女士出席锦天城律师事务所武汉分所的高峰论坛暨开业盛典。

当日, 本所的代表团先到锦天城（武汉）律师事务所作参观和交流。随后，一行人移师到东湖宾馆出席“锦绣楚天·资慧江城 —资本市场助力中部经济高质量发展” 的高峰论坛。是次论坛精英云集，来宾包括: 来自湖北、武汉、江汉区司法局的相关领导、武汉大学及中南财经政法大学的学者，锦天城律师事务所全球24家分所的合伙人代表等。论坛聚焦于科创板设立与科创企业发展，演讲嘉宾分别就证券法修改、金融科技和财富管理、科创企业核心资产、上海证券交易所设立科创板的基本原则和核心制度等发表演说，让一众来宾获益良多。

紧接着，锦天城（武汉）律师事务所的开业庆典仪式在东湖宾馆隆重举行。锦天城（武汉）分所是锦天城律师事务所布局全球的第24家分所。来宾如武汉市江汉区司法局局长谢定彪、中南财经政法大学齐文远教授、武汉市律师协会会长胡迎法律师、湖北省律师协会会长岳琴舫及锦天城律师事务所主任顾功耘在庆典晚宴上对武汉分所的成立表示欢迎和祝愿 。

本所合伙人郑炎潘律师亦在庆典晚会上致祝贺词，祝福锦天城（武汉）律师事务所开业，并展望两所在未来合作上共创佳绩。

本所合伙人郑炎潘律师（右四）联同曾浩贤高级律师（右五）、洪鸿涛律师助理（右一）及高级行政主任卢韵洁女士（右三）到访锦天城（武汉）律师事务所

左起: 本所曾浩贤高级律师、锦天城武汉分所负责人张超律师、本所合伙人郑炎潘律师、高级行政主任卢韵洁女士和洪鸿涛律师助理

锦天城律师事务所主任顾功耘律师和本所合伙人郑炎潘律师

(English) ISSUING AUTHORITIES:
Government of the Hong Kong SAR
Insurance Authority, Hong Kong SAR

DATE OF ISSUANCE
May 17, 2019

EFFECTIVE DATE:
September 23, 2019

With effect from September 23, 2019, the Insurance Authority (IA) has taken over regulation of insurance agents and brokers from the three self-regulatory organisations (“SROs”), and has become the sole regulator to license and supervise all insurance intermediaries in Hong Kong.

Under the new regime, anyone carrying on a regulated activity as defined under the Insurance Ordinance must be licensed by the IA. There will be a three-year transitional period during which existing intermediaries who are validly registered with the SROs before September 23, 2019 will be deemed licensed under the new regime. Licensed insurance intermediaries are not only required to comply with the statutory conduct requirements, but also the relevant codes of conduct issued by the IA. Further guidelines promulgated by the IA on fit and proper criteria and continuing professional development also apply.

Several pieces of subsidiary legislation, such as the Insurance (Maximum Number of Authorized Insurers) Rules and the Insurance (Financial and Other Requirements for Licensed Insurance Broker Companies) Rules, have been introduced by the IA and have come into operation at the same time as the new regulatory regime for insurance intermediaries. The IA has indicated that it intends to consult on further rules, codes and guidelines.

Reference:
Insurance Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 (Commencement) Notice 2019 (https://www.gld.gov.hk/egazette/pdf/20192320/es22019232077.pdf);
Insurance Ordinance, Cap. 41, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap41);
Insurance (Maximum Number of Authorized Insurers) Rules, Cap. 41K, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap41K);
Insurance (Financial and Other Requirements for Licensed Insurance Broker Companies) Rules, Cap. 41L, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap41L)

This newsletter is for information purposes only. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. Stevenson, Wong & Co. will not be liable to you in respect of any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from or in connection with any decision made, action or inaction taken in reliance on the information set out herein.

Please contact Ms. Heidi Chui for any enquiries or information.

(English) ISSUING AUTHORITIES:
Government of the Hong Kong SAR; and
Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre

DATE OF ISSUANCE
August 1, 2019

EFFECTIVE DATE:
August 1, 2019

On August 1, 2019, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) announced amendments to the Arbitration (Appointment of Arbitrators and Mediators and Decision on Number of Arbitrator) Rules (“Amended Rules”), which came into effect on the same day.

As the default statutory appointing authority for ad hoc arbitrations seated in Hong Kong, HKIAC determines the number of arbitrators and appoints arbitrators or mediators under the Arbitration Ordinance. HKIAC will charge a one-off fee of HK$8,000 to the party submitting the first request for performing the above functions in an arbitration in which the total amount in dispute is less than HK$2,500,000. The Amended Rules allow HKIAC to waive such fees if it considers reasonable in any particular case.

The Amended Rules include other amendments as to the delivery of request by a party for HKIAC’s decision or appointment, the time limits for parties to provide information before such decision or appointment, and HKIAC’s discretion to make decision or appointment after the expiration of a time limit.

The Amended Rules reflect HKIAC’s commitment to provide cost-effective assistance to facilitate efficient conduct of Hong Kong-seated arbitrations, and to strengthen Hong Kong’s status as a leading centre for international dispute resolution services.

Reference:
Arbitration (Appointment of Arbitrators and Mediators and Decision on Number of Arbitrators) Rules, Cap. 609C, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap609C);
Arbitration Ordinance, Cap. 609, Laws of Hong Kong (https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap609)

This newsletter is for information purposes only. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be treated as such. Stevenson, Wong & Co. will not be liable to you in respect of any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage arising from or in connection with any decision made, action or inaction taken in reliance on the information set out herein.

Please contact Ms. Heidi Chui for any enquiries or information.