Our Firm has strengthened our focus on sustainable finance and ESG within our investment funds and corporate practice. We see these as natural and necessary extensions of our existing corporate and investment funds practice areas, and this also reflects our belief that it is increasingly important, and also necessary, for all corporates and enterprises to be responsibly taking into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in the conduct of business activities, for both risk mitigation as well as the business case. As companies, regulators and investors around the world are increasingly paying attention to ESG factors when assessing the performance of a company and also in investments and financial products, our Firm aims to bring our industry knowledge and experience to support funds and investors who wish to integrate ESG considerations into their investment decisions, providing them with the most up to date information on regulatory requirements, market developments, and best practices across asset classes.

We also endeavour to support corporations and businesses towards making positive impact and meeting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), and at the same time we are committed to being strong partners to clients in developing investment strategy, products and tools to direct investments and capital towards the UNSDGs. We believe that finance is a powerful tool that can be positively deployed to support society and environment by investing in companies and/r financing projects that contribute to these causes aligned with the UNSDGs. Whether it’s impact investment or a fund set up to mobilise capital for impact, our Firm’s strength in funds, tax and corporate and commercial law means we are well-placed to provide the necessary legal support. With our reputation in strong technical abilities and innovation, we are keen to continue partnering with other impact actors on more complex and innovative financing structures from blended finance to social impact bonds (SIBs).

Increasingly we are also dedicated to working with private clients, family offices, charities, foundations, social enterprises and impact investors on maximising impact and achieving the UNSDGs. We are well-placed to advise all forms of businesses with impact in mind (e.g. from B-Corps to all other forms of social enterprises) as well as charities and other not-for-profit organisations.

Certified B-Corps are a growing community of businesses around the world that are committed to balancing purpose and profit, and they adopt a “triple bottomline”: taking social and environmental return as seriously as financial return. The community has to-date grown to over 3,000 companies in over 150 industries worldwide, and include well-known names such as Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, Kickstarter and Lombard Odier. The numbers are growing in Asia and also in Hong Kong.

In our work with charities and other not-for-profit organisations, we bring our experience and awareness that there are similar legal needs as many other businesses, with unique issues. From the appropriate structure or mode of operations at the start-up phase, to ongoing governance and compliance needs, or assisting on different kinds of contracts that may be entered into along the way, a not-for-profit organisation requires legal support with solid understanding of the charity and not-for-profit sector.

Cross-border fund-raising and grant activities also require cross-jurisdiction regulatory support. Our Firm’s team is ready to provide this support with deep Hong Kong knowledge coupled with strong relationships with respected partner law firms around the region in mainland China, Singapore and other key jurisdictions.

Our Firm is also committed to supporting community and university legal projects, as well as independently providing pro bono support to organisations and individuals on worthy causes.