2 July, 2020
Deacons, Hong Kong’s longest established and largest law firm, has appointed Helen Liao as a partner, effective from 1 July, 2020.
This appointment brings the total number of partners to 54, reinforcing the gender balance of Deacons’ partnership and cementing its position as Hong Kong’s largest law firm.
The firm’s corporate commercial practice promoted Helen Liao to the partnership in recognition of her strong contribution to the firm and her understanding of Chinese clients’ needs and culture. As a dual-qualified lawyer in both mainland China and Hong Kong, Helen has a particular focus on cross-border employment arrangements. Prior to joining the firm, Helen worked as a senior editor for a prestigious international online legal know-how service provider. Before that, she had been in private practice for nearly 10 years in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing and Hong Kong at the offices of both international and top-tier mainland China law firms.
The promotion also represents Deacons’ initiative to explore the strategy for further expansion of legal service for mainland China companies.
Commenting, Cynthia Chung, Management Committee and Partner, Head of Corporate Commercial, Deacons said: “This promotion reflects Deacons’ continued investment and commitment to providing clients with high quality legal service offerings. Helen’s appointment strengthens our capabilities in the key areas of employment and pensions, reinforces our standing as Hong Kong’s own world class law firm and strongly shows our commitment to growth in Greater China.”
Below are the key details of the new partner appointment:
Helen Liao, Partner, Corporate Commercial
Helen is a dual-qualified lawyer in both mainland China and Hong Kong and has practiced for more than 14 years. She focuses on cross-border employment arrangements, immigration and complex multi-jurisdictional labour issues arising from global talent mobility, and commercial transactions including mergers and acquisitions. She is also experienced in Employment law and payroll tax compliance solutions for cross-border employment arrangements, including labor assignment, placement, group-based personnel compliance management, compose of company rules and regulations, resignation of key employees, and equity incentive plans. She also has extensive experience in handling internal investigations related to anti-fraud, anti-discrimination and sexual harassment.
Helen is recognised by World Bank as an “expert” on China employment law for her regular contributions to the IFC-World Bank’s global “Doing Business” project.
Helen is fluent in Mandarin, English, Cantonese and Hakka.
香港最歷史悠久及最具規模的律師行 –的近律師行晉升公司及商業事務部的廖海燕律師為新的合夥人，自2020年7月1日起生效。是次任命後，本行合夥人總數達到54名，這將進一步鞏固本行的領先業務實力及大型律師行的市場地位。
廖海燕律師具有中國內地和香港兩地律師執業資格，她的主要執業領域為雇傭與人力資源管理合規，於2017 年加入的近律師行。在加入本行前，廖律師曾先後在中國內地某紅圈所和某知名國際律師行的廣州、深圳、北京和香港辦公室累計工作近十年。她通過港府「優秀人才入境計畫」 來港工作，憑藉優秀的兩文四語能力和深諳兩地文化的獨特優勢，受海外企業和在港中資企業的歡迎。是次晉升體現了的近律師行對進一步拓展中資企業相關業務的高度重視和長遠戰略。
的近律師行管委會成員及公司商業事務部主管鐘詠雪律師對廖海燕律師晉升為合夥人表示熱烈祝賀，她評論道：「廖律師是一位勤勉、務實且對專業具有高度熱情的專業人士。她具有出色的專業能力和豐富的國際客戶應對經驗，且對市場保持敏銳的洞察力。在過去三年多的時間裡，她不僅在維護現有外資企業客戶方面表現非常出色，而且還顯著地幫助的近進一步拓展和加強了在港中資企業相關業務聯絡和市場影響力。同時，我也非常欣喜地看到她很好地融入的近文化和團隊。是次任命是對她工作能力和貢獻的高度肯定和表揚，相信並期待她日後再創佳績。」
以下是新任命合伙人的詳細資訊：
公司及商業事務部合夥人 廖海燕律師
廖海燕（Helen）律師專注於雇傭與工作簽證申請及移民相關領域的法律實踐逾十四年，長期服務大中型跨國公司亞太地區總部。作為一名同時具有中國內地和香港兩地雙重執業資格和落地實操經驗的律師，廖律師對處理跨境人才流動管理相關案件頗有經驗，尤其擅長在多司法管轄及多元文化背景下為客戶提供跨境商業交易活動（包括公司新設、上市、合併與收購）中產生的跨境就業安排、勞務派遣、雇員轉移與安置、集團化人事合規管理、規章制度的起草與修訂、核心雇員的約束與離職談判、股權激勵計畫等方面的雇傭法與薪稅合規解決方案。她在處理反舞弊反歧視和性騷擾相關內部調查方面的案件上也具有豐富經驗。
廖律師經常受邀為包括香港中國企業協會、香港人力資源管理學會和香港特許秘書公會在內的知名行業組織作培訓講座。由於對「全球營商環境報告」專案的長期貢獻，她受世界銀行組織認可為雇傭法的「專家」。
