Family Businesses, Family Offices and Family Foundations as Forces of Good

Stacy is a partner in the private client and tax team.

She advises individuals and families on their estate planning and this includes advising on wills, trusts, family governance/constitution and family/shareholders' agreements, and also on establishing family offices, private trust companies, family charities and foundations. She also helps clients with developing efficient holding structures and succession plans, not just for their personal bankable wealth but also for their real estate investments, special collections and their family businesses. Her practice is more focused on families with multi-jurisdictional or multi-generational planning considerations or other more complex governance requirements.

She offers a unique perspective on wealth planning as she has experience not only as a legal advisor but also as a client advisor in a private bank. Stacy was previously a managing director of the wealth advisory team of one of the top global private banks and advised high-net-worth clients on succession planning and wealth structuring. Prior to that, Stacy was a tax and private client partner in the largest full service law firm in Southeast Asia.

Besides helping clients set up family foundations and philanthropic trusts and ventures, Stacy also acts for charities, non-profit organizations and trade associations on tax, regulatory and compliance matters and she has served as charity trustees for charitable foundations.

Claire is a partner in the divorce and family team in London.

She brings commitment, energy, strong technical expertise and sound judgement to all her work, spanning the full range of family law issues. Claire goes the extra mile for her clients with whom she has solid relationships.

Whether working with domestic or international clients, she deals with complex financial claims, children issues, pre and postnuptial agreements and cohabitant disputes and has extensive experience advising on cases involving trusts.

Her clients are in commerce, finance and tech, professionals, families with inherited wealth and those in the public eye. Whilst being highly experienced in difficult litigation she also has a busy dispute-resolution practice as a collaborative lawyer and mediator.

She has acted for (and for the spouses of) trustees, doctors, lawyers, hedge fund managers, members of aristocracy and people in the public eye. With clients involved in anything from sports and retail to pharmaceuticals and technology, Claire is well versed in dealing with clients holding senior positions in many different sectors.

Ivan is a partner in the divorce and family team in Singapore.

He is a Family Law specialist with extensive experience in all areas of family law including contentious divorces, disputes over child custody, relocation of children, maintenance, division of matrimonial assets and family violence in the Family Justice Court (FJC) and Court of Appeal.

Ivan has been listed in the Doyle's Guide for Leading Family & Divorce lawyers in Singapore since 2017 and is ranked as a Preeminent lawyer for 2023. He was previously identified as a Leading lawyer in the same guide for four consecutive years from 2019 to 2022. He has been named by the Singapore Business Review as one of Singapore's Top 20 ‘Most Influential Lawyers aged 40 and under in 2018' and is also identified as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific from 2020 to 2023. Ivan is also recommended for family law in Legal 500 and heads the Singapore family law team which is recognised as a leading family and divorce law firm in Singapore by established legal directories such the Doyles Guide, Benchmark Litigation and Legal 500.

Ivan is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, membership of which is exclusive to family lawyers with extensive experience in international disputes relating to maintenance, division of assets and children's issues. He has represented clients in reported landmark judgments and has advised and acted for clients as lead counsel in matters involving division of matrimonial assets for high-net-worth individuals, international relocation and abduction of children as well as Mareva Injunctions to prevent dissipation of matrimonial assets.
Ivan also frequently advises and represents clients in the drafting of relevant Prenuptial and Postnuptial Deeds, recognising all too well that in cases where parties have significant pre-marital assets, an agreement as to how such assets are to be divided in the event of a divorce sets the framework for trust and understanding for a successful marriage.

A firm believer in the benefits of alternative dispute resolution as a means of resolving clients' concerns and matters, Ivan is an accredited Family Mediator on the Singapore Mediation Center's (SMC) Family Panel, a panel of family mediators accredited by the Family Justice Courts and SMC. He frequently represents his clients as a mediation advocate in both the FJC and SMC. Additionally, Ivan has also been appointed as a mediator to mediate family and matrimonial disputes at the SMC. Ivan is also on the Law Society's Panel of Mediators and Neutral Evaluators for the Law Society Mediation and Neutral Evaluation Schemes.

Yee Hoong is a partner in the private client and tax team and is a Singapore-qualified lawyer.

She advises companies, businesses and individuals on Singapore income tax, stamp duties, goods and services tax, the application of tax treaties and tax residency requirements. She also advises families and individuals on tax, trusts, wills and succession, gifts, philanthropy, migration and family office planning. Yee Hoong also acts for clients in applying for grant of representation, the administration of estates and posthumous estate restructuring.

She often works with clients with international perspectives and her practice often involves consideration of cross-border legal, conflict of laws and tax issues. Her unique background experience allows her to bring a multi-disciplinary approach to tailor a solution and integrated advice to fit the clients' needs.

Katie is a partner in the private client and tax team.

She moved from the London office to Hong Kong in 2010. Her practice involves tax, trust and estate planning for wealthy international families.

She has particular expertise in assisting clients with the establishment of private trust company structures and related fiduciary and governance issues. Katie has advised a number of families in relation to the creation and ongoing running of single family offices.

In addition Katie advises UK expatriates and Asian families with UK connections on their personal tax issues and trustees on a range of matters including the consequences of holding UK assets or having UK resident beneficiaries.

Katie is currently Chair of STEP’s Hong Kong Branch, and is also named as a leading individual for private client/wealth management in Chambers HNW 2016-2022, Next Generation partner Legal 500 2023, Citywealth’s 2016-2018 IFC Powerwomen Top 200 list and Citywealth’s 2018 to 2021 Leading Private Client Lawyers list. She is recognised by Chambers HNW as an expert in UK tax issues for non-resident clients in the region as well as Asian families with connections to the UK. She "really understands the fabric of the private client market in Hong Kong".

Yong Sheng is a partner in the private client and tax team.

Dual qualified in Singapore and England and Wales, and fluent in English and Mandarin, Yong Sheng focuses his practice on being a trusted and "to-go-to" private client and wealth advisor to not only family principals, but also to their family members, family officers and professional advisors. His main areas of practice include trust, tax and estate planning, family governance, charitable and non-profit organisations, immigration planning and all other areas of Singapore taxation.

Yong Sheng has significant experience in advising ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWI) on their estate planning and wealth protection and this includes assisting UHNWIs on the establishment or restructuring of their family trusts, drafting of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney for the individuals and the establishment of their family offices and private trust companies in Singapore and also advising on the tax and regulatory considerations of establishing such structures. Often, as part of the client's overall estate planning, Yong Sheng would also advise on and assist the UHNWIs with developing efficient investment holding structures (IHCs) and applying for the relevant Singapore Section 13 income tax incentives for their IHCs, which in turn would invest in a range of investments, including listed and private equity and sustainable (ESG) investments, both in Singapore and overseas and Yong Sheng would regularly be involved in advising on these as well.

Given that most of his clients have some form of cross-border connections, as part of his personalised and comprehensive advice to the specific needs of each client, Yong Sheng also has considerable working knowledge in the key issues to take note in respect of each jurisdiction (such as UK, US, and PRC (including HK)) and is therefore well-placed to propose suitable estate plans, tailored to each client's unique situation. Yong Sheng is also experienced in advising individuals and families in Singapore immigration planning and Singapore permanent residency and citizenship application matters, whether via the Global Investor Programme or otherwise.

In recognition of his outstanding work in the private wealth, tax and family office space as well as his well-regarded status in the industry, Yong Sheng has won the following awards:

- Singapore Rising Stars 2022, Asian Legal Business (December 2022)
- Rising Star in Wealth Management at the Asia Pacific Rising Star Awards 2022
- 30 Most Influential Lawyers under 40, Singapore Business Review (Q1, 2023)
- Rising Star, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide (Private Wealth 2023)

Paul serves as the firm's Global Head of Asset Finance.

He is widely regarded as the top global private aviation lawyer counselling ultra-high net worth individuals and their business enterprises on all aspects of private aviation. He also regularly counsels such individuals in connection with the acquisition, sale or financing of other high-value private assets, ranging from superyachts to rare collector cars. In addition, he is considered a leading global commercial aviation industry lawyer, where he focuses on counselling private investors across multiple industry sectors.

Paul has counselled clients on well over US$ 20 billion in transactions, as well as on restructuring and contentious matters. For doing so, Paul has been the recipient of many legal and aviation industry awards - including being named “Global Private Aviation & Yachts Lawyer of the Year” (Chambers & Partners) and “Asia Private Client Lawyer of the Year” (American Lawyer Media/Law.com). He has also been noted by the Financial Times on several occasions, in addition to The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg, China Daily and other business publications. He has also published and lectured extensively on various aspects of asset finance, principally aviation. He is now the Founder and Chairperson of The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation that launched in July 2022.

Paul is qualified to practice law in England, the United States (New York and Washington State) and Canada (Ontario).

Immediately prior to joining Withers, Paul served as the managing partner of a leading American law firm in Hong Kong and was co-chair of its global private wealth and asset finance practices.

Samantha is a partner and head of the California family law practice.

She has 20 years of litigation experience representing high net worth and high-profile clients in diverse fields including the entertainment and sports industry, executives, entrepreneurs, doctors and attorneys, as well as their spouses. She represents clients in all aspects of family law, concentrating much of her practice in the areas of complex financial issues, custody disputes and parenting issues.

Samantha also provides legal services in the area of cohabitation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. She works with each client to prepare an agreement that is tailored to meet their individual needs and ensures that they understand how the agreements impact their rights and responsibilities under California law. Samantha's practice also includes mediation services, working with both sides to find common grounds for settlement.

Samantha was named to Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers list for divorce in 2018 and 2022. She was also recognized as a Super Lawyer in Family Law in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Monique is a senior legal associate in our private client and tax team.

Monique advises high net worth individuals and families on their estate planning. She has experience advising her clients on a broad range of matters including domestic and offshore tax planning, structuring of trusts, single family offices, trust administration, private trust company establishment, regulation and governance, bespoke family charters and tailored wills.

Prior to joining Withers, Monique was practising with the tax and private client services team of one of the leading and largest law firms in Singapore.

Joel is a partner in the corporate team and co-leads the Withers Tech Asia team.

Joel advises corporate and venture capital clients in cross-border investments, acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Joel has particular experience in the Indonesian market where his clients include major technology companies, financial institutions, retailers, payment companies, and venture capital fund managers.

He leads Withers Tech Asia, which comprises a team of highly experienced lawyers with expertise in investment funds, tax structuring, investments in tech companies, mergers and acquisitions of technology businesses and assets, and commercialisation of digital assets.

Joel is recommended by Chambers for his M&A work in Singapore, and is consistently listed by Chambers since its inaugural Fintech Guide as one of the Notable Fintech Practitioners in Indonesia. Joel is also ranked as an up and coming lawyer for 'Startups & Emerging Companies' in the Chambers Asia Pacific Guide 2022.

Joel was one of only four lawyers from Indonesia to have been included in Asian Legal Business' 40 Under 40 listing for 2019, and was also recognised as a Rising Star, and the only non-Indonesian practitioner, in Asian Legal Business' inaugural and second listings of Rising Stars in Indonesia.

Outside of legal practice, Joel is the vice chairman of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, a faculty member of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education and tutor for the Advanced Corporate module of the Singapore bar course, as well as a non-faculty lecturer at the Law and Business Faculties of the University of Indonesia, and Universitas Pelita Harapan.

Erlene is a partner in our corporate team.

She is a trusted advisor to a group of high net worth individuals and families whose business and personal interests span from the traditional (real estate, manufacturing and mining) to the innovative (digital/social media and technology). Having assisted her clients with a wide spectrum of transactional, corporate, commercial and advisory work, Erlene effectively serves as the external in-house counsel for her clients. Erlene takes a keen interest in her clients and their business and is able to cater her advice to address their specific needs and concerns.

Erlene previously headed the Singapore corporate practice of a London city firm and has developed a reputation as a highly responsive commercial business lawyer. Her training as a transactional lawyer also puts her in a good position to handle the often fast-paced and demanding nature of a private client focused practice.

Erlene also has valuable in-house experience, having spent time at one of the largest "pure play" retail developers in Asia where she interfaced directly with its C-suite. She is as such well-placed to work with the client's management and in-house teams to achieve the client's objectives.

Jocelyn is the managing director of our Hong Kong office and a partner who leads the Hong Kong divorce and family team.

Jocelyn started her family law practice over 15 years ago in 2007, and advises on all aspects of matrimonial law including divorce, prenuptial agreements, child care and custody and financial disputes. She advises husbands, wives, and unmarried partners. She is an experienced advocate in court as well as a seasoned negotiator in mediations.

Jocelyn has been involved with some of the most high profile cases to come before the courts in Hong Kong as part of a team involving high net worth individuals with diverse and complex issues. She has considerable experience in divorce cases involving trusts, corporate structures and injunctions, as well as complex cross-jurisdictional divorces which requires co-ordinating with other solicitors overseas and experts, as well as leading counsel in Hong Kong and London.

Her cases have recently been concerned with international child abduction, issues of jurisdiction, financial discovery and dealing with the preliminary issue of beneficial ownership, with one notable case involving two famous banking families in Hong Kong.

Jocelyn is passionate about cases involving children's interests, custody, care and control, and has successfully dealt with a number of child relocation cases, with expertise on Hague Convention cases involving child abduction before the High Court.

From 2020-2023, Jocelyn is recognised as a Recommended Lawyer in Doyle’s Hong Kong Family & Divorce Lawyers Ranking. She is rated as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation in the practice areas of Family and Matrimonial for 3 consecutive years (2020-2022) and as a Litigation Star in 2023. She is also recognised as an Up and Coming practitioner in Chambers and Partners in 2021-2023, Next generation partner in Legal 500 2023, the Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm) at the ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2022, and was listed as Asia’s top 40 lawyers under the age of 40 by ALB in 2022.

Justin is a partner specialising in restructuring and insolvency.

He focuses his practice on debt restructuring and insolvency matters, corporate rescues and workouts, distressed and special situation transactions, and corporate/commercial litigation. He advises and represents multi-national corporations, Singapore-listed companies, local and foreign banks and financial institutions, bondholders, investors, financial advisors, scheme managers, judicial managers, liquidators, and other stakeholders in a wide variety of court-supervised insolvency proceedings and related commercial litigation, debt restructurings and special situation transactions. These include scheme of arrangements, judicial management, liquidation, cross-border insolvency proceedings, bond defaults and restructuring, banking and finance disputes, distressed business and asset sales and acquisitions, receivership and other forms of security enforcement.