The Law Society of Hong Kong is a professional association for solicitors in Hong Kong vested with statutory powers to regulate the professional conduct of solicitors, trainee solicitors and foreign lawyers. It was incorporated in 1907 as a company limited by guarantee.
The Law Society speaks for the solicitors’ profession in Hong Kong and ensures our voice are accurately and purposefully communicated to relevant parties
The Law Society is dedicated to providing relevant and effective support to our members including professional training and legal practice updates.
The Law Society is committed to facilitating the attainment and maintenance of the highest professional standards by our members in the interest of the community
The Law Society reaches out and maintains a wide local and global network for knowledge exchange, experience sharing and collaboration between our members and different sectors of both the local and international communities.
The Law Society strives to raise general public legal awareness, facilitate public access to legal services and promote a culture of giving back to the community among our members.
In a world that is changing before our eyes legal regulators face unprecedented challenges. Is it time to think of doing things differently? If so, there is nowhere better than Hong Kong – a true melting pot of ideas and cultures, history and modernity.
Location: Foyer of Crystal Court, 19/F, Hopewell Hotel (15 Kennedy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
Location: Ping Shan Heritage Trail (Ping Shan, Yuen Long, New Territories)
Location: Former French Mission Building (1 Battery Path, Central, Hong Kong)
Location: Foyer of Crystal Court, 19/F, Hopewell Hotel (15 Kennedy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
Welcome Remarks
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Roden Tong CV President, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
Opening Address
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Dr the Hon Horace Cheung, SBS, JP CV Deputy Secretary for Justice, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |
Keynote Speech
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Dr Kelvin Wong, SBS, JP CV Chairman, Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong |
What does “independence” mean for a regulator? Independence from government, parliament, the profession, or other vested interests? If regulatory responsibilities are shared, how do the relevant authorities effectively collaborate?
Speakers
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Roden Tong CV President, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
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Sanelisiwe Princess Ngcobo CV North West Provincial Director, Legal Practice Council, South Africa |
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Tony Watson CV Head of the Complaints & Resolutions Department, Legal Services Regulatory Authority, Ireland |
A reflection on how in-house lawyers see themselves and what ethical value like integrity might mean in an in-house context. This session will also address what regulators have experienced with the in-house lawyer community in different jurisdictions.
Speakers
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Melissa Scott CV General Counsel, The Mississippi Bar |
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Matthew Anstee Executive Director, Legal & Investigations, Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner |
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Gigi Chen-Kuo CV Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Law Society of British Columbia |
Aggressive and threatening use of litigation (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation or SLAPPs) have become an unfortunate feature of many jurisdictions in recent years. Lawyers have played their part in facilitating, or even driving such behaviour on behalf of their clients. This session will provide a round-up of developments in different jurisdictions and consider the appropriate role of regulators in tackling examples of poor conduct and setting expectations for the profession.
Speakers
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Richard Orpin CV Interim Chief Executive, The Legal Services Board |
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Alvin Chen CV Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer, The Law Society of Singapore |
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Ankur Doshi CV General Counsel, Oregon State Bar |
This session will draw on the example of how legal practice is changing in the Greater Bay Area, between Mainland China and Hong Kong to reflect on the challenges, risks and opportunities for regulators everywhere posed by increased cross-border working, dual qualification and law firm expansion. It will also reflect on lessons to be learned and shared with other regions of the world, including Europe and Southern Africa.
Moderator
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Careen Wong CV Vice-President, and Chair of the Greater Bay Area Lawyers Sub-Committee, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
Speakers
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Thomas So, JP CV Past President, and Chair of the Greater Bay Area Sub-Committee, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
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Prof. Chao Xi CV Dean and Professor, Faculty of Law, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
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Motlatsi Molefe CV Chief Executive Officer, Attorneys Fidelity Fund |
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Prof. Dr. Matthias Kilian CV Professor of Law, The University of Cologne |
Growing risks for regulators and the profession lie in the constantly changing compliance requirements surrounding financial crime. This session will address some of the Anti-Money Laundering and related issues that different regulators have faced over the past year and how they have responded.
Speakers
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Laura McCullough CV Head of Professional Conduct, Law Society of Northern Ireland |
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Adeline Seah CV Registrar, Legal Services Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Law, Singapore |
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Justin Yuen CV Council Member, and Chair of Standing Committee on Standards & Development, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
This session will consider the latest technology-based threats to the legal sector, as well as the operational challenges they pose for regulators. The discussion will provide a forum for exchanging best practice in how to respond.
Speakers
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Liz Rosser CV Executive Director, Operations and Resources, Solicitors Regulation Authority |
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Chris Schwinghamer CV Chief Information Officer, Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner |
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Lim Seng Siew CV Member, Executive Committee and Council, The Law Society of Singapore |
The challenges and risks to regulators of managing internal financial challenges and justifying fees externally. This session will offer the opportunity for regulators to share experiences and top tips.
Speakers
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Katie Rusbatch CV Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Law Society |
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Calvin Cheng CV Council Member, and Vice-Chair of Standing Committee on Compliance, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
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Lea Gutierrez CV Administrator, Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, The Supreme Court of Illinois |
Location: Foyer of Crystal Court, 19/F, Hopewell Hotel (15 Kennedy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
As the legal services market grows and develops, the question of what is being regulated becomes increasingly relevant – individuals or entities? Only lawyers or also paralegal or limited license legal technicians (LLLTs)? Specific activities or market behaviour. This plenary will take the opportunity to stand back and look at different models, including those from other industries, such as insurance, healthcare and finance.
Moderator
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Jimmy Chan CV Council Member, and Chair of Standing Committee on Compliance, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
Speakers
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Iain Miller CV Partner, Kingsley Napley LLP |
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Brook Greenberg KC CV President, Law Society of British Columbia |
This session will reflect on how private capital is influencing the legal market, from alternative business structures, third party litigation funding through to the influence of external finance on legal tech and other resources available to lawyers.
Speakers
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Melissa Scott CV General Counsel, The Mississippi Bar |
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Juliet Oliver CV Managing Director, Stratify by Kingsley Napley |
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Christopher Yu CV Vice-President, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
This breakout will provide an opportunity to learn how a regulator is leveraging data to understand its impact and become more effective. It will include hands-on training and tips for other regulators to deepen their insights through measurement and evaluation.
Workshop leader
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Taimur Siddiqi CV Manager, Evaluation & Impact, Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner |
Recent ICLR conferences have addressed issues such as restorative justice, alternative discipline systems and consumer insights. This session will bring together these themes into a “People-Centred Regulatory Model” which puts fairness and justice to individuals in the system above process.
Moderator
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Fiona McLeay CV Board CEO and Commissioner, Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner |
Keynote Speaker
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David Locke CV Chief Ombudsman and CEO, Australian Financial Complaints Authority |
Commentator
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Simon McConnell CV Council Member, and Vice-Chair of Standing Committee on Compliance, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
This session will draw on recent experience from participating regulators of what they have done and what they have found to have been most successful in advancing equality, encouraging diversity and promoting wellbeing and inclusive cultures in the legal profession. It will also be a useful opportunity to remind ourselves why this is important and how it should be explained to the profession, policymakers and wider public in jurisdictions facing pushback against perceptions of “wokeness”.
Speakers
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Gareth Smith CV General Manager, Professional Standards, New Zealand Law Society |
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Danielle Viall CV General Counsel & Interim Deputy Chief Executive, The Legal Services Board |
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Melissa Pang, BBS, MH, JP CV Past President, and Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Committee, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
What role should regulators play in promoting access to justice? How might this influence approaches to technology, innovation and developments like the introduction of sandboxes?
Speakers
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Amirali Nasir, MH, JP CV Vice-President, and Chair of InnoTech Committee, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
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Ellyn Rosen CV Regulation and Global Initiatives Counsel, American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility |
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Brook Greenberg KC CV President, Law Society of British Columbia |
Closing Remarks
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Wendy Lee CV Secretary General, The Law Society of Hong Kong |
Location: The Millions, 3/F, Happy Valley Racecourse (Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong)
Note: The programme is subject to change without prior notice
