Our Team

General Corporate and Commercial Matters

• Advised a leading global independent provider of corporate, private client and retirement planning services and professional trustee on Hong Kong law-governed trusts-related arrangements in respect of high-net-worth clients, including advice on distributions of trust assets
• Advised a leading global cargo and passenger general sales & service agent (GSSA) on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including advising on joint ventures with counterparties in Chile, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam, drafting/negotiating confidentiality agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, shareholders’ agreements, strategic collaboration/framework agreements
• Advised a Hong Kong-based family office on a range of secured and unsecured money lending activities in Hong Kong
• Advised a Hong Kong property management company and owner of properties on a range of real estate-related transactions, including commercial leases or tenancy agreements, surrender agreements and sale and purchase agreements
• Advised a Hong Kong and Macau-based luxury timepiece retailer on its exit negotiations with a leading Swiss watchmaker brand, as well as its distribution strategy and agreements for certain high-end bespoke jewellery
• Advised a Hong Kong-based luxury timepiece retailer on its online sales and consignment agreements
• Advised a leading Hong Kong model agency on various commercial contracts, agency agreements and related disputes with its models, as well as their data privacy policies, personal information collection statements and potential data breach response strategies
• Advised a Hong Kong-based SaaS provider and market leader of restaurant ordering and payment options (QR codes based order and self-service kiosks) on various commercial agreements with counterparties and internal documentation, including employment and service agreements
• Advised a Hong Kong-based innovative NFT minting and launch platform on the creation, minting and launch of an NFT series by a renowned photographer and director, including drafting User Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and providing guidance on transaction arrangements with digital wallets and compliance-related issues
• Advised a Hong Kong-based consultancy services company in respect of financial planning, overseas migration and NFT related products and services on its service agreements and dealings with counterparties
• Advised a Hong Kong-based full-service automotive service centre (as sole and exclusive agent) in connection with the provision of maintenance, repair and overall vehicles and equipment services for autonomous cars to the Hong Kong International Airport
• Advised a Hong Kong technology-enabled corporate services and accounting services provider and over ten of its clients on a range of corporate and commercial issues, including corporate governance (directors’ duties and shareholder rights); employment advice; regulatory compliance; corporate finance; and general contract law advice
• Advised a Hong Kong retailer chain of women’s footwear on the full range of corporate documents, including its employment contracts, confidentiality agreements and undertakings, partnership/collaboration agreements with third parties and internal legal templates and policies

Private M&A

• Advised a Hong Kong asset management company (as buyer) on its acquisition of a company providing financial risk ratings (SFC Type 10 Regulated Activity) and financial data analytics services, including conducting legal due diligence, drafting/negotiating share purchase agreement and ancillary documents
• Advised a leading global cargo and passenger general sales & service agent (GSSA) (as buyer) on its acquisition of a Netherlands-incorporated air traffic control services company, including reviewing of sale and purchase documentation, issuance of legal opinion and attending to international document authentication and legalisation matters
• Advised a Hong Kong media and entertainment company (as seller) on its sale of an affiliate company to a leading regional media and entertainment company, being the licence holder of a licensed space with the Western Kowloon Cultural District Authority, including facilitating legal due diligence matters, reviewing/negotiating sale and purchase agreements and ancillary documents and attending to matters in connection with Governmental approvals
• Advised a high-net-worth individual (as buyer) in the purchase of the entire shares of a Hong Kong-incorporated company holding a luxury real estate property in Hong Kong, including conducting legal due diligence, reviewing financial due diligence, drafting/negotiating sale and purchase agreement (and ancillary documents) and attending to conveyancing and stamp duty-related matters
• Advised a Hong Kong-based angel investor in the subscription of shares in a Singaporean-based manufacturer and retailer of leather goods, including drafting/negotiating the investment agreement and shareholder agreement
• Advised founders of a Hong Kong consulting company on its structured sale of shares in its company, including considerations as to hybrid equity/loan structures and phased share subscriptions
• Advised sellers/buyers in the purchase of various Hong Kong properties, including drafting/reviewing of sale and purchase agreements, deeds of assignment and licence agreements and attending to conveyancing related matters

Finance and Banking Transactions

• Advised issuers and underwriters in both public and private debt and equity transactions, including initial public offerings
• Advised international banks, Chinese state-owned banks and corporate borrowers on cross-border banking transactions, including acquisition financing, pre-IPO financing and export/import financing
• Advised buy-side clients in negotiating derivatives trading documentation and with respect to regulatory developments affecting the derivatives markets
• Advised Hong Kong-based companies in respect of pre-IPO financing and restructuring for the purposes of a US IPO, including advising on share subscription agreements and shareholder agreements
• Advised a Hong Kong data analytics company on fundraising matters, including drafting and negotiating a Hong Kong law-governed simple agreement for future equity (“SAFE” financing document)
• Advised regional corporate borrowers in respect of the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme guaranteed by The HKMC Insurance Limited
• Advised a Hong Kong-based importer of goods on bank escrow arrangements with a Swiss financial intermediary, including reviewing and advising on escrow agent agreement

Regulatory / Compliance and White Collar Criminal Investigations

• Advised regional commercial banks, broker dealers, investment managers and investment advisers on regulatory, licensing and compliance matters in respect of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and The Hong Kong Stock Exchange Limited
• Advised Hong Kong-based financial services companies on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policies and procedures and compliance with data privacy laws and regulations
• Advised a leading Australia-based full-service stockbroking and wealth management services provider and its Hong Kong subsidiary on SFC regulatory and compliance-related matters
• Advised international banks, private banks, IPO sponsors, broker-dealers, corporations and individuals on a range of regulatory investigations led by the SFC and HKMA, including as to anti-money laundering, insider dealing and market manipulation, etc.

Employment Matters

• Advised regional employers and senior executives of multinational corporations on employment-related issues in respect of rights under employment contracts and internal policies, the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) and the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (282), including advising on claims involving the Employees’ Compensation Division and Labour Tribunal
• Advised employers on employment-related issues and handling of formal complaints with the Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department (EAA), including attendance at investigation interviews by the EAA
• Advised a Hong Kong-based fintech company on its employment agreement templates and confidentiality agreements
• Advised a Hong Kong-based boutique dental clinic on its employment disputes with its employee, as well as standardising the internal employment agreement and termination agreement templates
• Advised executives on the General Employment Policy and Top Talent Pass Scheme with the Immigration Department of The Government of the HKSAR

Dispute Resolution and Contentious Matters

• Represented a high-net-worth client on his claim against and settlement with a regional securities broker dealer in connection with various potential unauthorised transactions
• Advised a leading Hong Kong photographer on intellectual property rights infringement and settlement of commercial dispute with a leading global leisure, entertainment and cruise operations/hospitality corporation
• Advised various landlords of Hong Kong properties on disputes and settlements with tenants

Solicitor, High Court of Hong Kong, 2011

Licensed Representative, Securities and Futures Commission, 2014 (non-practicing)

Civil Celebrant of Marriages, 2021

Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination, 2022

Clifford Chance, 2009-2013

Davis Polk & Wardwell, 2015-2017

First Asia Finance Group Limited, 2017-2021

Adrian Li & Co., Solicitors, 2021-present

Guangdong Guanghe Law Firm, 2024-present

LLB (Hons.) King’s College London, 2008
(Kingsley Napley Prize Winner)

AKC, King’s College London, 2008

PCLL, University of Hong Kong, 2009

MSc in Global Finance, HKUST Business School & NYU Stern School of Business, 2014

Private Wealth Management, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2018

MSt in Entrepreneurship, University of Cambridge (King’s College),  2021

Adrian is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Tel: (852) 2156 1108 

Email: adrian.li@al-legal.co