Employment: Hong Kong-based (International Firms) | Greater China Region

Hong Kong-headquartered firm Deacons boasts noteworthy experience acting on domestic and PRC employment law matters and coordination of regional projects, including employee transfers for multinational companies, as well as pension regulations, incentives, and immigration and benefits issues. The team is well reputed for advising on contentious matters, including the dismissal of senior executives under sensitive circumstances and investigations into allegations of employee misconduct and wrongful termination. It also has experience advising on discrimination claims as well as assisting with reputation management and HR policies. Deacons' key clients include Bain & Company, BOCI Trustee and Mitsubishi Electric.

Mayer Brown works with an impressive roster of global clients, including some of Hong Kong's largest employers, on contentious and non-contentious employment issues. Its Hong Kong employment law team coordinates regional advice for start-ups and other clients preparing multi-jurisdictional HR projects. It acts for businesses in the asset management, banking and airline industries, and is well known for its high level of expertise and activity representing clients in the tertiary education sector. Mayer Brown represents employers in disputes relating to wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and misuse of confidential information, as well as actions relating to trade union activity, and it frequently acts on behalf of clients before the Hong Kong Labour Tribunal and High Court.

The full-time employment practitioners of DLA Piper assist multinationals with employee transfers and restructures, as well as contentious employment matters, including the dismissal of senior executives and a variety of discrimination and harassment claims. The law firm guides clients through compliance and reputation management as well as breach of contract matters, and it represents clients across a range of sectors, including retail, banking, technology and life sciences. DLA Piper increasingly acts for domestic PRC businesses as well as maintaining its international clientele and a strong practice advising on Hong Kong employment issues.

The strong contentious employment team at Tanner De Witt possesses notable expertise representing employees in high-profile litigation cases. It is active on matters involving individuals employed in Hong Kong, including supporting foreign domestic workers on a pro bono basis, but it also advises employers on work policies, contracts and post-employment restrictions. Tanner De Witt is highly active on cases related to race and sex discrimination, and white-collar crime investigations.

The highly regarded Hong Kong-based Howse Williams employment team acts for both employers and employees on a range of contentious and non-contentious issues. It regularly handles immigration, discrimination, remuneration, termination and post-termination matters, including springboard injunctions and enforcement of restrictive covenants. The team is also active advising on investigations for clients in the financial services sector and frequently represents clients before the Hong Kong Labour Tribunal and the High Court.

Bird & Bird's dedicated employment team acts for employers on a wide range of matters, including regulatory advice, employee transfers and sexual harassment claims, among other issues. It also advises on employment policies, bonuses and incentive schemes, and workforce restructuring and reductions. The team is particularly strong in acting for the technology sector, in addition to clients in the financial services, pharmaceutical and fashion industries.

RPC's Hong Kong employment law practice is building a strong reputation for its work representing both employers and employees, particularly in employment disputes in the finance sector. It advises clients on workplace investigations, often those in regulated environments, the handling of discrimination complaints, and matters throughout the employment relationship, from hiring to departure.