International groups with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, or those operating locally through a subsidiary in Hong Kong, benefit from our comprehensive services throughout their lifecycle. We assist clients at every stage, from market entry and organic growth to acquisitions, restructurings, and company closures.
When circumstances lead to the closure of a Hong Kong entity, we guide them through contract terminations, including employment and lease agreements, and advise on the most suitable closing-down process, whether through deregistration or winding-up.
Good governance requires foresight. Our role is to proactively audit, draft and negotiate contracts to help companies achieve their strategic goals. As « legal designers », we focus on formalising contractual relationships between entities to ensure smooth and effective long-term operations.
Establishment phase
For companies setting up in Hong Kong, we provide:
- incorporation of companies;
- company secretary services;
- introduction to our correspondents for accounting and audit (offering both digital and traditional options, with local and international expertise);
- support for the first hire: assistance with employment contracts and policies.
Development stage & organic growth
Working in Hong Kong and alongside our network of correspondents across the Asia Pacific region, we assist our clients with:
- governance: local directors’ status and compensation packages;
- financing: cash-pooling and inter-companies loan agreements;
- group human resources: localisation of group level employment-related policies, employee incentivisation plans;
- contract standardisation: development of a regional matrix for key contracts, with localisation as needed (including distribution, licensing, employment contracts, purchase terms with suppliers, sales terms for clients, and alignment of the whole chain of legal documents from the purchase order to delivery note).
Acquisitions
We support clients throughout the acquisition process, including:
- term sheet and memoranda of understanding (MoU): negotiation, drafting and review;
- legal and tax due diligence;
- acquisition management: drafting legal documentation, coordinating with key stakeholders (using a digital transaction platform) and assisting with negotiations and signing, closing and post-closing filings and formalities.
Restructuring
We guide clients through corporate restructures, addressing:
- termination agreements: drafting mutual termination agreement or deeds of termination for amicable termination with employees and other stakeholders;
- straightforward share and asset sales: drafting share or asset sale documentation in intra-group reorganisation scenarios;
- closing down of subsidiaries: identifying and navigating the most suitable route for closing down (deregistration or winding-up).
Employment termination
When terminating employment contracts, whether individually or at scale, we assist with:
- contract review: anticipating potential hurdles and advising on the most suitable termination route;
- detailed action plan: creating a bespoke step plan for the chosen route, including an assessment of termination payments;
- termination documentation: drafting employment termination documentation and corporation documentation for various termination scenarios;
- guidance on formalities: providing support to ensure all formalities and notification requirements are met.
Closing down
For companies ceasing operations in Hong Kong, we offer:
- tax and legal review: analysing the options for closing down a company in Hong Kong, factoring in any debts to other group companies or third parties;
- comprehensive action plan: creating a detailed roadmap for the chosen closing down route;
- legal documentation: drafting letters and scripts tailored to the most chosen route;
- guidance on formalities: providing support to ensure compliance with all local formalities and notifications requirements.
At Slotine, we build long-term relationships with our clients, who rely on us for their various ventures across the Asia Pacific region.
Our approach is guided by our three corporate values:
CLEAR
Our emails are easy to understand. We are responsive and communicative. We are also multicultural and multilingual, so our clients are always in the know.
FORWARD-THINKING
We think and plan for the future. With our clients’ ultimate goals in mind, we anticipate action and go the extra mile to keep them prepared every step of the way.
EFFECTIVE
We produce results.
Don’t just take our word for it, check our blog for articles or case studies on subjects that are relevant to you, for instance:
- our Q&A on Private M&A in Hong Kong – part of an international comparative guide curated by Mondaq
- our series on the foreign-sourced income exemptions regime implemented in Hong Kong since 2023
- our approach to debt collection
- our Q&A series on employment in Hong Kong
- our series of articles on winding-up