A pre-eminent law firm in Hong Kong

JSM is recognised as one of the leading law firms in Hong Kong, with the partnership awarded “Hong Kong Law Firm of the Year” on more than ten occasions by Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business, most recently in 2023/24, and for three consecutive years running in 2022, 2023 and 2024 by Who’s Who Legal.

As a pre-eminent law firm in Hong Kong, JSM advises clients on the full spectrum of legal issues that can arise on the most complex deals and disputes, across all the key sectors for which Hong Kong is globally renowned.

Our practices are market leading, and our lawyers are routinely recognised as among the best in Hong Kong and beyond. Clients not only directly benefit from the effectiveness and efficiencies yielded from the commercial application of our lawyers’ experience, but also from the unique insights gained by many of our lawyers in advising on the drafting and formulation of Hong Kong rules and regulations.

Serving the broader community in Hong Kong is an integral part of our firm’s heritage – in 2023 our pro bono efforts amounted to over 4,000 hours. The Law Society of Hong Kong awarded us Distinguished Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year and Distinguished Community Service Law Firm of the Year, along with several other individual and firm awards.

Extensive experience across Mainland China

JSM has been advising clients in Mainland China since the 1990s and we have acquired extensive experience, knowledge and understanding of the PRC legal system.

Our representative offices in Beijing and Shanghai enable us to provide “on-the-ground” resources with a strong knowledge of international practice and an in-depth understanding of the legislative framework governing both outbound and foreign investment. We also have an Intellectual Property Agency Office in Beijing to assist our clients in trademark registration matters in the Mainland China.

As one of the first international law firms working in China in the 1990s, we have developed a strong network of local counsel relationships across China, particularly in the Greater Bay Area (“GBA”) including the nine municipalities in Guangdong, namely Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

Global outlook

With more than a third of our Hong Kong lawyers dual-qualified from key international jurisdictions, our clients benefit from our deep experience and understanding of the application of those laws across the world’s most dynamic markets, particularly in Belt and Road Initiative (“BRI”) countries.

JSM’s practices are aligned with our strategy. We focus on supporting clients headquartered in Hong Kong and Mainland China to grow locally and expand internationally, while also advising international and regionally headquartered clients on their business and investment in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Strategic sector insight

Hong Kong remains Asia’s world city and has evolved to serve as a super-connector between Mainland China and global markets under the Belt and Road Initiative. As a pre-eminent law firm in Hong Kong, JSM is uniquely able to guide clients on how best to leverage the unique benefits that Hong Kong offers businesses across a broad range of strategically significant sectors.

Our strong heritage and expertise in the sectors foundational to Hong Kong’s status as a global hub means that we are at the forefront of market developments.

The changing nature of globalisation, with an increasing focus on digitalisation and regionalisation as a means of fostering economic growth, has positively impacted both the sectors for which Hong Kong is renowned and those where it has growing influence at a global level. Hong Kong is the largest offshore Renminbi market and is primed to become a global centre for virtual assets, sustainable finance, technology and life sciences.

Our multidisciplinary sector teams leverage their decades of experience to help clients take advantage of these paradigm shifting trends impacting their respective sectors. As Hong Kong evolves in its role as a super-connector between Mainland China and global markets, JSM is aligned in its role as the region’s legal services super-connector in both established sectors and in high-growth emerging sectors critical to Hong Kong’s future growth and stability.