KEMP’s namesake co-founder is a 35-year dispute resolution veteran who rose to head Stephenson Harwood’s Hong Kong litigation and financial services practice. His decades at the top of the Big Law tree have given him a keener appreciation than most for what really goes into an effective and satisfying legal practice. The recipe turns out to be simple (but not easy to reproduce): unimpeachable technical skill, a cost-conscious approach and, above all, great colleagues. KEMP’s tribe is the handpicked team he wants to play for at this stage in his career.
With a practice anchored in Hong Kong and London – cities he loves in equal measure – Malcolm has earned his burnished reputation in focal areas: commercial litigation, insolvency and restructuring, marine and international trade and contentious regulation. Clients count on his plain-dealing approach, whether the news is good or bad: best-in-class representation turns on an honest appraisal of interests and prospects.
Working between two multicultural hubs on either sides of the world, Malcolm makes time to enjoy Hong Kong’s buzz and work ethic, and London’s inexhaustible culture and history. KEMP’s horizons are broader than the HK-UK axis: a multilingual European and Chinese-speaking team has the prowess to operate effectively for clients on all the territory in between.
M.B. KEMP LLP (Founding Partner)
September 2020 - present
Stephenson Harwood (Senior Partner)
December 1989 - July 2020
Keble College, University of Oxford 1973-1976
England and Wales admission: 1980
Hong Kong admission: 1982
Trusts and fiduciary services
The Estate of Nina Wang
Acting for the Trustees in long running disputes over the will of Nina Wang, Asia’s richest woman.
The Ho Tung settlement
Disputes over the terms of the settlement. Acting for the children of Eric Ho Tung.
The Estate of Oscar Wong Lai Ying
Acting for the representative of the Estate against claims from alleged family members. Successful defences of claims.
Dispute resolution
GE Commercial –v- Lafe
Major claims involving insurance and factoring issues. Acting for GE Commercial.
Service of pleadings’ issues
Service out of the jurisdiction. Landmark case regarding service: Intex Corporation, Injunctions and discovery orders in support of Arbitrations.
Restructuring and insolvency
Fraud and asset tracing
Banking and financial services litigation
Construction experience
Director of The Leprosy Project
Legal 500, Asia Global Restructuring Review 30 Chambers Asia Pacific (China) Civil Celebrant
I would feign amazement that they hadn’t heard about us. I would tell them we are cost-conscious, very good at what we do, and very friendly. And we can converse in a multitude of European languages and Chinese dialects.
Plus, we’re a very good-looking bunch of people!
I love the buzz that you feel working in Hong Kong, and its efficiency and work ethic, and the harmonious multicultural mix of friends and acquaintances. As for London, there is so much culture and history. As Samuel Johnson put it, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”
Carpe diem – “seize the day”. You only walk this path once. Enjoy it to the full.
23/F, Pico Tower,
66 Gloucester Road
Hong Kong S.A.R
2/F, 29 Curzon Street
London, W1J 7TL,
United Kingdom
Via Durini, 4
20122 Milano
Italy
Office 2407, Al Sila Tower,
Abu Dhabi Global Market,
P.O. Box 128666, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates
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