Victoria Younghusband

‘Victoria Younghusband is simply outstanding; the breadth of her knowledge and instant command of the key issues is genuinely impressive.’ 

– LEGAL 500 2025 INVESTMENT FUND FORMATION AND MANAGEMENT – LISTED FUNDS 

I am a corporate lawyer with over 40 years’ experience, mostly in the City of London, but also in Hong Kong and have always worked with international clients, predominantly in North America, Europe and Australasia, and also in developing countries, most recently in Africa and the Caribbean but also China, India, and Vietnam.  In recent years, my focus has been on investment management and regulation and financial services generally, including advising on “perimeter” issues.   I have also advised on mainstream capital markets issues, including transactions subject to the Takeover Code, IPOs and transactions for companies on the Main Market and AIM and disclosures required under the EU and UK Market Abuse Regulation and Transparency Directive.   

I have always been passionate about good regulation, corporate governance and stewardship and have helped to influence policy both as a member of The Better Regulation Task Force and then as member of the Company Law Committee of the City of London Law Society. I am also a strong supporter of women and of the rule of law.  I am the Hon. Treasurer and a director of the City of London Law Society with our role to promote the City and English law. 

I love working at KEMP, which for me means completing the ful circle.  I started my legal career with Stephenson Harwood in London and, having worked closely with Voon and Malcolm when with Stephenson Harwood in Hong Kong, am delighted to be a member of a new and innovative law firm with huge energy and talent and colleagues with a diverse and very international background in the key commercial and cultural centres of EMEA and Asia.

• Charles Russell Speechlys, Partner, Senior Counsel 2013 –2025 
• SJ Berwin, Partner 2007-2013 
• Lawrence Graham (now part of WLG Gowlings) 1998-2007 
• Stephenson Harwood 1982-1998 (Partner from 1989) 

• Somerville College, Oxford 
• Queen Mary University of London 
• England & Wales, admission1984 
• Hong Kong, admission 1991 

City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

Acting for parties to recommended and hostile rule 9 offers, on some occasions for the offeror and others the board of the target. Acting for the company and/or parties acting in concert on applications for rule 9 waivers. Advising and assisting on rule 8 disclosures.

IPOs, Secondary Issues, Share Buy-backs and Moves from AIM to the Main Market

I have acted for the issuer and occasionally for the sponsor or Nomad on IPOs on the Main Market and on AIM; on secondary issues requiring a prospectus, on tender offers and other ways of returning capital; and for the issuer and on occasion the sponsor on a move from AIM to the Main Market, involving the cancellation of the AIM admission and the publication of a prospectus.

Investment Funds

Acting for closed and open-ended investment funds, listed and unlisted and structured as companies or limited partnerships from formation through to initial offerings, secondaries, capital returns, restructuring and winding-up, both for the fund itself, for directors, investors and advisers. I have acted for funds formed in all the major fund jurisdictions, including Bermuda; BVI; the Cayman Islands; Guernsey; Ireland; the Isle of Man; Jersey; Luxembourg, Mauritius and the UK and for investors in Singapore and Hong Kong domiciled funds.

Financial Services Regulatory Advice

I frequently advise on disclosure (and delayed disclosure) and no dealing obligations relating to inside information and on PDMR notifications under the UK Market Abuse Regulation; I also advise on perimeter issues around FCA regulated activities and whether an exemption may apply.

COMMUNITY/VOLUNTEER 

• City of London Solicitors Company 
• Worshipful Company of International Bankers 
• City of London Law Society Company Law Committee 
• Hon. Treasurer, City of London Law Society Technical Committee
• Association of Investment Companies 
• 100 Women in Finance 
• East Asian Lawyers Association 
• Hong Kong Society 
• Asian Corporate Governance Network 
• Institute of Directors 
• Chelsea Arts Club 
• Member of Friends of the Royal Ballet and Opera
• Royal Academy of Music
• Royal College of Music
• Guildhall School of Music and Drama