Ip & Heathfield blends heart and experience to deliver best outcomes for divorce clients
- The firm was recognised as a leading matrimonial firm and Ip as a leading family and divorce lawyer in Doyle’s Guides 2023, and won at the Global Law Experts Annual Awards 2022 and the Chambers Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2023
Country Business Reports interviews and articles by Discovery Reports
Jennifer Ip started her law firm in 2005. Today, the founding partner of Ip & Heathfield runs one of Hong Kong’s top matrimonial law firms specialising in divorce and separation, financial matters, children arrangements, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, family trust arrangements, family probate disputes and financial dependent’s claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Ordinance (Cap. 481). The firm’s clientele involves high-net-worth individuals and wealthy families, and often deals with cases involving complex corporate structures such as listed and offshore companies.
In addition to its distinct legal acumen and strategic advice, Ip & Heathfield’s phenomenal success has also been driven by its genuine concern for the welfare of its clients together with their children, helping them overcome emotional challenges as they start life anew. The firm shares this opportunity with potential clients from mainland China given its rising cross-border marriages and the new legal regime involving reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in Hong Kong and mainland China.
“We understand that family disputes can be complex and emotionally challenging. Our role is to try and secure the right outcome for each client by providing tailored advice to avoid protrusive litigation and make sure parties agree on reasoned solutions, which recognise the interests of all family members with utmost priority on the children,” Ip said.
Such calibre of service in Hong Kong is also accessible to clients from mainland China. Families who have homes or businesses in these places need to consider where divorce proceedings should be instigated, and a party can do so if it can establish a “substantial connection” to Hong Kong, for example, by having employment, assets or children who study in Hong Kong. Parties tend to prefer divorcing in Hong Kong because of the duty of full and frank disclosure of assets. In cases where divorce is finalised in China, as mainland courts do not usually deal with assets located outside their jurisdiction, the firm has become increasingly involved in applications involving the division of the remaining assets in accordance with Hong Kong law.
