• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
location iconSuite 503, 5/F, St. George's Building, 2 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kongphone-icon +852 2868 0696 linkedintwitterfacebook
OLN IP Services
close-btn
OLN IP Services
Get bespoke and commercially-driven advice to your Intellectual Property
Learn More
OLN IP Services
OLN Online
close-btn
OLN Online
Powered by Oldham, Li & Nie, the law firm of choice for Hong Kong’s vibrant startup and SME community, OLN Online is a forward-looking and seamless addition to traditional legal services – a true disruptor.
Learn More
OLN IP Services
  • FR
    • ENG
    • 简
    • 繁
    • 日本語
Oldham, Li & Nie
OLN IP Services
close-btn
OLN IP Services
Get bespoke and commercially-driven advice to your Intellectual Property
Learn More
OLN IP Services
OLN Online
close-btn
OLN Online
Powered by Oldham, Li & Nie, the law firm of choice for Hong Kong’s vibrant startup and SME community, OLN Online is a forward-looking and seamless addition to traditional legal services – a true disruptor.
Learn More
OLN IP Services
  • À propos
        • Distinctions et classements
        • Responsabilité sociale des entreprises
  • Domaines de pratique
        • Canadian Notarization Services
        • China Practice
        • Droit du Travail et de l’Immigration Appliqué aux Entreprises
        • Droit des Procédures Collectives et des Restructurations
        • Droit des Dommages Corporels
        • Conseil Fiscal
        • Résolution des Litiges
        • Droit des Ainés
        • Droit des Sociétés et Droit Commercial
        • Droit de la Famille
        • Droit des Assurances
        • Clientèle Privée
        • Pratique Japonaise
        • Fonds Offshore
        • Regulatory Compliance, Investigations and Enforcement
        • Fraude Commerciale et Recherche d'Avoirs
        • Pratique Française
        • Droit de la Propriété Intellectuelle
        • Services Financiers et Règlementations
        • Services Notariaux
        • Startups
        • Chinese Notary Services (CAAO)
        • Canadian Notarization Services
        • China Practice
        • Droit des Sociétés et Droit Commercial
        • Fraude Commerciale et Recherche d’Avoirs
        • Droit du Travail et de l’Immigration Appliqué aux Entreprises
        • Droit de la Famille
        • Pratique Française
        • Droit des Procédures Collectives et des Restructurations
        • Droit des Assurances
        • Droit de la Propriété Intellectuelle
        • Droit des Dommages Corporels
        • Clientèle Privée
        • Services Financiers et Règlementations
        • Conseil Fiscal
        • Pratique Japonaise
        • Services Notariaux
        • Résolution des Litiges
        • Fonds Offshore
        • Startups
        • Droit des Ainés
        • Regulatory Compliance, Investigations and Enforcement
        • Chinese Notary Services (CAAO)
  • Notre equipe
  • Actualités
  • Nos bureaux

Suite 503, St. George's Building,
2 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong

Tel. +852 2868 0696 | Send Email
linkedin twitter facebook
OLN Blue

OLN

  • À propos d’ OLN
    • CSR
    • Distinctions & Classements
  • Awards and Ranking
  • Block Content Examples
  • Carrières
  • Ce que les autres disent
  • Client Information & Registration
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy (EU)
  • Globalaw
  • La responsabilité sociale des entreprises au sein d’OLN
  • Le cabinet
  • Nos services
  • Notre equipe
  • Oldham, Li & Nie
  • OLN Podcasts
  • Our Offices
  • Privacy Policy
  • Review
  • Reviews
  • Standard Terms of Engagement
  • Test Blog
  • À propos
        • Distinctions et classements
        • Responsabilité sociale des entreprises
  • Domaines de pratique
        • Canadian Notarization Services
        • China Practice
        • Droit du Travail et de l’Immigration Appliqué aux Entreprises
        • Droit des Procédures Collectives et des Restructurations
        • Droit des Dommages Corporels
        • Conseil Fiscal
        • Résolution des Litiges
        • Droit des Ainés
        • Droit des Sociétés et Droit Commercial
        • Droit de la Famille
        • Droit des Assurances
        • Clientèle Privée
        • Pratique Japonaise
        • Fonds Offshore
        • Regulatory Compliance, Investigations and Enforcement
        • Fraude Commerciale et Recherche d'Avoirs
        • Pratique Française
        • Droit de la Propriété Intellectuelle
        • Services Financiers et Règlementations
        • Services Notariaux
        • Startups
        • Chinese Notary Services (CAAO)
        • Canadian Notarization Services
        • China Practice
        • Droit des Sociétés et Droit Commercial
        • Fraude Commerciale et Recherche d’Avoirs
        • Droit du Travail et de l’Immigration Appliqué aux Entreprises
        • Droit de la Famille
        • Pratique Française
        • Droit des Procédures Collectives et des Restructurations
        • Droit des Assurances
        • Droit de la Propriété Intellectuelle
        • Droit des Dommages Corporels
        • Clientèle Privée
        • Services Financiers et Règlementations
        • Conseil Fiscal
        • Pratique Japonaise
        • Services Notariaux
        • Résolution des Litiges
        • Fonds Offshore
        • Startups
        • Droit des Ainés
        • Regulatory Compliance, Investigations and Enforcement
        • Chinese Notary Services (CAAO)
  • Notre equipe
  • Actualités
  • Nos bureaux

Updated Solicitor Rates for Taxation

OLN Marketing

Updated Solicitor Rates for Taxation

décembre 13, 2017 by OLN Marketing

Updated Solicitor Rates for Taxation (Party and Party Basis)
 

Successful litigants in Hong Kong rarely recover their full legal costs (i.e. those costs paid to their own lawyers) from the losing/counter party. 

For the past 20 years, the process of recovering legal costs from another party (known as “taxation”) was based on what was considered “fair and reasonable” rates for solicitors calculated in 1997.  Until now, the rates have lagged far behind the commercial rates charged by lawyers in Hong Kong. 

The updated rates will take effect from 1 January 2018.
 

High Court

EXPERIENCEBEFORE 1 JAN 2018AFTER 1 JAN 2018CHANGE (%)
Trainee Solicitor1,066 to 2,0001,700—
Newly admitted1,600 to 2,0002,60030%
2 – 4 years2,000 to 2,5003,20028%
5 – 6 years2,400 to 3,0003,90030%
7 – 8 years2,900 to 3,5004,50028.57%
Over 10 years3,200 to 4,000See below—
9 – 15 years 5,20030%
Over 15 years 5,80045%


District Court

EXPERIENCEBEFORE 1 JAN 2018AFTER 1 JAN 2018CHANGE (%)
Trainee Solicitor533 to 6501,13074%
Newly admitted1,066 to 1,2801,73035%
2 – 4 years1,350 to 1,6502,13029%
5 – 6 years1,600 to 2,0002,60030%
7 – 8 years1,900 to 2,3003,00030.57%
Over 10 years2,100 to 2,600See below—
9 – 15 years 3,46033%
Over 15 years 3,86048.46%

Practically, this means there is now less of a recovery gap for winning parties in litigation.  The substantial increments are intended to allow Hong Kong to remain competitive as a preferred venue of choice for international dispute resolution. The recoverable rates are finally closer to what lawyers actually charge in the city.

Filed Under: Résolution des Litiges

EU Regime: When Blockchain meets GDPR

novembre 27, 2017 by OLN Marketing

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a single, pan-European law for data protection comes into force on 25 May 2018, operates to regulate the processing of personal data in the context of the activities of an establishment of a controller or a processor in EU, regardless of whether the processing takes place in EU or not. 

However, when one harmonized set of regulations meets Blockchain, a decentralized and self-maintaining technology, how much can an individual be reassured that they can still maintain control over their personal data as promised under the GDPR?

Click here to read the article.

Filed Under: News

Give Me My Personal Data!

novembre 22, 2017 by OLN Marketing

1. What is a Data Access Request (“DAR”)

In the course of business dealings, your company may have collected, held, processed or used the personal data of employees or other individuals. These people are entitled to request your company to supply them with a copy of the personal data held (the “requestor”). This is called a data access request (“DAR”)  and is a core right contained in the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (“Ordinance”).

2. Complying with a DAR

a. When your company receives a DAR, it should:

(i) ascertain the identity of the requestor;

(ii) assess whether it holds the relevant personal data; and

(iii) respond within the statutory time limit.

Personal Data?

b. A requestor is not entitled under a DAR to access data which is not personal data or personal data not belonging to him. To constitute personal data of an individual, the data must firstly relate directly or indirectly to the individual. Secondly, it must be possible from such data to directly or indirectly determine the identity of the individual.

For example, in a performance appraisal report where the appraising officer states his opinion about the aptitude and performance of the appraisee, such opinion will constitute the personal data of the appraisee. On the contrary, recorded opinion about the performance of a property management company expressed by an owner during an owners’ meeting will generally not constitute the personal data of that owner.

Holding relevant Personal Data?

c. If your company holds the relevant personal data, it should supply a copy of the requested data in an intelligible form and within 40 calendar days after receiving the

DAR, unless specific exemption applies.  If the Privacy Commissioner concludes that there is a breach of the Ordinance after investigation, he may serve an enforcement notice on the data user concerned directing it take steps to remedy the situation and where appropriate, to prevent any recurrence. Non-compliance of an enforcement notice is an offence which may result in a fine and imprisonment.

d. If your company does not hold the requested data, it is still required to inform the requestor in writing within the 40-day time limit that it does not hold the data.

e. If your company has already destroyed the requested data it is required to inform the requestor that it no longer holds the data. To avoid any suspicion of bad faith, your company may explain the reason for destroying the data to the requestor.

Should you provide “All personal data”?

f. Where the description of the requested data is too generic, especially where there have been extensive dealings between your company and the requestor during which a large amount of personal data has been generated, your company should seek clarification from the requestor . If the requestor fails to supply the information reasonably requested for locating the requested data, your company is entitled to refuse to comply with the DAR.

g. Having said that, your company may not simply rely on the fact that the request is made in too broad or generic terms to refuse to comply with a DAR. If you are aware of and can reasonably locate the requested data without any further specification from the requestor, the data user should comply with the DAR.

3. Charge for Complying with a DAR

a. Your company may impose a fee for complying with a DAR which should not be excessive, and should not charge a fee on a commercial basis. It should clearly inform the requestor what fee, if any, will be charged as soon as possible and in any event not later than 40 days after receiving the DAR.

b. Fees that will be considered excessive or not directly related to and necessary for the compliance of a DAR could include fees that exceed the cost of compliance, e.g. costs of seeking legal advice in relation to the Ordinance or inclusion or your company’s administrative or office overheads.

The Commissioner’s office has provided examples on fees that may be charged for complying with a DAR in its Guidance Note.  Your company may charge the direct costs attributable to the time spent by its staff and the actual out-of-pocket expenses for locating, retrieving and reproducing the requested data for complying with a DAR. For example, if a clerical assistant has spent five hours on retrieving and photocopying the requested data in the course of handling a DAR, the calculation of the labour costs incurred is the hourly rate of his remuneration (including salary and fringe benefits) multiplied by five.  Your company may charge for the labour cost attributable to the time spent on extracting or editing the requested data, provided that such tasks are directly related to and necessary for compliance with the DAR.

4. Refusing to Comply with a DAR

a. Your company should refuse to comply with a DAR if:-

i. it is not supplied with sufficient information to identify the requestor;

ii. it cannot comply with the request without disclosing the personal data of a third party; or

iii. where compliance with the request is prohibited under the Ordinance or any other regulation.

b. Your company may refuse to comply with a DAR if the request is not made in writing using either the Chinese or English language.

c. Your company is obliged to give written notice and reasons for refusal to the requestor within 40 days from receiving the DAR and is also required to keep a log entry containing the particulars of the reasons for the refusal of the DAR for four years.

Filed Under: News

EU General Data of Protection Regulation (“GDPR”)

novembre 22, 2017 by OLN Marketing

Why should an EU regulation, which only becomes applicable on 25th May 2018 have any relevance in Hong Kong today?

The answer is because the GDPR has a global footprint and so, if you already have a company which is registered within the EU or intend to have one incorporated before 25th May 2018, then the GDPR will apply.  The GDPR will also apply to organisations that: (i) do not physically process data in EU but are ‘established’ (i.e. exercise a real and effective activity) in EU, or (ii) do online businesses with representatives in EU countries.  If you have customers who are EU citizens, you will have to comply with GDPR too.

Some legislation provides a “grace period” for implementation, but that does not apply to the GDPR. Besides, GDPR is a regulation, not a directive, it has binding legal force and therefore by 25th May next year, every relevant company must have in place a fully thought through protective environment and protocol for the collection, handling and storage of personnel data.  This includes defining access permission, passwords and data encryption.

Most importantly is the requirement that all unencrypted data breaches must be reported to the relevant national data protection authority (Supervisory Authority) within 72 hours, if not, draconin sanctions are applicable and we are told they will be enforced. This reminds us that there is a real need for every company, especially a company which has a European footprint, to have in place proper and detailed protocols to deal with data breaches and cyber-attacks. Billions of dollars are already lost each year through email fraud and now there is an ever expanding threat of cyber-attack on data, whether through malware, ransome ware or the like.

So, does your company yet have in place plans and protocols that can prevent or reduce the risk of any such cyber-attack?  Has that yet been considered, because after an attack has taken place, it will be too late?

Typically, there should not only be an initial compliance plan to monitor the risk of any such attack, but there then needs to be an instant response plan. From a legal point of view, there will also be the questions of whether law enforcement agencies are required to investigate and prosecute, so when should the incidents be reported, how should the reporting be performed, what evidence should be collected and how should that evidence be collected? Part of this process will be the required communication response to reduce reputation risk. The World is becoming more and more international and so there is a greater threat to business through an increasing reliance on e-commerce and continuity in cyber space.

OLN in Hong Kong and through its international network of Law Firms can assist in this area. Should you want more information, please do not hesitate to contact Stephen Chan at stephen.chan@oln-law.com.

Filed Under: News

OLN listed in ALB Magazine

novembre 17, 2017 by OLN Marketing

We are proud to announce Oldham, Li and Nie were listed in ALB’s magazine and were ranked 10th place for 2017’s list of Hong Kong Law Firms. 

Filed Under: News

HK firm OLN marks 30 years

novembre 10, 2017 by OLN Marketing

Hong Kong firm Oldham, Li & Nie (OLN) celebrates its 30th anniversary this month. John Kang talks to founding partner Gordon Oldham about his firm’s biggest growth, achievements and challenges in the past three decades.

ALB: What have been some of the most significant achievements for Oldham, Li & Nie?
Oldham: From my point of view, our most important achievement is reaching the point where we are now able to attract high calibre partners and associates to help grow the firm and widen our business base. The light bulb moment came when we realised that to grow, we had to upgrade the skills of our people. They say A-Grade people hire up, B-Grade people hire C-Grade people and C-Grade people don’t hire at all! We put this into practice and have attracted local and international talent who felt being a small cog in a big wheel, undertaking the 16-hour days, at large law firms wasn’t for them. Creating opportunities and an environment for capable people who want to shine in their own right has been very important to our business strategy.

ALB: In which practice areas are you seeing the biggest growth, and what has been driving it?
Oldham: We are mostly a business-centric firm and, of course, the key to such is a deep knowledge of accounting and finance. Being Hong Kong based, a lot of our work involves overseas and cross-border business transactions. Because of this, we created a tax department where our partners and associates are dual-qualified in both law and accounting. Indeed, tax and business advisory as well as our digital business group are driven by our focus on business related matters. Although, curiously enough we are also seeing continued growth in our matrimonial department given the financial implications of divorcing!

Needless to say, the untiring ability of tax authorities around the world to make tax more and more complicated has increased the need for familiarity with international tax regimes. Furthermore, the increase in business transactions undertaken digitally has dictated that we seize opportunities ahead of the curve. The advent of Bitcoin, ICOs and other digital exotica means we have to be in a constant learning mode and anticipate what is coming next.

ALB: What were some of the biggest challenges for OLN?
Oldham: The biggest challenge for most businesses is the transition from an entrepreneur-led enterprise to a fully-fledged business. OLN has brought in human resources managers who introduce skill sets – people managing – that lawyers aren’t necessarily always gifted with! In addition, having someone acting as the CEO, dedicated to the development of the firm as a business, has been hugely significant for us. It is surprising the number of firms that believe they can grow without the specific skill sets that one finds in a business development manager, human resources manager and CEO.

ALB: How has the Hong Kong legal market evolved in the past three decades, and how did OLN adapt?
Oldham: In common with business in general, the internet has democratized the Hong Kong legal market and taken away a lot of the issues that was previously associated with it.  

We adopted a long time ago, not necessarily refined but certainly applicable mantra “Practical Legal Solutions – On Time – No Excuses”. The emphasis has always been on providing practical solutions that understand and address the clients’ needs. This practical approach arose from actually listening and adapting to our clients’ requirements!  


ALB: What’s next for OLN? What are you most optimistic and not optimistic about?
Oldham: What I am optimistic and excited about is our ability to thrive and grow. We will continue to pursue the OLN business strategy of establishing business groups that cater for companies involved in both local and international business and providing these clients with tailored, practical and above all results oriented business solutions.

What I’m not optimistic about is that dispute resolution in Hong Kong seems to be getting slower and slower. Our Judiciary are amongst the finest in the world yet the support that they seem to be getting from the underlying government authorities seems to be sadly lacking. One of Hong Kong’s greatest claims is its adherence to the rule of law and the way that justice is dispensed within a timely and relevant manner. However it’s now embarrassing to say to a client that notwithstanding the fact that they have all of the merits of the case, it may be two or three years before it comes to a trial. It’s not just a question of increasing the number of judges, it’s giving judges more administrative support. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Filed Under: News

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 46
  • Page 47
  • Page 48
  • Page 49
  • Page 50
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 53
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

This website uses cookies to optimise your experience and to collect information to customise content. By closing this banner, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to the use of cookies. Please read the cookies section of our Privacy Policy to learn more. Learn more

Footer

OLN logo

Suite 503, 5/F, St George's Building
2 Ice House Street, Central
Hong Kong

Tel. +852 2868 0696 | Email us
À propos Notre equipe Nos bureaux OLN IP Services Politique de confidentialité
Domaines de pratique Actualités Carrières OLN Online
À propos Practice Areas Notre equipe Actualités Nos bureaux
Carrières OLN IP Services OLN Online Politique de confidentialité
linkedin twitter facebook
OLN logo

© 2025 Oldham, Li & Nie. All Rights Reserved.

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}
Contactez-nous

Veuillez partager les détails de votre message ici. Nous vous contacterons sous peu.

    x