Deacons (law firm)

Deacons is Hong Kong's oldest and largest law firm.[1] Having integrated into Hong Kong's society for more than 165 years, it benefits from the long-established relationships with Hong Kong’s business community, including the HKSAR Government, local conglomerates such as Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Tsui Wah Holdings Limited and Kerry Logistics Network Limited,[2] and multinational corporation such as McDonald’s Corp., Samsung and Yahoo Inc!.[3] The firm has also international connections with other independent law firms around the world through its membership of international networks of independent law firms such as Lex Mundi, Interlex, World Services Group and Employment Law Alliance.

Deacons
HeadquartersHong Kong
No. of offices4 worldwide
No. of attorneysOver 300
No. of employeesAround 700
Major practice areasFull service
Date founded1851 (1851)
FounderWilliam Bridges
Company typePartnership
Websitewww.deacons.com.hk

The firm is based in Hong Kong and has offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.[4] [5][6] In Hong Kong and Mainland, Deacons provides legal services to a wide range of clients, mainly from medium to large-scale businesses. The firm previously had offices in the United States, Australia, Japan, [7] Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan,[8] Vietnam and Jakarta[9] in the form of affiliation or joint name. It has decided to remain independent where the Hong Kong office retains its absolute management of its entire business and staff administration.

Private elevators to Deacons' Hong Kong office at Alexandra House, Central
Inside the Alexandra House, Central

Until now, it has an office of 6 entire floors in Alexandra House in Central. The office is equipped with internal staircases across different floors and two private elevators exclusively for the use of Deacons. The firm also extends its office to Sheung Wan.

History

The firm is named for the English solicitor Victor Deacon, who in 1880 joined the legal practice established by William Thomas Bridges in 1851 in Hong Kong.[10] Bridges was the second barrister to commence practice in Hong Kong.

Within two years, Victor Deacon was made a partner and within 20 years, under his own name, he had firmly established Deacons as one of the colony's leading law firms, a position it has retained to this day. In 1860, with offices on Queen's Road, the firm was based close to the Supreme Court.

Deacons grew steadily throughout the 20th century, flourishing during Hong Kong's post-war boom. By the mid-1970s, Deacons was a busy, full-service business law firm and a highly respected name in commercial circles throughout Asia. In 1910, the larger firm required bigger office space and Deacons moved to Ice House Street. Since 1985, it has resided in Alexandra House, progressively taking more floor space to accommodate the expanding team of lawyers. Until now, it has an office of 6 floors in Alexandra House. It also has an office in Sheung Wan.

In 1986, Deacons opened an initial presence in the People's Republic of China in Beijing. In 2002, Deacons established a representative office in Beijing and was one of the first Hong Kong law firms to be granted a licence to open a second office in the PRC. In 2005, Deacons became the first firm to be awarded a third foreign law firm licence in mainland China.

In 2016, Deacons celebrates 165 years in Hong Kong.[11]

Practice Areas

Deacons is listed in The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.[12][13] It is globally ranked to be a first-tier law firm, particularly in Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Investment Funds, and Insurance services.[14]

It has 15 key service areas, including:-[15]

Within these areas, it has over 80 specializations in view of its substantial manpower,[16] such as International Arbitration, Entertainment & Media and Japan Services.[17][18]

Recognition

Deacons has been awarded for its service, corporate social responsibility (CSR), employee benefits, working environment and graduate recruitment over decades. A selection of the recent three years' awards includes:-[19]

ASIAN MENA Firm of the Year 2016

2017
  • IFLR "Private Equity Deal of the Year 2017"
  • IFLR "Hong Kong Firm of the Year 2017"
  • Managing IP "Hong Kong Firm of the Year 2017"
  • Chinese Business Law Awards "Construction & Infrastructure Firm of the Year 2017"
  • Chinese Business Law Awards "Hong Kong Firm of the Year 2017"
  • The Asia Legal Award "M&A Deal of the Year: Private Equity & Venture Capital 2017"
  • Human Resources Asia "Best Graduate Recruitment Programme 2017"
Chambers Asia-Pacific Winner 2016

2016
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific “Hong Kong Law Firm of the Year 2016”
  • ASIAN MENA "Firm of the Year 2016"
  • IFLR "Hong Kong Firm of the Year 2016"
  • Euromoney Asia "Best National Firm for Talent Management 2016"
  • Asian Legal Business “Employer of Choice 2016”
  • Asian Legal Business "Annual CSR List Awardee 2016"
  • HFM Asia Hedge Fund Services Award "Best Onshore Law Firm 2016"
International Financial Law Review Asia Awards Winner 2016

2015
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific “Hong Kong Law Firm of the Year 2015”
  • China Law & Practice’s “Hong Kong Firm of the Year 2015”
  • ASIAN MENA Counsel "Most Responsive Domestic Law Firm of the Year 2015"
  • IFLR "Hong Kong Firm of the Year 2015"
  • Asian Legal Business “Employer of Choice 2015”
  • Asian Legal Business "Citizenship Law Firm of the Year 2015"
  • The Asian Lawyer

References
  1. England, Vaudine (1998). The Quest of Noel Croucher: Hong Kong's Quiet Philanthropist. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. pp. 195–207. ISBN 9622094732.
  2. "China – Intellectual Property (International Firms) Lawyers & Law Firms – Asia-Pacific – Chambers and Partners". www.chambersandpartners.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  3. Wong, Douglas. "Hong Kong Law Firm Deacons Plans Independent Expansion in China". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Sumitra, Giri. "Deacons". World Attorney Directory. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  6. "Top law firm protects its information with confidence with Symantec Solutions". www.symantec.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  7. "Deacons adopts new name in Pacific". The Lawyer. 1995.
  8. "Deacons". International Law Office. Globe Business Media Group. 2017.
  9. "Deacons cuts ties with US partner". newspaper. 2000 – via SCMP.
  10. Deacons website: "About Us Archived 2011-10-03 at the Wayback Machine"
  11. "Our Heritage - Deacons". www.deacons.com.hk. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  12. "Default Recommended Firms". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
  13. "Deacons – Hong Kong – Law Firm Profile - Chambers Global 2015 – Chambers and Partners". www.chambersandpartners.com. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  14. "The Legal 500 > Deacons > Hong Kong, > What we say". www.legal500.com. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. "Our Services - Deacons". Deacons. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  16. "Local and International Business, Finance and Commercial Law in Hong Kong, Deacons". HG Legal Resources. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  17. "Deacons names new head of Japan services | Asian Legal Business". www.legalbusinessonline.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  18. "Media & Entertainment - Deacons". www.deacons.com.hk. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  19. http://www.esxinc.com, Lex Mundi: The World's Leading Network of Independent Law Firms. ESX Inc. "Lex Mundi - Lex Mundi: The World's Leading Law Firm Network". www.lexmundi.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
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