“For children matters, I would always puts Joanne on the list. She is always concerned for the client and their children. She’s practical and direct and will not waste your time or money.”
Biography
Joanne leads the Family Practice with extensive experience in all aspects of Hong Kong family law. She is known for her pragmatic and empathetic approach to dispute resolution and her ability to manage complex, high-stakes cases with clarity and professionalism. Her practice covers the full spectrum of family law matters, including divorce, cohabitation, child custody, and financial relief, with a particular emphasis on litigation and strategic settlements.
Joanne regularly advises local and international clients, including high-net-worth individuals and expatriates, on cross-border family issues. Her work often involves multi-jurisdictional disputes, intricate financial arrangements, and cases requiring sensitive handling of cultural and emotional dynamics.
A significant part of Joanne’s practice focuses on children’s arrangements. She has broad experience in child custody, care and control, and access disputes, including applications for relocation, child abduction under the Hague Convention, and wardship proceedings. Joanne is highly regarded for her ability to balance legal precision with an understanding of children’s developmental and emotional needs. Her work in this area reflects a firm commitment to the principle that a child’s best interests should remain the paramount consideration in every case.
Joanne is also a strong advocate of alternative dispute resolution. She is an HKMAAL-accredited Family Mediator and a qualified practitioner in the Hong Kong Collaborative Law Practice Group, where she serves as a committee member. Her expertise in mediation and collaborative law enables clients to resolve disputes efficiently while preserving relationships and protecting the wellbeing of children wherever possible.
Having been admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 2008, Joanne holds a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Hong Kong. Her practice has earned consistent recognition in prominent legal directories, including Doyles Guide (Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers, 2025), Asian Law Business, and Chambers & Partners Greater China, where she advanced from Band 3 to Band 2 within a year. These distinctions reflect her dedication to excellence, client care, and the advancement of family law practice in Hong Kong.
Biography
- High-conflict cross-border divorce proceedings. These matters often involve parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.
- Nuptial agreements and their enforceability in Hong Kong.
- Hague proceedings for the return of children to Hong Kong or elsewhere. These matters can also involve applications under domestic law for the return of the children to Hong Kong, as well as advising on wardship proceedings in Hong Kong.
- Custodial rights and care and access arrangements for children.
- Domestic abuse and other criminal matters.
- Instructed by the Director of Legal Aid advice on public wardship proceedings.
- Divorce proceedings on complex financial matters surrounding advance inheritance distributions and the mechanisms available to shield assets from the matrimonial pool.
Biography
In partnership with Equal Justice ‘ask a lawyer’ session – Child Law
Biography
- Recommended as the Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer by Doyle’s Guide Hong Kong since 2021
- Recognised as a band 2 leading practitioner by the Chambers & partners Greater China since 2018
- Recognised as key lawyer in Legal 500 Aisa Pacific
- Individual Silver Award in The Law Society of Hong Kong Pro Bono and Community Service Awards (2022-2016).
- Recognised as a Leading Family & Divorce Law Firm – Hong Kong, 2023 by Doyle’s Guide
- Awarded Family and Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year 2022 by Asian Legal Business.
- Listed as a recommended law firm in Doyles Guide’s Leading Family & Divorce Hong Kong 2021.
- Awarded Hong Kong Family and Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year in 2020 by Asian Legal Business.
Biography
- The Law Society of Hong Kong
- Accredited Mediator of Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association Limited
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
- Committee Member of the Hong Kong Family Law Association
- Member of Resolution
- Member of the Hong Kong Collaborative Law Practice Group (Qualified Practitioner)
- Qualified Parenting Coordinator (PC)
Biography
Insights
Legal Recognition of Same‑Sex Parenthood in Hong Kong: Adoption, Surrogacy, and RIVF Rights Explained
Joanne Brown
12 February 2026
Insights
The law and a deceased person’s remains, what happens when there is a dispute?
Joanne Brown
27 January 2026
Insights
Hong Kong’s new Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance takes effect in 2026
Joanne Brown
22 January 2026
Insights
Cohabitation in Hong Kong: A Brief Comparison of Comparing the Legal Landscape of Married and Unmarried Couples in 2025
Joanne Brown
14 November 2025
Insights
Understanding Costs in Children’s Proceedings – A Recent Judgment
Joanne Brown
03 June 2025
Insights
Tanner De Witt Partners Secured Return of Child in Complex Cross-Border Abduction Case Across Hague and Non-Hague Signatories
Joanne Brown
13 May 2025
Insights
Paws for Thought: Pet-Nups
Joanne Brown
28 August 2024
Insights
The Case for Recusal: A Summary on WSSA v SYH [2024] HKCA 735
Joanne Brown
23 August 2024
Insights
Legal Update: Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance (Cap. 650) to come into effect in January 2026
Joanne Brown
01 August 2024
Insights
Marriage Equality in Hong Kong: Progress and Next Steps
Joanne Brown
28 June 2024
Insights
Legal Update: Standish v Standish [2024] EWCA Civ 567
Joanne Brown
07 June 2024
Insights
The Use of Mediation in International Child Abduction Cases
Joanne Brown
26 April 2024
Insights
Considering the right to family within the context of multiple sibling adoption
Joanne Brown
08 April 2024
Insights
Question: I am going through a separation or divorce. Can I travel with my children overseas?
Joanne Brown
22 January 2024
Insights
Court of Final Appeal: Government must provide alternative means of recognising same-sex partnership
Joanne Brown
05 September 2023
Insights
Forced marriages and the law of invalid consent recently examined in RM v AY 2023 HKCU 1398
Joanne Brown
23 May 2023
Insights
Protecting Minors – Wards of the Court: Who, what, when and why?
Joanne Brown
08 May 2023
Insights
What happens to my jewellery in a divorce? A simple guide on how valuable personal items are distributed during a divorce proceeding
Joanne Brown
15 March 2023
Insights
Is a pre-nuptial agreement an act of love?
Joanne Brown
14 February 2023
Insights
Children Mental Health Awareness Week – Let’s Connect: Steps to minimise the impact of separation and divorce on a child
Joanne Brown
13 February 2023
Insights
“No-Fault Divorce” in England: should Hong Kong follow suit?
Joanne Brown
13 February 2023
Insights
Transgender appellants win appeal in Q, Tse Henry Edward v Commissioner of Registration 2023 HKCFA 4
Joanne Brown
09 February 2023
Insights
Substantial connection in jurisdictional matters – no separate test applied to parties without family in Hong Kong says the Court of Appeal in JQ v CLH CACV 350/2021
Joanne Brown
19 January 2023
Accolades/Testimonials
Chambers and Partners – Greater China Region 2026
“She is unfailingly pragmatic, very supportive of clients and very thoughtful.”
Chambers and Partners – Greater China Region 2026
“Joanne is clear in her focus and responds well to clients’ concerns.”
Chambers and Partners – Greater China 2025
“Joanne was very responsive and knowledgeable.”
Chambers and Partners – Greater China 2025
“Always enjoy working with Joanne Brown in mediation. She is supportive and thoughtful for clients at times when they can be struggling.”
Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China 2024
“Joanne is solution-oriented, so she doesn’t shy away from telling the truth. She is respected among solicitors.”
Chambers and Partners – Greater China 2023
“Empathetic, pragmatic and solution-focused.”
Chambers and Partners – Greater China 2022
“…excellent – she is focused on client needs and maintains a clear view of what can be achieved, she is a pragmatic negotiator in mediation.”
Chambers Asia 2021
*…exceptional in mediation. She behaves in an incredibly helpful way and really advances negotiations.’
Chambers and Partners – Asia Pacific 2020
