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Adrian Au

Partner

Jurisdictions

  • Hong Kong (2016)
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Adrian is recognised as one of Hong Kong Business Review’s ‘Most Influential Lawyers Under 40’ (2024), a “Rising Star” by Asian Legal Business (ALB), and a “Recommended Family and Divorce Lawyer” in Doyle’s Guide. He advises on a broad range of family and matrimonial matters, including pre- and post-nuptial agreements, separation, divorce, financial applications, and child arrangements.

His clientele includes chairpersons of listed companies, second-generation family business owners, internationally experienced SME entrepreneurs, and high net-worth individuals in the PRC. Adrian has particular experience navigating complex cross-border disputes and financial structures, including pension schemes, share options, deferred bonus arrangements, multi-jurisdictional assets, and trust-related entitlements, as well as maintenance for spouses and children.

He frequently advises PRC clients with substantial assets in Hong Kong, the PRC and other jurisdictions, often involving jurisdictional challenges and financial disclosure issues. His practice also includes advising on children’s matters such as international relocation and custody arrangements.

In addition, Adrian has substantial experience in contentious probate matters, including challenges to the validity of wills (on grounds such as lack of mental capacity and fraud), applications to set aside grants of representation, and disputes relating to estate administration.

Many of Adrian’s cases involve complex legal issues requiring coordination with lawyers across multiple jurisdictions to achieve clients’ objectives. Before specialising in family law and contentious probate, he practised as a general civil litigator, and draws on that technical background in his current work.

Adrian, an alumnus of the University of Hong Kong and Manchester University, has completed the STEP Certificate in International Trust Management with distinction and is on track to attain full STEP membership.

  • Acted for clients engaged in litigation in multiple jurisdictions to secure the return of children to their habitual residence of Hong Kong
  • Defended clients against disclosure of key company documents containing trade secrets or sensitive information
  • Defended clients against inclusion of trust entitlements / dynastic wealth as part of matrimonial asset in financial proceedings
  • Acted for clients seeking and defending against spousal and interim maintenance claims
  • Advising clients on protection of dynastic wealth from potential divorce litigation
  • Secured injunctive relief for clients on the basis of domestic violence
  • Acted for client on the liquidation and dissolution of assets situated in multiple jurisdictions worth in excess of HK$100 million
  • Acted for client in challenging the validity of a Will involving estate in excess of HK$400 million
  • “Up and Coming” in Family/Matrimonial in Chambers and Partners 2026
  • Hong Kong’s “Recommended Family Lawyer” in Doyle’s Guide since 2025
  • Hong Kong Business Review “Most influential lawyers under 40”
  • Hong Kong’s “Family Law Rising Stars” in Doyle’s Guide 2022
  • The Law Society of Hong Kong 
  • The Hong Kong Family Law Association
  • STEP Affiliate
  • Hong Kong Collaborative Practice Group (HKCPG)
  • International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)
  • Mediation advocacy at the HKU Faculty of Law’s LLM programme
  • Cross-border Family Dispute Seminar hosted by

    Kingbridge Law Firm Guangzhou

  • Cross-border Family Office Private Seminar for MinMetals in Beijing

Accolades/Testimonials

“Adrian lives, eats, sleeps and breathes family law. As a lawyer, he’s very efficient and always on the job.”

Chambers and Partners – Greater China Region 2026

“Adrian absolutely puts his body on the line for his clients; he fights so hard for them. His client care is so professional and above and beyond.”

Chambers and Partners – Greater China Region 2026

“Adrian Au was very proactive, supportive and engaged on all queries. He had established relationships with the counter party’s solicitors and this helped resolve minor wording alterations. Adrian was also very supportive of his team.”

Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China 2024

“…Adrian Au is perhaps the most accessible and hardworking partner in Hong Kong. He is not stuck in the old ways of doing things nor does he assume. He fixes problems by working on them.”

Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China 2024

“…Adrian Au is professional and constructive in his approach to working with challenging situations.”

Legal 500 Asia Pacific – Greater China 2024

“Adrian specializes in family and matrimonial law, covering pre/post-nuptial agreements, divorce, financial applications, and child arrangements. His clientele ranges from business leaders to high net-worth individuals with international backgrounds. He excels in addressing challenging jurisdictional issues, intricate financial arrangements, private client/family matters like custodial/parental arrangements and international relocation. Adrian’s experience extends to advising PRC clients who have substantial assets in Hong Kong and in the PRC often involving jurisdictional issues, complex financial arrangements involving pension schemes, share options or deferred bonus payments schemes, assets across multiple jurisdictions and entitlements under a trust structure, and spousal and children maintenance.”

Hong Kong Business Journal – Hong Kong’s most influential lawyers under 40

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