Russell Bennett

24Mar2022

Hong Kong Wage Subsidy Update – Government announces new round of Employment Support Scheme subject to new rules 

The Hong Kong government announced on 18 March 2022 a new round of Employment Support Scheme (“ESS 2022”) in response to the “fifth-wave” of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, and intended to target the wage subsidies at small and medium enterprises affected by the…Read More

15Mar2022

2022 Joint Circular of SFC and HKMA on Virtual Asset Dealing and Advisory Service

The Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”) recently published a joint circular on intermediaries’ virtual asset-related activities on 28 January 2022 (the “Circular”). The Circular supersedes the earlier circular to intermediaries on distribution of virtual asset funds on 1…Read More

01Mar2022

Legal Update: Employment (Amendment) Bill 2022 introduces proposed amendments relating to sickness and vaccination requests

The Hong Kong Government had recently tightened the already severe social-distancing measures in view of the 5th wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong and made announcements of other policies it intended to implement in the future. Vaccine Pass Regulation The Government had made…Read More

01Mar2022

Legal Update: Proposed amendments to abolish MPF offsetting arrangement relating to statutory severance and long service payments

On 11 February 2022, the Government of the HKSAR published the Employment and Retirement Schemes Legislation (Offsetting Arrangement) (Amendment) Bill 2022 (the “Amendment Bill”) in the Gazette. The Amendment Bill was given the First Reading at the Legislative Council on 23 February 2022.  Currently, employers…Read More

25Feb2022

Recent District Court decision on whether ‘gweilo’ remark discriminatory

Introduction More than three years ago, we published an article on this site in respect of a District Court claim lodged by a British construction professional (the “Employee”) who alleged that his former employer (the “Employer”) had discriminated against him on the ground of his…Read More

15Feb2022

Important points for making discrimination claims highlighted in a recent District Court case by a former student against a local university

The background The Claimant in the case of C v The Chinese University of Hong Kong [2022] HKDC 77 is a former postgraduate student in the Chinese University (the “University”) who was suffering from depression and generalized anxiety disorder during her studies. The Claimant’s studies…Read More

13Jan2022

The Legal 500 2022 rankings are announced for Asia-Pacific

Tanner De Witt is proud to be recommended in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide 2022 for employment, restructuring and insolvency, dispute resolution and technology, media, telecommunications (TMT). Legal 500’s Hall of Fame includes Partners Ian De Witt and Robin Darton and Consultant Kim Boreham, while Pamela Mak and Russell Bennett are recognised as Leading Individuals. Sunny Hathiramani is listed as…Read More

12Jan2022

Results of 2022 Chambers Greater China Region Guide announced

Tanner De Witt is delighted once again to be recognised by Chambers & Partners in their inaugural 2022 Greater China Region Guide for each of its main practice areas. Please see full results and editorial commentary below. Corporate/M&A: Independent Hong Kong Firms (Band 2)Full ranking here. What the…Read More

03Dec2021

Tanner De Witt marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On 3 December, Tanner De Witt is observing the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day of recognition and awareness was established by the United Nations in 1992 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all facets of society. UNESCO…Read More

02Dec2021

Tanner De Witt wins 2021 Pro Bono Awards from Law Society of HK

For the first time in the firm’s history, multiple TDW lawyers have won Gold awards in The Law Society of Hong Kong’s Pro Bono Awards. Members of our Employment and Family teams played a key role in this year’s pro bono services, helping to ease…Read More

28Oct2021

Legal Update: The High Court confirms and restates the employer’s right to terminate under contractual provisions, and the limited effect on that right of the implied duty of trust and confidence in employment contracts

The Duty The implied duty of mutual trust and confidence (the “Duty”) was first recognised in the UK case of Malik v BCCI [1998] AC 20 and was later adopted by the Hong Kong Courts in Evelyn Semana Bachicha v Poon Shiu Man Henry (CACV…Read More