Maurice WM Lee Solicitors
- HKGCC Membership No. :
- HKM0664
Legal Perspectives
The Rule of Law in Hong Kong is the keystone of our success as an international business and financial hub, says Stephen Wong, Partner of Maurice WM Lee Solicitors. As Hong Kong has evolved, so too have its laws, as it adapts to the changing social and economic environment, along with the legal sector.
To ensure its staff are well equipped to serve its clients, Wong explained that Maurice WM Lee Solicitors puts a great deal of emphasis on training its employees. The senior partner says everyone is equal and staff perform according to their own talents.
“My senior partner always says that he is as equal as a tea lady,” he said. “In this firm, we promote the value of openness and career development.”
Junior staff are encouraged to be proud that they are working in the legal profession, and try to the best of their abilities, to provide quality service. But in a constantly changing field where the devil really is in the details, training plays a crucial role in upholding quality service.
“We have to accept that mistakes will be made in the early stage of an employee’s career, but the challenge is to make sure they learn from those mistakes,” Wong said. “This encourages staff to take on responsibility and to grow in confidence.”
Maurice Lee, founder of Maurice WM Lee Solicitors, set up the company with two partners in 2007, and has always adopted the philosophy of being hands on, even with small cases.
“This is part of our client-relationship building philosophy. Clients may give you a small case the first time you meet, and then more challenging cases in future after trust is gained,” he explained. “This approach is also a very good chance for junior staff to gain experience and practice under our wing.”
Core skills
Good academic results, good communication skills and the willingness to dedicate themselves to their work are what Wong calls essential qualities for being a lawyer. Good communication skills are very important in the legal field as lawyers rely on the information to build their case. A friendly and close client-lawyer relation can help facilitate the process.
“I usually speak more than the client in the first meeting, then after gaining their trust they reveal the full story,” he said.
Broader gamut
In today’s business environment, companies have to be extremely alert about all aspects of their operations, products, services and how the public view and use them. As a result, to avoid unwittingly violating the law, business owners tend to err on the side of caution and seek legal advice if they run into any uncertainty. Increasingly, more companies are hiring solicitors at the planning stage to steer them clear of potential problems.
Constantly expanding business transactions between Hong Kong and the Mainland is also driving demand for legal advice, particularly among lawyers with experience working in China’s legal sector.
“Nowadays, directors have to exercise their decision and use legal advice to guide them. Of course they have to be well-informed about the legal implications, but ultimately they must make the final decision,” he said.
Under CEPA, lawyers in China and Hong Kong can collaborate on complex cases. Lawyers from Hong Kong, the Mainland and other countries can work together and share their experience to give advice from different perspectives. Wong believes close liaison between lawyers from different regions enhances all law firms’ knowledge and expertise, so he does not see it as competition.
To promote its brand and to provide practical guidance to the public, Maurice WM Lee Solicitors has partnered with Commercial Radio for more than three years to produce a radio show covering common problems and cases.
Company: Maurice WM Lee Solicitors
HKGCC Membership No. HKM0664
Website: http://www.wmleehk.com
Contact: 2537 5833
