近日，成立160年的香港律师事务所孖士打律师行正式宣布结束与Mayer Brown自2008年以来的合并关系，并恢复其原英文名称Johnson Stokes & Master (“JSM”)。
据悉，孖士打管理委员会将由首席合伙人董光显律师领导，目前共拥有120多名律师，其中包括40名合伙人。该所在北京和上海均设有代表处，并在北京设有知识产权代理机构。
董律师在一份新闻稿中表示：“从战略层面而言，作为一家卓越的香港律师事务所，要发挥我们的业务能力及专长，为促进香港担任中国内地与全球市场的‘超级联系人’角色而着重发展相对应的业务能力。我们超过三分之一的香港律师拥有国际上主要司法管辖区的双重执业资格，对应用包括‘一带一路’倡议国家在内的全球最具活力市场的相关法律，均具有丰富的经验及深刻的理解”。
未来，孖士打将继续发挥其在银行及金融、房地产及建筑等行业的传统优势，并进一步精进该所在网络安全、环境社会和管治（ESG）、保险、私募资本及科技等高增长行业及相关服务领域的能力。
JSM reborn as Mayer Brown HK split comes through
Johnson Stokes & Master (JSM), one of Hong Kong's oldest law firms, has announced its return as a leading independent firm in the region following a previously announced separation from Mayer Brown.
The 160-year-old Hong Kong partnership has received approval from The Law Society of Hong Kong to revert to its legacy name following Mayer Brown’s announcement of its plans to separate from its current Hong Kong operations. However, JSM will temporarily remain in association with Mayer Brown Hong Kong during a transition period.
During this temporary association, JSM and Mayer Brown Hong Kong will treat themselves as one firm for the purpose of professional rules of conduct relating to confidentiality and conflicts of interest, according to the firm's statement.
JSM's new management committee is led by senior partner Terence Tung, alongside commercial managing partner Hannah Ha, dispute resolution managing partner Geoffrey Chan, and real estate managing partner Keith Cheung.
"Our vision is to support our clients to capitalise on an exciting and unique range of local and global opportunities," Tung said in a statement.
With over 120 lawyers, including 40 partners, JSM aims to focus on sectors critical to Hong Kong's role as a "super-connector" between mainland China and global markets. The firm will maintain Mayer Brown’s representative offices in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as an intellectual property agency office in Beijing.
JSM's strategy involves leveraging its experience in high-growth sectors such as cybersecurity, ESG, insurance, private capital, and technology, while maintaining its traditional strengths in banking, finance, real estate, and construction.
Mayer Brown, meanwhile, will have about 10 partners in Hong Kong led by capital markets partner Thomas Kollar. It currently also has offices in Singapore and Tokyo. Media reports have suggested the firm’s Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City branches will become a part of JSM following the split.
