Charles Russell Speechlys has announced the hire of Vanessa Duff as a partner within the firm’s family team. Vanessa joins the Firm’s Hong Kong office from Withers Hong Kong and her appointment aligns and supports the firm’s private capital focus in the region.
Vanessa brings with her over 15 years of experience advising high net worth individuals, professionals, and entrepreneurs on all aspects of family law. This encompasses issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship including divorce, financial arrangements, and separation. As many of Vanessa’s clients are expatriates, her expertise lies in dealing with cases which have an international perspective, and she has a particular interest in cases involving Hong Kong-European jurisdictional disputes.
Over the years, Vanessa has built up an extensive international network and an abundance of connections with specialist foreign lawyers and therefore can confidently manage multi-country cases.
Much of Vanessa’s work involves advising on and drafting prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and separation agreements. This is a nuanced area of her practice which often requires a considered approach and an understanding of the interrelation with European marital regimes and marriage contracts. Vanessa is also known for her ability to resolve cases with complex financial issues, and those involving inherited wealth and family businesses.
In addition, a large part of Vanessa’s practice includes advising clients in connection with disputes involving children. This relates to custody issues, care and control and access, and child maintenance. Vanessa also deals with international relocation cases and High Court cases of child abduction. Where appropriate, Vanessa is dedicated to resolving disputes outside of the Court and is a keen advocate of mediation and private FDRs.
Simon Green, partner and head of the Hong Kong office comments: 'Vanessa’s appointment demonstrates that we are committed to family work in Hong Kong and that this type of work is an important part of our Private Wealth offering in Asia. Vanessa gives us greater strength in depth and the ability to work for clients in the wider international market as well as supporting clients in Hong Kong.'
Vanessa Duff, partner, adds: 'I am delighted to be joining Charles Russell Speechlys and working alongside leading lawyers across our international offices. The Firm is a global market leader in private wealth, and I am excited to continue to grow the family-law practice in Hong Kong and build on the Firm's stellar reputation in this field.'
Vanessa’s appointment closely follows the arrival of Simon Le Wita who joined the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice in Paris last month. Vanessa is admitted to practise in England & Wales and Hong Kong and is a native English and French speaker.
