Civil Celebrant

We offer civil celebrant services to couples who wish to marry in Hong Kong at a location of their choice.

Our civil celebrant, Michael Vidler, was appointed as a Civil Celebrant of Marriages in 2006 and has conducted numerous ceremonies both at our offices and at various locations in and around Hong Kong including, but not limited to, hotels, clubs and restaurants, former churches, beach lookouts, junk boats, private residence and private chapels.

Our scope of engagement generally includes:-

• Pre-wedding preparation – including taking declarations from the marrying parties, filing the Notice of Intention to Marriage and receiving the Certificate of Registrar of Marriages.
• Guidance on the ceremony – including the provision of a sample ceremony, sample vows as well as sample poems and readings for inclusion in the ceremony if requested.
• Conducting the wedding ceremony – to attend the venue of your ceremony, taking any necessary pre-ceremony declarations and officiating over the marriage ceremony.
• Filing the copy marriage certificate with the Marriage Registry and providing certified copies of the certificate, if requested.

We also have considerable experience assisting non-Hong Kong residents wishing to marry in Hong Kong, specifically in regards to the necessary procedures that are required if the couple wish to complete the filing process from abroad.

Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution

We assist individuals, organizations and business (small to medium size) with a variety of litigation and commercial problems. As litigation is a process that can be expensive and stressful, we aim to give practical professional advice to allow you or your business to continue as usual, doing what you do best without being unduly distracted by any disputes or claims. We are able to steer you through the litigation process from the important initial stages in preparation to representation until resolution. We have also advised clients on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods and, in particular, mediation as a means to resolve commercial disputes.

Clients we have advised are claimants and defendants at all levels of courts, from claims at Small Claims Tribunals to parties at District Court (up to 3 million) to High Court (3 million and upward) proceedings.

We are able to engage specialist barristers and other experts in providing you with timely and cost-effective legal services. We serve privately engaged and legally aided clients.

We undertake a wide range of civil litigation and dispute resolution covering:

• Contractual / commercial disputes
• Debt recovery
• Tort claims (including those against governmental and public bodies)
• Employment dispute
• Equal opportunities claims
• Personal Injuries
• Defamation and Privacy
• Professional negligence
• Disciplinary proceedings

Coroner’s Inquest

We are able to assist spouses and/or relatives of the deceased in all matters leading up to and including representation at a Coroner’s Inquest. This may involve liaising with police conducting the Death Investigation, the Coroner’s Officer and Court; reviewing and advising on the Death Investigation and Autopsy Reports and, if necessary, engaging medical or other experts to advise and give evidence at the Inquest. We also have experience in challenging determinations by the Coroner in inquest proceedings by way of judicial review.

Criminal

At Vidler & Co. we pride ourselves on our dedicated and bold defence of clients' rights and interests, regardless of the legal issues at stake. We deal with every aspect of an individual's involvement with the criminal justice system and handle cases heard at all levels of court from the Magistrates’ Courts up to the Court of Final Appeal, covering the full range of criminal offences.

Our criminal team is vastly experienced in dealing with the Hong Kong Police Force, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department and other HKSAR government bodies.

Aside from conducting our own in-house advocacy, we also have expertise in instructing external Counsel who we believe to be the best person for the job. We work closely with a number of non-governmental organisations, charities, as well as international organisations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHRC). We are also a listed legal provider with foreign consulates and multinational corporations.

Emergency Help for Detained Clients

We offer a 24-hour emergency service for detained clients. We can be contacted outside office hours on our emergency help line +852 9167 7091.

Cases

Cases we deal with include but are not limited to:

• Allegations of dishonesty from share manipulation, fraud, conspiracy to steal, theft, to minor acts of dishonesty such as shoplifting.
• Drug related offences from large scale trafficking to possession of small quantities of illegal drugs.
• Allegations of violence from homicide, armed robbery, and grievous bodily harm to minor assaults and fighting in a public place.
• Offences against property including arson and criminal damage.
• Public order offences including arrests arising from demonstrations.
• Sexual offences ranging from rape to indecent exposure and prostitution.
• Road traffic cases at all levels from road racing to contested speeding summonses.
• Computer and Internet crime allegations including 4-1-9 fraud to defending allegations of obtaining access to a computer with a view to dishonest gain for oneself and possession of child pornography.
• Immigration offences involving the use of forged travel documents and breach of conditions of stay.
• An array of other matters including prosecutions by summons by the Food and Hygiene Department and the Labour Department.

Defamation and Privacy

We represent both those whose reputations have been wronged and those seeking to avoid or reduce the risk of complaint. For claimants, we will seek an apology, compensation and recovery of all relevant costs. For (potential) defendants, we provide pre-publication review service and in circumstances of post publication complaint, we will aim to defuse the complaint and resolve it with as little adverse attention and cost as possible. If it is without merit, we will resolutely defend the action. We also provide advice on the protection of privacy rights, complaints to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and assistance with applying for Data Access Requests under the Personal Data Privacy Ordinance.

Cases we deal with include but are not limited to:

• Review on publications / speeches / press releases / newsletters
• Complaints to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner
• Data Access requests under the Personal Data Privacy Ordinance

Disciplinary Proceedings

We act for clients who are facing disciplinary proceedings in the course of their employment. We advise and assist clients in navigating particularities of institutional regulations, to ensure procedural regularity in the investigation process, and quality representation in writing and at hearings. We work closely with our employment and equal opportunities teams to facilitate our general mission to safeguard our clients’ contractual (and non-contractual) rights within the broader context of employment law.

Cases we have handled include, but are not limited to:

• Sanctions levied on pilots by airline companies;
• Complaints against academic staff by university institutions;
• Disciplinary proceedings against solicitors by the Law Society of Hong Kong

Employment

We offer our services to both employers and employees in relation to a whole range of employment law issues. We pride ourselves on providing thorough, strategic and practical advice. We are able to take on cases at all stages of the employment relationship, from drafting and reviewing of employment contracts to negotiating and advising on termination packages. We are also able to assist and advise clients involved in Labour Tribunal proceedings and provide representation at various court levels.

Cases we deal with include but are not limited to:

• Constructive dismissal
• Unfair and wrongful dismissal
• Negotiation of severance packages
• Disciplinary matters
• Maternity, paternity and parental rights
• Discrimination issues
• Breach of contract
• Contract drafting
• Redundancy
• Migrant and/or domestic worker issues

Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination

We see the great value of equal opportunities and believe that no one should be discriminated due to their gender, family status, disabilities, or race. Having extensive experience in advising clients on anti-discrimination law and procedures, we routinely represent clients whose individual rights have been violated through discriminatory acts by public and private bodies. We strive to attain justice for our clients through all avenues, including equal opportunities proceedings, tort claims, and judicial review. Client we assisted include senior staff of publicly funded / established institutions to vulnerable employees of small set ups.

We have extensive experience in claims lodged under the 4 anti-discrimination ordinances. Claims we have undertaken include, but are not limited to, the following:-

• Sexual harassment
• Pregnancy discrimination
• Disability discrimination
• Racial discrimination
• Family status discrimination
• Workplace discrimination
• Claim of victimization by whistle-blowers

Family, Matrimonial, and Children’s Rights

We handle cases covering a wide range of aspects in matrimonial and family law.

We recognise that a breakdown in a relationship and the issues arising can be the most difficult and stressful time, with particular difficulties when children are involved. We aim to provide clear and sympathetic advice in a friendly and accessible way to resolve children and financial disputes in a cost-effective and reasonable manner to the satisfaction of our clients. We serve clients from diverse backgrounds, expatriate and local, privately engaged and legally aided, and cases which are highly contentious or non-contentious.

Contact us for advice on, but not limited to, the following:-

• Divorce and separation
• Child custody, maintenance and international relocation
• Division of Asset and prevention of dissipation
• Domestic violence
• Cohabitation disputes
• Reconciliation and mediation
• Prenuptial agreement
• Child abduction
• Dispute on jurisdiction / Proceedings overseas
• Parent and Child relationship (Adoption / Wardship / Guardianship)

Immigration

We have extensive experience liaising, negotiating and litigating with the Immigration Department with regards to a wide range of immigration matters including visa applications and issues relating to entitlement for the Right of Abode, verification of eligibility for Permanent Hong Kong Identity Cards and confirmation of the Right to Land.

We are also experienced in handling contentious matters including Immigration Department investigations, prosecutions, removals, deportations, CAT claims and applications for refugee status.

Cases we deal with include but are not limited to:

• Prolonged visitor visas and multiple entry permits, for residents’ dependants falling outside the policy (e.g. parents not meeting the stipulated age requirements, gay and lesbian couples not determined as each other’s “spouse” by the Immigration Department and other genuine dependants);
• Employment visas for newly-founded companies, for those without a local work force, for not-for-profit organisations, for applicants not holding a first degree in a related subject and for applicants falling outside the policy by reason of their nationality;
• Right of abode applications by 2(d) of the Immigration Ordinance (7 years ordinary residence), where the applicant has been absent from Hong Kong for considerable or unexplained periods of time;
• Right of abode applications by 2(c) of the Immigration Ordinance (Chinese nationals born abroad), where Chinese Nationality is disputed; and
• Overstaying and breach of condition charges in the context of human trafficking

Visa services – contact us for advice on obtaining:-

• Employment visas
• Investment visas
• Employment/investment visas
• Capital Investment Entrant Scheme visas
• Dependant visas
• Prolonged Visitor visas
• Student visas
• Training visas
• Domestic Helper visas

Humans Rights and Equal Rights

At this firm, we firmly believe that the primary function of the law is to protect human dignity, so that individuals’ rights are fully respected regardless of their gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, ethnicity, immigration status and social position. Over the years, we have represented clients in landmark cases that led to changes in the law and strengthened the protection of human rights in Hong Kong. We routinely represent clients whose individual rights have been violated through discriminatory acts by public and private bodies / unconstitutional decisions by the authorities.

We have extensive experience in dealing cases regarding:

• Inequality in provision of public services, including policing services, on the basis of race
• Unlawful detention claims / false imprisonment against the Hong Kong government
• Bringing judicial review proceedings against government acts and policies in the context of immigration and prosecutions
• Challenging unequal statutory provisions on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identification through judicial review
• Challenging police actions with regard to public demonstrations
• Seeking recognition for equal rights for LGBTI persons, including right to marry

Administrative & Public Law, Judicial Review

We are one of the a few law firms in Hong Kong specializing in bringing challenges against the constitutionality of statutory provisions, government policies, acts and their decisions. We have engaged in landmark court challenges which has led to changes in Hong Kong in areas such as LGBTI rights, rights to demonstrate, rights to access to justice. We had also advised on and conducted a number of judicial reviews on environmental protection and town planning issues.

Our solicitors are dedicated to ensuring that each individual’s right to justice is protected without prejudice.

We have extensive experience in judicial reviews concerning and protecting:

• Equality before the law (Basic Law Article 25)
• Right to Privacy, Family and Home (without Distinction) (Hong Kong Bill of Rights Article 14)
• Right to Marriage (Basic Law Article 37)
• Freedom of Assembly (Basic Law Article 27)
• Procedural fairness and natural justice

Personal Injury

We advise and assist client who are victims of injuries (whether physical, mental, emotional or otherwise) in seeking compensation from wrongdoers and relevant parties.

In the unfortunate event of death, we can assist the victim’s family including their young children in seeking recourse under the Fatal Accidents Ordinance (Cap. 22). In cases where death seems suspicious, we can assist the victim’s family in accessing the Coroner's Court to inquire into the causes of death.

Cases we have handled include, but are not limited to, the following:-

• Workplace injuries
• Road traffic accidents
• Fatal accidents
• Medical negligence
• Domestic violence

Wills and Probate

We encourage all clients to make provision for their loved ones as early as possible by way of a Will. A Will ensures children and dependants are provided for, that there is clarity about the allocation of assets, and that one’s wishes are followed upon passing.

For clients who are appointed as executors in a Will, we can advise and assist them to obtain a grant of probate to distribute the estate. For clients whose loved ones have passed away without making a Will, we can advise and assist in the taking out of letters of administration to distribute of the estate.

In cases where a grant of representation has been taken out in a foreign jurisdiction in relation to assets held in Hong Kong, we can advise and assist with the re-sealing of the grant to enable distribution of the assets.

Contact us for advice on, but limited to, the following:-

• Making your Will
• Updating a will
• Passing on your business
• Making lifetime gifts
• Advising you as an executor and applying for Grant of Probate
• Advising you as a personal representative in taking out Letters of Administration
• Applying for the re-sealing of grants of representation issued in foreign jurisdictions
• Distributing the estate
• Locating beneficiaries
• Powers of Attorney
• Acting as executor in your Will and administering a testator’s affairs