Effective solutions to the most complex employment disputes

We understand the need for sensitive and workable approaches to employment disputes, and have the experience to make them work.

Employment disputes can be very damaging to a business. The cost and distraction are bad enough. But even when they prove unfounded, discrimination claims and industrial disputes have the power to harm your reputation, lowering morale, making recruitment and retention harder and tarnishing a reputation established over many years. 

Fortunately, Deacons’ clients benefit from our team’s skill in resolving disputes swiftly and sensitively. Recognised by independent research for our “excellent service levels” and ability to understand our clients’ priorities, we regularly appear before Hong Kong’s courts and tribunals. Just as importantly, however, we work with our clients to prevent disputes before they arise.

Our highly rated team acts for clients that include international corporations, small and medium sized businesses on a comprehensive range of contentious employment matters, encompassing everything from major industrial disputes and tribunal claims, to disciplinary proceedings and complex terminations. We have considerable experience of providing advice and training on Hong Kong’s discrimination ordinances (including sex, disability, family status and race discrimination) and claims at the Equal Opportunities Commission. For example, we have recently:

• Advised on taking action against an employee suspected of serious misconduct, involving cross-border work across Hong Kong and the US;
• Assisted a Spanish statutory body with the dismissal of its Hong Kong chief representative and the defence of a claim for wrongful dismissal;
• Advised a large Hong Kong bank on a HK$30 million claim involving the withdrawal of an employment contract for a potential CEO;
• Provided workplace discrimination and harassment training for a number of US and Japanese firms.

If you’d like to discuss how we could help your company with resolving employment disputes, we would be delighted to hear from you.