Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Alex Chung, Withers

Date: 19 Jul 2023

Citywealth

This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Alex Chung, US Tax Partner at Withers, Hong Kong. Written by Barbara Brudenell-Bruce

Tell Citywealth readers about your role.

I am a US tax partner at Withers based in Hong Kong. As a Hong Kong/US dual qualified private client and tax lawyer, I specialize in trust and estate planning, US taxation and cross-border probate matters. I provide “one-stop” Hong Kong/US legal and tax advice to my clients (whether high-net-worth individuals or personal representatives of sizeable estates) with Hong Kong and US connections.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I always start my work day by organizing and prioritizing my tasks on my calendar. Usually, I have one or two scheduled calls or virtual meetings with my US-based clients in the early morning (due to time zone difference!), and one or two in-person meetings with Hong Kong-based clients in the afternoon. The rest of my time is usually spent on working with my associates and trainees on written documents such as wills, trusts and Hong Kong law or US tax advice. Of course, internal training sessions, catch-up chats with my team members and business development meetings with potential clients and intermediaries also take up quite a bit of my time during the day.

Tell us about some interesting client instructions.

Recently, I have had an opportunity to assist a client with providing expert evidence on Hong Kong legal issues relating to statutory trusts for minors to a probate court in the United States, hoping to achieve certain US income tax efficiency for the deceased’s estate while ensuring that the beneficiaries’ interests are adequately protected.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?

One of my major practice areas is cross-border probate matters. Helping clients get through tough times such as the loss of a family member is often the most challenging part of the probate work, although probate and tax related issues are not very straightforward to deal with either! Probate lawyers do need both technical expertise and emotional intelligence.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

I made partner at Withers in 2023, about 6+ years after I was admitted as a Hong Kong solicitor and a New York attorney.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?

Integrity. Vision. Confidence. Respect. Resilience – these are all very important attributes of a good leader. In my view, good leaders should focus on collective results rather than individual achievements and successes – this is particularly true for leaders who work in big organizations!

Who do you most admire and why?

My parents and all my mentors – they are always my role models and helped shape me into the person I am today.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?

I travelled to Bangkok for fun after the Hong Kong border reopened earlier this year.

If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?

Possibly a Chinese calligrapher. I have been practising this for 20+ years. If I weren’t a lawyer, I might be teaching calligraphy classes and holding calligraphy exhibitions.

How do you relax after a long day?

Listening to pop music, and sometimes going to karaoke!  Sometimes a glass of wine or champagne.

You can view Alex’s profile on the Leaders List here.