BIPPO Invited to Speak at SGLA Law Firm’s Family Wealth Public Lecture Series
Date : 18/05/2024
As the concepts of family offices and offshore trusts continue to gain prominence among high-net-worth individuals, BIPPO Family Office was honoured to be invited as a guest speaker at the “SGLA Shanghai Family Wealth Management Centre Public Lecture Series”, organised by SGLA Law Firm. Serving as the speaker for the fourth session, BIPPO’s representatives shared practical insights from an industry perspective, addressing common misconceptions and key reflections surrounding Hong Kong family offices and offshore trusts in the current market landscape.
With many first-generation entrepreneurs who established their businesses during China’s early reform era now approaching retirement, and the younger generation gradually taking the lead, a growing number of Chinese high-net-worth families are entering a critical phase of wealth succession. Against this backdrop, family offices have emerged rapidly, aiming to help Chinese entrepreneurs navigate the complex challenges of family, business, and legacy planning through professional services. However, discussions around what defines a family office and how trusts can be effectively localised in practice remain open and evolving within the industry.
The public lecture was hosted by Mr. Chen Chu, Senior Partner at SGLA Law Firm. Representing BIPPO Family Office, Ms. Elizabeth Zheng, Founder and Managing Director, and Ms. Wendy Lun, Associate Director, provided the audience — both in-person and online — with an overview of the development and emerging trends of family offices in both domestic and international contexts. They also offered an in-depth discussion on the functions and applications of offshore trusts, a common legal tool in family office practice, and shared BIPPO’s experience in collaborating with legal teams and successful case studies. BIPPO’s strategic partner, Mr. Morency Mak, Partner at IU, LAI & LI Solicitors & Notaries, a long-established Hong Kong law firm, also attended the session and joined the panel in exploring trust implementation under the common law framework.
During the session, participants raised a range of practical questions frequently encountered by mainland high-net-worth clients. The discussion revealed that Chinese entrepreneurs are increasingly engaging with and adopting family office services and offshore trust structures, while also exploring how to adapt these tools to local contexts. As the demand among Chinese high-net-worth families for wealth succession planning and risk isolation continues to grow, family office services and offshore trusts are expected to play an increasingly important role in entrepreneurs are increasingly engaging with and adopting family office services and offshore trust structures, while also exploring how to adapt these tools to local contexts. As the demand among Chinese high-net-worth families for wealth succession planning and risk isolation continues to grow, family office services and offshore trusts are expected to play an increasingly important role in private wealth management and risk diversification for Chinese clients.
Since 2023, the Hong Kong SAR Government has made significant efforts to support the development of the local family office industry. As a globally recognised financial and capital hub, and a leading centre for offshore wealth management, Hong Kong holds natural advantages in developing the family office sector. Its unique position as a strategic gateway linking Mainland China and international financial markets makes it an indispensable platform for serving Asian — and particularly Chinese — high-net-worth families.
BIPPO Family Office looks forward to continued dialogue and collaboration withindustry peers, leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic strengths to delivertailored,value-driven wealth and risk management solutionsthat meet the distinct needsof Chinese high-net-worth families—staying true to the firm’s philosophy of“Wealth for Happiness”.