Carmen Cheng is a Special Counsel of Karas So LLP. She is a private clients lawyer with a practice focused on family matters such as divorce and children issues, contentious and non-contentious trusts and estate matters and applications in respect of mentally incapacitated persons.
She advises on all aspects of family law including ancillary relief proceedings, custody and access of children, relocation and pre- and post-nuptial agreements.
She regularly assists clients on wealth and succession planning, including drafting Wills for high net-worth individuals with assets in multi-jurisdictions, probate applications for Hong Kong and overseas estates and establishment of trusts. She also has experience with family governance issues, having previously assisted families in the Asia-Pacific region in planning for their inter-generational wealth transfer during her time at a financial institution.
Carmen is nominated by peer practitioners in the Private Client Global Elite Directory in 2023 and 2024.
Carmen is also a Civil Celebrant.
Key Experience
Matrimonial and family disputes
Acted for a top Hong Kong tycoon in successfully opposing his former partner’s claim for increased financial support of their children, including obtaining a judgment for separate representation of the children owing to the conflict of financial interest with their mother.
Acted for a father in resisting financial claims brought by the mother including purchase of property accommodation for herself and the daughter, which resulted in the Court of Final Appeal confirming that the father was not required to purchase a property (despite judicial clarification that the Hong Kong courts have similar jurisdiction as in England to make such order).
Trusts and probate
Acted for an adult beneficiary in respect of his and his minor children’s interest in an estate valued over HK$800 million which involved the trustees’ application for variation of trusts under the Will and an application for an anonymity order to protect the children’s identities.
Acted for a bank trustee acting as administrator pendente lite in a hotly contested and long-drawn probate dispute.
Mental incapacity
Represented a daughter in an application for a committee under Mental Health Ordinance to be appointed for her 104-year old father to manage on his behalf, his assets in Hong Kong and overseas, valued over HK$140million.
Career History
- Special Counsel, Karas So LLP (2022)
- Senior Associate, Jonathan Mok Legal (2019)
- Associate Director, HSBC Private Banking - Family Governance and Family Enterprise Succession (2017)
- Associate/ Senior Associate, Mayer Brown (2009)
- Trainee Solicitor, Johnson Stokes & Master (now known as Mayer Brown (2007)
- Monash University, Master of Counselling (2023)
- University of Hong Kong, PCLL (2007)
- University College London, LLB (2006)
Admissions
- England & Wales, 2011
- Hong Kong SAR, 2009
Articles and Publications
- Co-author of Family Law and Practice in Hong Kong (First and Second Edition)