

Oldham, Li & Nie (OLN) is a highly regarded full-service law firm, whose commitment to professional excellence has been the cornerstone of the firm since its creation in 1987. The firm possesses many years of experience practising in Hong Kong and has a diverse set of global employees, embodying the firm’s East-West culture.
OLN currently has over 40 lawyers, admitted in one or more jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, France, UK, several US states, Australia, Canada and Japan. OLN also has a thriving China practice, carried on from its Hong Kong and Shanghai offices.
Practice areas
Business
Armed with a team of experienced Hong Kong-qualified lawyers and with close ties to top commercial law firms across the globe, Oldham, Li & Nie’s Corporate and Commercial practice group is well-placed to handle both local and cross-border transactions.
Our clients range from individual, SMEs to international companies and we are especially skilled at offering advice to companies seeking a presence in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
We pride ourselves on the motto of leaving no stone unturned and delivering the highest quality of work product to our clients promptly.
Our services:
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Corporate finance
- Joint ventures and shareholder agreements
- Private equity investments
- Banking and loan documents
- Corporate structuring and restructuring
- Licensing and franchising
- Directors’ responsibilities.
Elder Law
We handle a range of issues that may confront private clients, including estate planning and the establishment and administration of trusts, probate and contentious probate matters, and the administration of estates.
Employment & Labor
Labour and employment law in Hong Kong and China is rapidly increasing and becoming more complex, especially with the implementation of further anti-discrimination legislation.
The Employment Practice Group is constantly developing to keep pace with the law and has gained a respected position with employers, employees and among our peers as being at the forefront of providing practical and straightforward advice in a complex and developing area of law.
We are experienced in advising and strategizing for both employers and employees in all aspects of the employment relationship from interviewing and recruiting, to termination and enforcement of post-termination restrictions.
Family
OLN’s matrimonial department prides itself on the ability to work with clients through emotional upheaval whilst quietly advising on the many disputes involving children and complex financial structures. All of the divorce and family law team are members of the Hong Kong Family Law Association and in accordance with the HKFLA’s Code of Conduct are committed to a conciliatory and constructive approach, rather than a hostile or confrontational one.
Immigration
Ensuring that key employees are legally in the right place at the right time is an essential business need, especially in Hong Kong with its large international population.
We pride ourselves on treating each employee as an individual and we recognize the stress and difficulties that can be caused to an individual, his/her family and a business when delays occur and things go wrong.
A key function of the Employment Practice Group is to ensure that business immigration processes are completed as smoothly and efficiently. We regularly advise and act for global employers, individuals, Hong Kong startup companies and entrepreneurs.
Our Business Immigration Services include:
- Obtaining work visas and extensions
- Advising on the effect and consequences of visitors’ visas
- Obtaining spousal and dependent visas
- Obtaining business investment visas
Insurance
OLN’s team has particular expertise in the review and drafting of contractual documentation relating to insurance and reinsurance activities, including the development of policy wording for life, accident, medical and health insurance products, and the review and vetting of related proposals, product brochures and training materials.
Intellectual Property
OLN provides various services in connection with the registration and protection of trade marks, patents and copyrights; anti-counterfeiting and enforcement of intellectual property rights; licensing and franchising agreements; copyright and passing-off disputes; conduct of court proceedings including claims for damages and injunctions; intellectual property audit; trade mark registration in PRC and Hong Kong.
Lawsuits & Disputes
OLN’s mantra “Practical Legal Solutions – On Time – No Excuses” instils this innovative and strategic approach to resolving disputes such as:
- Corporate and commercial litigation
- Banking and financial litigation
- International Trade
- Intellectual Property
- Shareholder disputes
- Employment disputes
- Insolvency
- Property disputes
- Rent Review
- Professional negligence
- Enforcement of foreign judgment
- Debt collection
- Injunction
- Insurance claims and disputes
- Defamation
- Personal injury claims
- Landlord and tenant
- Regulatory and disciplinary proceedings
- Trusts and inheritance disputes
Bankruptcy & Debt
We have extensive experience in both insolvency and restructuring work, and have represented appointment takers, banks, other creditors, creditors’ committees and debtors.
We have advised creditors who have successfully petitioned the court to place the respondent company into compulsory liquidation and obtained orders to appoint provisional liquidators pre- winding-up to safeguard assets in jeopardy.
We have advised insolvent practitioners on the innumerable problems they can face when taking up office and helped them navigate through the law and procedure in this specialist area, and find commercial solutions to seemingly intractable problems.
We advise on:
- Rights as to the ownership of corporate assets subject to competing claims
- Litigation/arbitration funding and the issues these funding arrangements
- Avoidable disposition arising from the disposal of property by an insolvent listed group to a leading bank member of a syndicated loan agreement
- Various applications to the Companies Court for orders to assist liquidators and other appointment takers perform their duties
- Advising on cross-border jurisdictional issues
- Schemes of arrangement and other corporate rescues
- Enforcement of security, litigation and asset tracing and recovery
Our Partners and Associates

Gordon arrived in Hong Kong from the United Kingdom over 40 years ago as a newly qualified lawyer, having been recruited by one of the larger Hong Kong firms to join their litigation department. He was made partner and head of the litigation department two years later.
Gordon’s litigation practice continued until 1987 at which time he found himself involved more and more in commercial work and to cater to such and expand his professional experience he formed his own firm and in subsequent years, took on partners who brought with them their own degree of specialty.
During his 40 years in Hong Kong, Gordon has been involved in business both locally and internationally and both as a legal adviser but more often than not, as a businessman. Gordon’s direct involvement in business activities has given him a unique insight into the requirements of those who own or run businesses.
Gordon is involved in commercial work drawing on his experience of having been engaged as a principal in a number of businesses in Hong Kong and Asia. His philosophy in legal work is to give practical legal solutions to clients, to work hand-in-hand with them in their business development and offer a more rounded approach to business situations.
Gordon’s work also involves corporate finance, joint ventures, real estate structuring as well as commercial litigation. He also deals extensively with high net worth clients and finance aspects of Matrimonial Disputes.
In his involvement as a principal, he has extensive experience in hospitality, real estate development, publishing and brand creation and development. A large amount of his time is involved in the running of several charitable organizations both in Hong Kong and Asia.
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