Registered associations of law firms in Hong Kong

A registered association of law firms is a formal link between a Hong Kong law firm and a registered foreign law firm that share, or intend to share, fees, profits, premises, management or employees. Under Part IIIA of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance, both firms must register the association with the Law Society, which lists every registered association on the Law List. The two firms stay separate. Hong Kong law work belongs with the Hong Kong firm, because the Law Society says registered foreign law firms are precluded from practising Hong Kong law.

Why associations exist

The Law Society’s foreign law firms page says a registered foreign law firm may practise the law of the jurisdictions where its partners and associates are qualified, and of third jurisdictions where they are competent to practise. It may not practise Hong Kong law, employ Hong Kong solicitors, or take them into partnership. So a foreign firm cannot simply hire a Hong Kong team. When a foreign firm and a Hong Kong firm want to work closely together, sharing fees, profits, premises, management or employees, the Law Society requires them to register as an association.

When an association must register

The Law Society’s information for registration as an association says that when a Hong Kong firm and a foreign firm have, or intend to have, an agreement under which fees, profits, premises, management or employees are shared, both firms must register with the Society. If they do not, the partners or the sole practitioner of each firm commit an offence.

The first registration fee for an association is HK$15,000, payable to the Law Society. The same figure appears in the Society’s 2026 fees schedule.

What the two firms may and may not share

Why it matters if you are the client

From the outside, an association can look like one firm: one reception, one brand, sometimes one website. In law you are dealing with one of two firms. That affects who can advise you on which law, whose client account holds your money, and which Law List entry you should check. Before you sign:

1. Ask which firm is engaging you, and check that the engagement letter names it exactly.
2. For Hong Kong law work, confirm the acting firm is in the Hong Kong Law Firms section of the Law List.
3. For foreign law work, confirm the acting firm is in the Foreign Law Firms section, with the right jurisdiction.
4. Check where money goes. Money on account should be paid to the client account of the firm acting for you, since associated firms may not use each other’s client accounts.
5. If the matter has Hong Kong and foreign elements, ask how the work is split and which firm is responsible for each part.

How to look up an association

The Registered Association of Law Firms list on the Law List shows, for each association registered under Part IIIA, the Hong Kong law firm’s name, the foreign law firm’s name and the foreign firm’s jurisdiction. Search for either firm. If you find related names in both the Hong Kong and foreign firm sections but no association entry, ask the firm how the two are connected.

Associations, LLPs and global brands

Association is a different thing from LLP status. A firm in an association may also appear on the Law Society’s list of limited liability partnerships, which is about partners’ personal liability, not about what law each firm may practise. For more, read our guides to registered foreign law firms, law firm LLPs and how to check the Law List. Our law directory lists each practice under its own kind. We are not the Law Society, and nothing here is legal advice.