Dutch Excellence - Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Business Awards Gala Sponsor
Loyens & Loeff
When and where did your company start?
After about half a year of preparation, Loyens & Loeff started
in February 2012 with a grand opening in our brand new office
on the 28th floor on 8 Wyndham street, Central. Ambassador
Rudolf Bekink and Consul General Robert Schuddeboom
officially opened our office, together with our managing partner
and myself in the presence of some 200 guests. We have been up
and running since.
Our roots go back to the beginning of the 20th century. Since the
merger in 2000 between the tax advisers of Loyens & Volkmaars
and part of the law firm Loeff Claeys Verbeke, we are the largest
firm to offer widespread integrated legal and tax advice in the
Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
How many employees do you have in the HK office?
As the largest Benelux law firm, the vast majority of our lawyers
and advisors work in the Netherlands and also Luxembourg and
Belgium. In the eleven offices outside the Benelux, we work with
smaller teams to assist clients in the local market. We found it
utmost important to start with a full legal team in Hong Kong
lead by two senior partners and currently have three associates.
The team is supported by one office manager, so six in total.
What makes your company unique?
We are an independent international full-service law firm
specialised in providing legal and tax advice to enterprises,
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financial organisations and governments. The unique
collaboration between our tax and legal advisers works to the
client’s advantage, as issues are tackled from different angles,
creating synergy and increasing efficiency. The combination of
transaction capabilities and deal (and group) structuring from
a tax perspective, is unmatched in our field.
What is your company’s specialization in Hong Kong?
We particularly focus on advising multinational corporations,
major financial institutions, private equity and real estate
investment funds, fund managers, high-net-worth individuals,
and others doing business in Asia on their cross border
transactions, in particular outbound investments.
Why is your company an example of Dutch Excellence?
Loyens & Loeff has a long history of exploring possibilities
abroad. About 40 years ago we were one of the first foreign
law firms to set up an office in New York.
Many others followed us since. We have continued this ever
since. Also in Hong Kong, we were the first Dutch law firm to
open here in Hong Kong and focus on a new market in Asia:
outbound investments.
What are your company’s future ambitions in Asia?
We want to increase our Asian client base and build-up the same
reputation we have in the Benelux and other countries we are
present in.