Michelle Chow

Hong Kong is a buzzing city, but its wealth gap is one of the biggest in the world. Working as both a wealth planner and a charity lawyer in Hong Kong, I am honored to be able to help clients who build their own wealth through successful businesses or inheritance. No matter how they make their money, I enjoy advising them to plan carefully to achieve their goals – i.e. to pass their wealth down to their families and charities.

I always advise my clients to be fair in order to avoid potential conflicts in the family. In the old days, only Chinese males could inherit the family’s wealth. Some women may be grateful to me for successfully persuading their grandpa to give not only to boys, but girls too! As a wealth planner, one can become the family’s trusted advisor. A client who comes to me to plan his philanthropic endeavors may end up establishing a discretionary trust, receiving US tax advice and getting his daughter’s pre-nuptial agreement done! I treasure the relationship and friendship that can develop over the years, and learn so much from advising my elderly clients in particular. I was so touched when a client tracked me down 15 years after I set up his father’s trust, to re-organise the trust as the family expands.

Another area I am passionate about is philanthropy. I count myself extremely fortunate to be part of Withers’ global philanthropy and charity team. Colleagues from different offices have worked with me on my clients’ global charity projects. Some parents may say to their children "If you are up to no good, I will donate all your inheritance!" Fortunately, my clients don’t use this as a threat; they are real philanthropists that get involved in the education sector, medical and health care, and even getting an old building listed and setting up a museum. My charity clients are extremely diverse - including universities and colleges, private individuals, family offices, bank trustees, hospitals, churches and museums.

I come from a family of many lawyers. My father was a lawyer and, even though he is retired, is still deeply involved in schools and hospitals. I am a governor of two public hospitals, and an elderly home, run my harp charity that I co-founded 10 years ago and enjoy doing harp outreach to schools, hospitals and elderly homes to bring music to people and provide harp lessons to those who cannot otherwise afford them. Being involved in charities helps me understand my clients’ philanthropic goals and challenges, so we can talk in the same language.