Clifford is a partner of Zhong Lun’s Hong Kong office and a leader in the private client industry in Hong Kong. His practice is focused on complex cross-border transactions, investments and private client matters.

Having worked with some of Asia’s leading businesses and families for almost 30 years, Clifford provides strategic advice on cross-border transactions and investments, tax, regulatory, estate planning, asset preservation, governance. Clifford is noted for providing innovative solutions to complex issues having worked extensively in multi-jurisdiction transactions and handling a broad range of issues including asset protection investment strategies, trust and estate litigation, securities regulatory issues, family estate battles and creditor claims.

• Awarded “Outstanding Individual” by WealthBriefingAsia Greater China Awards in 2023
• Awarded “Advisor of the Year - Succession Planning/Trusts” by Citywealth IFC Awards in 2022 and 2023
• Recognized as one of the elite lawyers in China’s legal market in the A-list by China Business Law Journal in 2022
• Recognized as Asia’s Top 15 Private Wealth Lawyer by Asian Legal Business in 2022
• Awarded “Leading Individual (Advisor)-Pan Asia” by WealthBriefingAsia Awards in 2022
• Recognized as a Global Leader in 2022 and Thought Leader since 2017 in Private Client by Who’s Who Legal
• Awarded “Lifetime Achievement” by WealthBriefingAsia Greater China Awards in 2021
• Recognized as a Leading Individual in the categories of Private Client and Family, Private Client (Tax, Trusts, Wealth Management, Contentious Probate) and Tax and Trusts by Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide since 2018
• Recognized as one of the world’s top private client lawyers by Private Client Global Elite since 2017
• Recognized as a leading practitioner by Citywealth Leaders List since 2016
• Recognized as a leading lawyer in Private Client/Wealth Management in Hong Kong by Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide since 2012

Clifford is also very enthusiastic in educating others on commercial and private client issues. He is currently an executive committee member, policy committee member and the secretary of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Hong Kong as well as the Chair of the Wills and Estates Subcommittee.

• “Creating a Robust Family Succession Plan that Embraces Governance, Tax & Compliance” (webinar), Hubbis, March 2021
• “Governance & Succession, Tips and Tricks” (webinar), Asia Futurist Leadership Summit, Association of Family Offices in Asia, January 2021
• “International Tax Structuring for Private Clients in Asia”, LL.M. in International Taxation Program of University of Liechtenstein, Hong Kong, October 2019
• “State of the M&A Market: Opportunities and Challenges in the Year Ahead”, ALB Asia Cross-Border M&A Forum, Hong Kong, October 2019
• “Updates on the Latest Developments with the China Individual Income Tax for UHNW Clients”, Private Wealth Management Association (PWMA) Hong Kong, May 2019
• “New Individual Income Tax Law on Overseas Planning”, Singapore Trustees Association (STA) Seminar, Singapore, January 2019 and STEP Hong Kong, March 2019
• “Caught in the cross-fire: The pitfalls of Private Trust Companies”, Private Client Forum Asia 2018, Singapore, December 2018
• A Right to Privacy? Practical Consequences of the Drive towards Global Tax Transparency”, Cross Border Planning for the Private Client – Asia, Hong Kong, October 2018
• “Rise of Trust Services in China”, STEP Asia Conference 2017, Singapore, November 2017
• “The Drive towards Global Tax Transparency”, Cross-Border Planning for the Private Client: Asia, Singapore, August 2017
• “China and Hong Kong Family Issues”, STEP Conference 2015 – Singapore, November 11, 2015
• “The Benefits to you of the Hong Kong Canada Tax Treaty”, Canadian Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong; Presentation, November 9, 2015
• “Domestic and International Structuring Issues for Chinese Families” and “Can Advisors Ignore Foreign Forced Heirship Provisions”, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Asia Conference, Singapore, November 13-14, 2013
• “Legal Week Private Client Forum”, Hong Kong, September 10, 2013
• “The Second Annual LGT Asia Family Wealth and Legacy Summit”, Hong Kong, November 2012
• “J.P. Morgan Meet the Expert Series Challenges of Wealth”, Hong Kong, November 2012
• “Private Client in Asia” and Panelist on Hong Kong and China, 5th Annual Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Pacific Rim Conference, Santa Monica, April 30 – May 1, 2012
• “Planning for Chinese HNW Client”, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners New York seminar via video conference 2012

• Co-Author, “Taxation of Investment Funds In the Asia-Pacific Region”, Vol. 101 Tax Notes International, January 2021
• “State of the Market” ALB Magazine- Cover Story, December 2019
• “Hong Kong's full court press on tax cheats”, STEP Hong Kong Branch June 2015 Newsletter