1. You are dual-qualified in New York and New South Wales (Australia), having qualified without following the traditional PCLL pathway. You are currently an in-house legal counsel in the financial securities sector, advising on both US and Hong Kong regulatory matters. Could you share some of the key challenges of working across multiple regulatory regimes, and how your dual qualifications have shaped your career and added value to your role?
Working in the financial services and securities sector across multiple jurisdictions requires a practical understanding of how different legal and regulatory regimes interact. Although business operations can be global, laws and regulatory obligations remain jurisdiction-specific. One of the main challenges is making arrangements work as seamlessly as possible between group entities and affiliates, while ensuring that each entity’s activities remain aligned with applicable requirements. A single product, transaction or business initiative may raise different licensing, disclosure, marketing, data-handling, governance and conduct considerations across the relevant markets. In-house legal support cannot look at issues solely from a legal perspective; it also requires an understanding of the business model, operational realities and commercial objectives in order to develop workable, risk-based solutions. In my current role, I provide management with clear legal and regulatory input to support decision-making, and my New York and New South Wales qualifications have strengthened my ability to identify cross-border issues early and support commercially practical outcomes.
2. Many aspiring lawyers believe there is only one conventional route to building an international legal career. Looking back on your own journey, what advice would you give to law students and young lawyers who aspire to work internationally? Are there any skills, experiences, or mindsets that you believe are particularly important for success?
There is no single conventional route to building an international legal career. Businesses are not confined to one place: they expand wherever commercial opportunities arise and where they can serve clients and investors effectively. Aspiring lawyers should consider jurisdictions relevant to their intended practice area and with a strong history, reputation and institutional commitment to the rule of law, particularly where investors have confidence in the legal and regulatory framework. This was an important consideration in my own choice of New York and New South Wales, both established common-law jurisdictions with strong financial and commercial relevance. Alongside formal qualifications, strong research, drafting, commercial awareness and clear communication across business and cultural contexts are essential.
3. If you could also give one piece of advice to your younger self when you were preparing for the Bar, what would it be?
The Bar is challenging, but it is absolutely worth the commitment. My advice would be to stay disciplined, practise consistently and remember the long-term value of qualification, even during the most demanding stages of preparation. Becoming qualified has enhanced my professional credibility and opened opportunities to support senior management on significant legal, regulatory and business issues. For me, the Bar was not only an examination; it was a meaningful investment in professional development and in my ability to contribute at a more strategic level within the business.
4. You prepared for the New York Bar with Asia Bar Review. Looking back on your experience, what aspects of the programme did you find most valuable, and what advice would you give to future candidates preparing for the New York Bar?
Asia Bar Review provided a structured and practical framework for approaching the New York Bar examination. I particularly appreciated its pro bono programme, which was tailored to help candidates meet relevant qualification requirements, as well as the BARBRI preparation programme and materials. The staff were helpful, responsive and generous in offering practical guidance throughout the process, which made the qualification journey more manageable. My advice to future candidates is to start early, maintain a realistic and consistent study schedule, and make full use of the academic and administrative support available. Regular practice questions and careful review of mistakes are essential to building confidence and improving performance under examination conditions.
5. Are there any other experiences, achievements, or aspects of your career that you would like to highlight?
I would like to highlight my experience working in-house across two fast-evolving areas of financial technology: payments and digital securities services. In my previous role in the payments industry, I gained exposure to the legal and commercial issues involved in supporting payment-related products and regional business operations. In my current role, I support group affiliates in the financial services and securities sector on cross-border corporate, commercial and regulatory matters involving Hong Kong and New York, USA. Both organisations have teams of hundreds of employees across multiple jurisdictions, giving me valuable experience working with stakeholders in different functions and time zones. These experiences have reinforced my interest in how legal teams can help innovative financial businesses manage regulatory change and grow responsibly across markets.
