Carmen Cheng

Carmen is a private clients lawyer with a practice focused on family matters such as divorce and children issues, contentious and non-contentious trusts and estate matters and applications in respect of mentally incapacitated persons.

Carmen advises on all aspects of family law including ancillary relief proceedings, custody and access of children, relocation and pre- and post-nuptial agreements.

Carmen regularly assists clients on wealth and succession planning, including drafting Wills for high net-worth individuals with assets in multi-jurisdictions, probate applications for Hong Kong and overseas estates and establishment of trusts. She also has experience with family governance issues, having previously assisted families in the Asia Pacific region in planning for their inter-generational wealth transfer during her time at a financial institution.

Carmen is recognised as an Up and Coming lawyer for Private Wealth Law - China in the Chambers HNW Guide 2025, and has been listed in the Private Client Global Elite Directory for Hong Kong since 2023.

Carmen is also a Civil Celebrant.

Carmen is qualified in Hong Kong, and England and Wales.

Key Experience

Matrimonial and family disputes

• Acted for a top Hong Kong tycoon in successfully opposing his former partner 's claim for increased financial support of their children, including obtaining a judgment for separate representation of the children owing to the conflict of financial interest with their mother.
• Acted for a father in resisting financial claims brought by the mother including purchase of property accommodation for herself and the daughter, which resulted in the Court of Final Appeal confirming that the father was not required to purchase a property (despite judicial clarification that the Hong Kong courts have similar jurisdiction as in England to make such order).

Trusts and probate

• Acted for an adult beneficiary in respect of his and his minor children 's interest in an estate valued over HK$800 million which involved the trustees ' application for variation of trusts under the Will and an application for an anonymity order to protect the children 's identities.
• Acted for a bank trustee acting as administrator pendente lite in a hotly contested and long-drawn probate dispute.

Mental incapacity

• Represented a daughter in an application for a committee under Mental Health Ordinance to be appointed for her 104-year old father to manage on his behalf, his assets in Hong Kong and overseas, valued over HK$140 million.

Career History

Legal Director, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Special Counsel, Karas So LLP
Senior Associate, Jonathan Mok Legal
Associate Director, HSBC Private Banking - Family Governance and Family Enterprise Succession
Senior Associate, Mayer Brown International LLP
Associate, Mayer Brown International LLP
Trainee Solicitor, Johnson Stokes & Master LLP (formerly Mayer Brown International LLP)
Monash University, Master of Counselling
The University of Hong Kong, Postgraduate Certificate in Laws
University College London (UCL), Bachelor of Laws

Articles and Publications

• "Costs”, Family Law and Practice in Hong Kong, Fourth Edition, Sweet & Maxwell Hong Kong (2025)
• “Bridging the Gap: How Mediators Enhance Family Dispute Resolutions in Hong Kong”, HNW Divorce Magazine, Valentine 's Special Edition (2025)
• “Costs”, Family Law and Practice in Hong Kong, Second Edition, Sweet & Maxwell Hong Kong (2014)
• “Costs”, Family Law and Practice in Hong Kong, First Edition, Sweet & Maxwell Hong Kong (2011)