Leading Employment lawyer Tess Lumsdaine has joined Baker McKenzie's Employment Practice as a Partner based in Hong Kong, where she will advise clients on the full spectrum of employment, compensation and mobility issues, as well as assisting clients with employment-related disputes and workplace investigations. Tess joins from Herbert Smith Freehills.
Tess brings with her international experience in all aspects of employment law, including contentious matters such as contractual disputes, restraint litigation, safety related prosecutions, as well as civil claims and claims relating to termination, information theft, discrimination and harassment. She has extensive experience advising on executive employment, remuneration and regulatory issues in the context of hiring, mobility and exits. She regularly supports clients in tech, banking and financial services, consumer goods and retail, and pharmaceutical sectors across Asia Pacific in managing their multi-jurisdictional compliance and restructuring projects and complex workplace investigations.
Recognized as a "Rising Star" in Hong Kong Labour and Employment law in legal directories, Tess is described by clients as a lawyer with deep insights and strong ability in steering business leaders through complex and evolving issues, such as how regulatory-driven changes impact the way that businesses interact with, and manage their employees. Tess is a regular speaker at industry events and contributor to industry publications.
"The increased global volatility and uncertainty and the war for talent among nations and corporates, combined with changing patterns of work and businesses readjusting their supply chains, are forcing employers to review the sustainability of their current business models and workforces. Many employers are implementing initiatives to increase flexibility and improve the working experience, as well as restructuring and relocating at a local and regional level. This drives up demand for our employment advisory services, particularly in the areas of structuring employment arrangements throughout the region, change management generally, transfers and relocations, complex workplace investigations and contentious terminations leading to an increasing number of labour disputes," said Rowan McKenzie, head of the Firm's Employment Practice Group in Hong Kong SAR.
Rowan continued, "Tess's strong employment and disputes experience not only complements our local and regional practice well, but also bolsters our ability to offer clients a holistic legal solution, as employment and employee issues are present in M&A, corporate reorganization, compliance and investigations, IP theft, data privacy, pensions, incentives and tax matters."
Steven Sieker, Managing Partner of the Firm's Hong Kong SAR and Mainland China offices, added, "Tess's appointment further demonstrates our commitment to growing our bench strength to respond to clients' high demand for employment-related services. Tess's track record combined with her strong relationships with many of the leading banks, financial services, tech, and pharmaceutical companies makes her an exciting addition to our team in Hong Kong. Her joining will no doubt help us deepen our relationships with existing and new clients."
For her part, Tess said, "I am excited to be joining Baker McKenzie and its market leading employment practice. My international experience and deep regional insight make the Firm a natural fit. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Hong Kong and around the network, in continuing to leverage the Firm’s unrivalled regional presence and enviable global platform of employment lawyers, to support our clients as they navigate increasingly complex and challenging labour markets."