Offshore law firm Harneys has appointed Maggie Kwok as global head of the transactional practice.
Kwok, who has been with the firm for more than eight years, also joins Harneys’ executive committee alongside George Weston, global head of the firm’s corporate practice and head of the British Virgin Islands transactional practice.
She succeeds Paul Sephton, who has completed his term and will continue as managing partner of the Hong Kong office, and global head of the banking and finance practice.
Having previously served as Asia head of funds and regulatory, Kwok’s new role takes on a more global scope – something she is confident of adapting to without any problem. This stems from the fact that she was named global head of financial services in January, which replaced her Asia-focused position.
“The move has been a natural progression for me. I became global head of financial services at the beginning of 2026 before taking on the broader role of global head of transactional, which encompasses our financial services, corporate, banking and finance, and private wealth practices,” she told Asia Business Law Journal.
“Having spent much of my career focused on Asia, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that Asia is anything but a homogeneous market. The region is made up of diverse jurisdictions, cultures, business practices and regulatory environments, each with its own distinct characteristics. Understanding those differences and the cultural nuances that underpin them is critical because they shape how clients make decisions, deploy capital and pursue opportunities.”
Kwok said new investment prospects were starting to appear, which were driving greater connectivity between different markets.
“We are seeing increasing connectivity between markets such as Greater China, the Middle East and Jersey, as well as Greater China, Japan and Europe,” she said.
In her new position, Kwok said her priority “is not simply to grow our presence in Asia”. Family offices will also be one of her key focal points, given their growing role in regional activity.
“Family offices continue to be one of the most influential forces driving transactions across the region. One only needs to look at Hong Kong’s growing prominence as a global wealth and family office centre to see how quickly the centre of gravity for capital continues to evolve. Those trends have implications not just for Asia, but for investment flows into the Middle East, the United States, Europe and offshore jurisdictions around the world,” she said.
