The scale and diversity of real estate transactions in Hong Kong is always growing. Whether it’s a carpark space up for sale or the construction of an entire building complex, transactions involve complex transfer of ownership and lengthy legal procedures. Needless to say, a lawyer with experience of the field is an indispensable part of the process.

Simon Reid-Kay has practiced and been resident in Hong Kong since 1985. Along with his team, he deals with all types of real estate transactions in Hong Kong. He founded Simon Reid-Kay & Associates in 2012, focusing on local real estate legal services. As well as handling purchases, sales and leases, the team at Simon Reid-Kay & Associates has advised owners, developers and lenders on the planning and construction aspects of many major developments and infrastructure projects in Hong Kong and the region. Unique specialisation and positioning have won the firm a strong reputation within the law community of Hong Kong.

Simon Reid-Kay & Associates (SRKA) adopts a “specialised and sophisticated” approach, covering a full spectrum of real estate legal services. SRKA’s specialist lawyers regularly advise on the real estate aspects of IPOs, funds (including REIT’s), securitisation, sale and leaseback, land exchanges and portfolio management for substantial Hong Kong-based international investment banks and conglomerates, as well as private funds, investment banks and their clients’ real estate requirements including investments, financing and property management

Positioning itself as a “boutique” law firm, SRKA can handle and follow up all legal matters in the real estate category. A classic law firm’s team often includes many solicitors from different specialties, thereby increasing operational reach and diversifying its business capabilities. SRKA, on the other hand, adopts a vertical approach, focusing on offering bespoke real estate services. Research is more in-depth and knowledge on the industry is extensive, gaining the trust of clients whatever their size. SRKA’s client source is, Simon remarks, wide and ranges from individuals buying their first property to governments and international investment firms.

In addition to professional expertise, SRKA adds a personal touch to its business model. Simon pointed out that the senior management members of the firm had had extensive experience in international law firms before joining SRKA and brought their operating and management experience to SRKA. “When we first established, we only had 7 colleagues. After almost 10 years, we have grown into a 25-person team. Although not as large as other large law firms, our professional orientation is focused and we are familiar with the international community. The management model has won the support of our clients and partners.”

SRKA’s team is capable of handling large and small legal matters in the real estate industry, and it is evident that many local and international law firms hold them in high regard, cooperate with them and refer cases. “SRKA is perhaps the only law firm in Hong Kong that specialises in real estate legal services in this way. On the other hand, other law firms may not be equipped with relevant specialised lawyers, so other colleagues will refer cases to us from time to time. Of course, our performance over the years has built considerable trust in them.”

With his eyes set on the future, Simon believes that his solid foundation of clients, partners and the reputation accumulated over many years practicing in Hong Kong, will give future clients the confidence to choose to work with SRKA should the opportunity present itself. Simon’s optimism about the Hong Kong property market and the development of new types of buildings in Hong Kong, including data centers, green buildings, and the improvement in public housing, serves as a positive sign that with regard to the real estate industry in Hong Kong, the best is yet to come, and Simon Reid-Kay & Associates will continue to serve.

本港的房地產市場相當成熟，房地產物業的交易規模多樣，可以是一個住宅單位買賣，亦可以涉及整棟建築物的建造、落成；無論如何，當中牽涉複雜的業權和各種法律程序，因此優秀的律師是不可或缺的一環。

Simon Reid-Kay偉德勤是一名在港執業多年的事務律師，經驗豐富；他在2012年創立Simon Reid-Kay & Associates，聚焦本港房地產法律服務，走向專門化，可有效、專業地完成各種相關法律程序，獨特的定位亦為事務所贏盡口碑。

Simon Reid-Kay & Associates（SRKA）採取「專而精」路線，凡涉及房地產有關的法律事宜，由樓宇買賣合約、租賃、按揭，到資產管理、承建合約及盡職調查，甚或乎準備上市的企業公開招股前為物業進行合規評估和房地產信託基金之合規和管理事宜等巨額交易，SRKA的房地產專門律師均可為不同項目提供專業服務。

Simon指，SRKA把自己定義為「Boutique」（精品）律師事務所，在房地產物業範疇中的所有法律事宜均可處理跟進。一般律師樓以綜合模式營運，不同專項的事務律師或大律師在事務所「掛牌」執業，從而加強事務所的營運能力，令業務和收入更多元化，而SRKA則更為專注，以縱向發展，因而比其他事務所鑽研得更深，亦因此獲得大小客戶的信任。Simon透露，律師樓的客源廣泛，包括個人、企業、上市公司、發展商、政府、國際投資者等等，足見其實力。

除了專業專門外，SRKA在營運模式上亦具個人之處。Simon指，公司的高級管理層成員在加入SRKA前均曾任職國際律師行，並將當時的營運和管理經驗帶到SRKA。「初成立之時，我們只有7位同事，經過差不多10年，我們現時已經成長為一個25人的團隊。雖然並不如其他大型律師樓般規模龐大，但我們的專業專向定位，以及熟習國際律師事務所的管理模式，為我們爭取到客戶和合作夥伴的支持。」

SRKA的團隊有能力處理房地產業大大小小的法律事宜，因此不少本地和國際律師樓均會與之合作及轉介個案。「SRKA是香港絕無僅有專門房地產物業法律服務的律師樓，反觀其他律師行不一定配有相關的專門律師，因此其他同行也不時把個案轉介給我們。當然，我們一直以來的表現讓他們對SRKA團隊有相當的信心。」

對於未來，Simon對其律師事務所非常有信心，除了是因為多年來累積的客群、合作夥伴和聲譽等豐厚的基礎外，他亦看好本港的樓市，以及其他新型建築物在香港的發展，包括數據中心、綠色建築等，並繼續運用Simon Reid-Kay & Associates的專業知識，服務大眾。