Withers, one of the world's largest law firms for high net worth individuals is to open in Hong Kong as part of the firm’s commitment to international expansion and in particular its Asian client base. The new office will focus on servicing the cross-border legal and wealth planning needs of entrepreneurs, families, businesses and their advisors throughout the region, according to a statement from the firm. The Hong Kong office, based in Central, is headed up by former London partner and UK tax and family office practitioner, Samantha Bradley who is the office managing director, and US tax practitioner, Kurt Rademacher who is also a partner transferring from the firm’s London office. Hong Kong tax and commercial advice will also be available from March through an associated firm headed by leading US tax and Hong Kong legal practitioner, Mary Ellen Hutton, who joins from Bryan Cave’s Hong Kong office. The firm has made other senior lateral hires: corporate lawyer Guy Facey will relocate to Hong Kong in March having joined from London-based KSB Law where he was head of the commercial and international group; and Francis Lee joins from Walbrook Trustees in Hong Kong. The team will also be supported in Hong Kong by Silvia On, a specialist in family offices and international structuring who joins from the Hong Kong office of PricewaterhouseCoopers where she was a senior consultant in the personal financial services team; Nisha Chadha, a wealth planning solicitor, transfers from the firm's London office.