His technical strength, hands-on approach and 30+ years in Hong Kong enable him to get the results his clients want.
With a wide-ranging commercial law background developed in London and Hong Kong, Mark specialises in providing general banking, finance, insolvency, employment and financial services regulatory compliance advice.
His clients range from financial services providers such as banks, brokers, financial advisers, asset managers and fintech providers, to financial services users such as borrowers, investors and issuers as well as insolvency practitioners. He is known to be technically strong in English and Hong Kong laws but focused on results: "Mark is very responsive and pragmatic in providing services in a prompt fashion.” (IFLR1000 ranking 2021)
Mark is also well known for his regulatory licensing and compliance advice and has helped establish many businesses in Hong Kong, overcoming regulatory problems. He is described as having over three decades of experience in handling regulatory compliance matters (Chambers Asia Pacific 2020) and leading the non-contentious side of the Hong Kong office’s regulatory team with “excellent knowledge of the banking and financial sectors” (Asia Pacific Legal 500 2019). Mark is also ranked in the 2021 IFLR 1000 as a highly regarded individual for Hong Kong financial services regulatory.
He has experience of most types of finance transactions and is one of the few Hong Kong lawyers having trade and commodity finance expertise. In addition, Mark has worked on many high profile insolvent restructurings in London and Hong Kong, including acting on successful restructurings for Sky TV in the UK and Wah Kwong Shipping Group, TSL Jewellery and Winsway in Hong Kong. Mark“Offers expansive explanation of the legal issues that may be confronted in a transaction.” and "despite his seniority is very responsive. Provides detailed analysis.” (IFLR1000 ranking 2021)
Mark "has an outstanding combination of legal/business/commercial acumen. He has deep knowledge of every aspect of financial services regulation in Hong Kong. He was very quick with completing all aspects of the project. His explanations and analysis were clear and articulate. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences even though the actual project was complicated and meant the 'life or death' of our company.” (IFLR1000 ranking 2021)
“The finance team, which is led by Mark Reed, always puts the client first”
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020