“Russell Bennett is a first-rate employment lawyer.”
Russell Bennett
Partner
Practice Area(s)
Jurisdictions
- Hong Kong (2008)
- England and Wales (1993) (non-practising)
Biography
Russell is Head of our highly awarded Employment Practice having joined the firm in 2003. Recognised by Chambers Asia Pacific as a “good technical lawyer” and a “safe pair of hands with regard to financial services clients”, he has extensive experience acting for both employers and employees across a wide range of sectors, with particular emphasis on high-value employment disputes in the financial sector. Russell has been involved in many major High Court rulings on employment law notably winning a landmark Hong Kong Court of Appeal judgment on employment law in 2020. He specialises on all aspects of employment law, termination entitlements, post-termination restrictions, bonuses, discrimination, harassment, drafting employment contracts, handbooks and other HR related policies and documentation. This includes all matters relating to contentious employment law and litigation in the Labour Tribunal, District Court and High Court. Russell also advises on immigration, health and safety and related criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Russell often provides pro bono counsel, particularly focusing on safeguarding the rights of pregnant migrant workers. Russell is involved in all aspects of litigation advice and procedures relating to proceedings to trial, summary judgment and seeking and opposing injunctive relief. This includes the enforcement of post-termination restrictions by injunctions, international jurisdictional disputes and Magistrate Court proceedings.
Russell represents regulated individuals, brokerages, private equity funds, independent financial advisers and groups within the wider financial services and insurance industries on regulatory and compliance matters including licensing matters and dealing with and defending clients during Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) investigations and prosecutions. He advises clients on issues surrounding direct marketing of regulated financial products and instruments, Collective Investment Schemes (CIS). Russell has also been involved in the conduct of several successful mediations of employment disputes relating to disputed termination, discrimination and harassment claims and stock option entitlements.
Biography
- Xu Yi Jun v GF Capital (Hong Kong) Ltd [2020] HKCA 663 Successfully acted for plaintiff in landmark Court of Appeal decision in relation to payment of a sign-on bonus in
- Advised a leading sportswear company in respect of provisions under the Employment Ordinance regarding the payment and calculation of wages as well as other statutory entitlements of the employees
- Acted for a pregnant foreign domestic helper defending a claim of medical fees following termination of her employment in the District Court, following an illegal termination of employment (pro bono)
- Acted for financial services company in the conduct of an independent investigation of multiple sexual harassment complaints and in dealing with the related Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) investigation
- Acted for former COO of a company under investigation by the SFC that had petitioned for winding-up against the company
- Advised a former senior executive and licensee of a SFC-regulated entity who was requested to attend an interview with the SFC as a “person under investigation” in connection with possible misconduct by his former employer in relation to inadequate risk control
- Acted for the employee in two of the few reported cases on bonuses/end-of-year payments, and on discretionary bonuses
- Successfully defending an SFC prosecution of a Collective Investment Scheme / Fund for breach of the SFO
Biography
- Thought Leaders – Labour, Employment & Benefits 2025
- Leading Employment & Labour lawyer in the Doyle’s Guide Hong Kong 2025
- Chambers and Partners, Greater China Region band 1 since 2023; band 2 since 2016
- Legal 500, Asia Pacific Leading Individual since 2022
- Who’s Who Legal 2022 lists Russell as a Global Leader
- Doyle’s Guide 2020 selected Russell Bennett as a ‘Leading Lawyer’ in Hong Kong
- Recommended as a leading employment lawyer by Doyles’s Guide since 2018
Biography
- The Law Society of Hong Kong
- American Bar Association (ABA)
- The Lawyers International Network for Employees and Executives (LINEE)
Biography
Insights
Easter Monday Hops into the Statutory Holiday List in 2026
Russell Bennett
09 March 2026
Insights
Is my boss allowed to spy on me when I’m working?
Russell Bennett
05 March 2026
Insights
Legal update: Increase of Statutory Minimum Wage expected to take effect on 1 May 2026
Russell Bennett
27 February 2026
Insights
TDW Employment Law – 2025 End of Year Review
Russell Bennett
02 February 2026
Insights
Employers’ Duties in Extreme Weather Conditions – A Timely Reminder
Russell Bennett
23 January 2026
Insights
Holiday pay and annual leave pay revisited: Wages and commissions covering every day of the month
Russell Bennett
16 December 2025
Insights
“There’s always someone watching!” (Ocean’s 11). Updated Privacy Commissioner guidance on CCTV, drone, and in-vehicle camera use
Russell Bennett
10 December 2025
Insights
Working Mothers: Maternity Rights under Hong Kong Law
Russell Bennett
11 November 2025
Insights
Hiring Foreign Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong, Pitfalls and Misconceptions
Russell Bennett
05 November 2025
Insights
“You’re married to him?!” Is it an issue for employers in making employment decisions?
Russell Bennett
13 October 2025
Insights
Legal Update – Is stress an injury: when does ‘psychiatric trauma’ amount to a workplace injury?
Russell Bennett
08 October 2025
Insights
Key Employment Issues from the 2025 Policy Address
Russell Bennett
23 September 2025
Insights
SFC Consultation Conclusions and Consultation Proposal on Financial Resources Rules
Russell Bennett
10 September 2025
Insights
“Finfluencers” beware! SFC suspends finfluencer for 16 months following his criminal conviction for providing investment advice without a license
Russell Bennett
15 May 2025
Insights
Legal Update: Proposed reduction on threshold on working hours for “continuous contract”
Russell Bennett
09 May 2025
Insights
Social media posts highlight workplace sexual harassment
Russell Bennett
11 March 2025
Insights
Factors in deciding damages for “injury to feelings” in discrimination cases
Russell Bennett
03 March 2025
Insights
SFC and HKEX collaborated in enforcement actions against a listed company and its former directors for misconduct involving over HK$660 million of losses, seeking disqualification and compensation orders
Russell Bennett
04 February 2025
Insights
Employment Law: 2024 Year in Review
Russell Bennett
23 January 2025
Insights
Legal Update: Recent Discrimination Case Uplifts Potential Damages for “Injury to Feelings”
Russell Bennett
07 January 2025
Insights
Legal Update: Court rejects Deliveroo rider”s claim as employees
Russell Bennett
23 December 2024
Insights
Risk of not handling discrimination complaints properly. Victimisation claim even where the discrimination case is dismissed.
Russell Bennett
18 December 2024
Insights
Legal Update – MMT sanctions against China Forestry Holdings Company Limited CEO for market misconduct – order to disgorge HKD353,430,000
Russell Bennett
02 December 2024
Insights
Legal Update: Damages awarded for employee’s breach of fiduciary duties
Russell Bennett
13 November 2024
Insights
Legal Update: Key Points on Employment Issues from 2024 Policy Address
Russell Bennett
25 October 2024
Insights
Legal Update: The Court confirms that employer’s duty of trust and confidence does not apply to the right to terminate
Russell Bennett
15 October 2024
Insights
Overview of Anti-Discrimination Laws in Hong Kong
Russell Bennett
09 October 2024
Insights
Legal Update – Beware of the Risk of Sex Discrimination in Job Advertisements
Russell Bennett
30 September 2024
Insights
AI in the workplace: Employment law risks from using AI
Russell Bennett
12 September 2024
Insights
Legal update: Compensation and disqualification order granted against a company officer who did not receive misappropriated funds
Russell Bennett
09 September 2024
Insights
Legal Update: Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance (Cap. 650) to come into effect in January 2026
Russell Bennett
01 August 2024
Insights
Legal Update: Importance of Contemporaneous Records in Defending Against Discrimination Claim
Russell Bennett
18 July 2024
Insights
Insider Dealing – The case against Segantii Capital Management Limited and certain officers
Russell Bennett
14 June 2024
Insights
Don’t neglect your visa expiry date: the serious consequences of overstaying in Hong Kong
Russell Bennett
07 November 2023
Insights
Background check: Seeking a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction in Hong Kong and the rehabilitation of offenders with a criminal record
Russell Bennett
10 October 2023
Insights
The importance of proof of the genuine reasons for dismissal in defending discrimination claims
Russell Bennett
29 August 2023
Insights
An Overview of 3 Common Immigration Offences in Hong Kong – Overstaying, Making false representation and Employment of illegal workers
Russell Bennett
26 June 2023
Insights
Hong Kong Court Awards Indemnity Costs to Employer in Discrimination Proceedings
Russell Bennett
18 May 2023
Insights
Legal update: The Hong Kong Court of First Instance confirms penalty rule in an employment contract following decision in Law Ting Pong Secondary School v. Chen Wai Wah 2021 CA 873
Russell Bennett
04 May 2023
Insights
Can and will an employee claiming discrimination be liable for legal costs if they lose?
Russell Bennett
12 April 2023
Insights
Proposal to amend Race Discrimination Ordinance to outlaw “intra-racial discrimination” and address discrimination and harassment relating to people from Mainland China
Russell Bennett
24 March 2023
Accolades/Testimonials
Chambers and Partners – Greater China Region 2026
“With his extensive knowledge and experience of employment law, Russell always provides well-considered and pragmatic advice.”
Chambers and Partners – Greater China 2025
“He shows respect and patience in educating us about the law, and provides good advice by laying out different options, scenarios and implications.”
Chambers and Partners – Greater China 2024
“Russell Bennett is a first-class practitioner who is highlighted as “an excellent lawyer for contentious matters”
Who’s Who Legal 2022
‘Very hard-working for clients.’
Chambers and Partners – Asia Pacific 2020
“…….a good technical lawyer and a safe pair of hands with regard to financial services clients.’
Chambers and Partners – Asia Pacific 2019
