Introduction
The Family Practice at Tanner De Witt is an award-winning team dedicated to delivering effective and enduring legal solutions for family transitions. With a strong focus on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), we aim to safeguard our clients’ best interests while ensuring an efficient and constructive resolution process.
Our expertise lies in handling complex, high-value, or high-conflict cases for a diverse international client, including high and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. We recognise that family transitions, divorce and disputes can have profound, long-lasting effects, especially on children. That’s why our approach is collaborative and solution-focused—prioritising mutual understanding and tailored strategies that address the unique needs of every family.
Our team often works alongside external professionals such as financial experts, mental health experts, child psychologists, and dispute resolution practitioners. Together, we offer clients a firm, compassionate, and holistic approach to navigating family transitions and disputes. While we champion methods like mediation and collaboration as a first step, we are also highly experienced in litigation and ready to provide robust representation when necessary.
As part of Hong Kong’s dynamic international community, many of our clients face challenges that span multiple jurisdictions or involve intricate legal issues. From cross-border disputes (HK/PRC/USA/UK etc), Hague Convention Abduction cases, and child protection matters to family businesses, dynastic wealth, and trust arrangements — our team is well-equipped to address these complexities with precision and care.
Our dedication has earned us multiple accolades, including ALB’s Matrimonial and Family Law Firm of the Year in 2020 and 2022. Our team comprises Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers and Rising Stars in Hong Kong, qualified to practice in multiple jurisdictions. We are also accredited Family Mediators, Collaborative Law Practitioners, Parenting Co-ordinators, and Private Financial Adjudicators. We also have a strong record of successfully published decided cases that reflects our legal expertise and unwavering commitment.
At the Family Practice of Tanner De Witt, we believe in guiding families through transitions with dignity, compassion, and clarity — helping them achieve solutions that truly endure.
Key Contacts
Services
- Dispute resolution, including Parenting Co-Ordination, Collaborative Practice, mediation, Private Financial
- Adjudication and negotiation
- Pre-nuptial agreements and wealth protection
- Separation, separation agreements and post-nuptial agreements
- Divorce petitions, jurisdiction and forum challenges
- Financial remedies in divorce proceedings (both spousal and children)
- Maintenance applications and legal costs application
- Children’s arrangements and other parental disputes involving children
- Temporary removal of children (holidays) and permanent relocation of children
- Hague Abduction applications or non-Hague abduction cases
- Wardship applications, care and protection issues.
- Surrogacy, fertility and parentage
- Co-habitation agreements and financial arrangements for unmarried couples
- Same sex rights and protections
- Domestic violence and other related injunctive relief
- Asset preservation & injunctive reliefs
- Trusts and estate distribution
- Mental health related applications
Experience
- Acting for parties to produce favourable outcomes in hotly contested finance claims through litigation and through mediation
- Acting for parties in Collaborative Practice to achieve holistic and favourable outcomes together on children’s arrangements and financial arrangements
- Acting for clients on pre-nuptial agreement and trust structures to achieve the client’s goals of pre-marital wealth protection of international reach
- Acting for parents under the 1980 Hague Abduction Convention to defend and to return children post removal or retention
- Acting for clients on post-nuptial agreement to settle ongoing financial issues and support parties desires for the future
- Acting for a former husband to pursue proceedings to vary downward court-ordered maintenance payments
- Acting for a parent in a long-term wardship case that involves child protection issues. The case also involves complicated custody, access and financial disputes
- Acting for a husband in a case involving divorce, a postnuptial agreement, and ongoing issues regarding the execution and administration of the post-nuptial agreement
- Acting for a wife in a hostile divorce case from her husband which involved injunctions to protect the marital assets
- Acting for a parties in removal cases where the parent wishes to permanently relocate the children of the family overseas
- Acting for the husband in divorce proceedings brought by an estranged wife who is from a high net-worth Hong Kong family
- Acting for the husband in a long marriage with complex matrimonial asset valuation issues specifically international commercial and hedge fund structures
- Acting for a former wife to enforce a maintenance order which is in default and opposing an application to set aside a consent order
- Acting for an NGO to bring child protection proceedings for the benefit of a neglected child in the High Court and acting against various Government and other NGO bodies
- Acting for a Foreign Domestic Worker who seeks a divorce from her husband in the Philippines
Accolades/Testimonials
“Joanne is clear in her focus and responds well to clients’ concerns.”
“Joanne was very responsive and knowledgeable.”
“They are always on point and focus on the key issues.”
“Tanner De Witt has a good team with consistent members who spoke to me in person for each face-to-face meeting.”
Chambers and Partners Greater China 2025
Family/Matrimonial (International Firms) ranked Band 3
“Joanne Brown is outstanding. Direct, objective, empathetic.”
“Joanne Brown is excellent – especially when dealing with children’s matters. She is absolutely who you want in your corner when you have a difficult opponent. She quiets the storm. Adrian Au is perhaps the most accessible and hardworking partner in Hong Kong. He is not stuck in the old ways of doing things nor does he assume. He fixes problems by working on them.”
“Adrian Au was very proactive, supportive and engaged on all queries. He had established relationships with the counter party’s solicitors and this helped resolve minor wording alterations. Adrian was also very supportive of his team.”
“Always enjoy working with Joanne Brown in mediation. She is supportive and thoughtful for clients at times when they can be struggling. Adrian Au is professional and constructive in his approach to working with challenging situations.”
Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide – Greater China 2024
Private Client and Family ranked Tier 2
“Joanne Brown is an excellent lawyer with great interpersonal skills.”
“She cuts through the noise and provides clear and practical advice as well as a carefully thought-out case strategy.”
Chambers and Partners Greater China 2024
Family/Matrimonial (International Firms) ranked Band 3
“The team has a hands-on, friendly and practical approach. They have the skills to break down stubborn parties and barriers and seek resolution with ease.”
“They care about their clients and try to protect them. Their preparation is very on point, and they are knowledgeable of the law and procedures.”
Chambers and Partners Greater China 2023
Family/Matrimonial (International Firms) ranked Band 3
“empathetic, pragmatic and solution-focused.”
“taking their time to listen, analysing very well and coming up with solutions to problems,” further stating: “I feel I am in the best hands.”
“Tanner De Witt handle the whole range of family/matrimonial cases: financial cases to child custody, wardship and domestic violence, and everything in between,” say sources, reporting: “They have strong understanding of international legal and cultural issues. They can handle international cases very well.”
Chambers and Partners Greater China 2022
Family/Matrimonial (International Firms) ranked Band 3
Growing practice offering advice on a range of family and matrimonial matters. Experienced in handling divorce proceedings and child-related cases. Able to assist on cross-border abduction matters, with particular expertise in cases involving the Hague Convention. Also provides support in nuptial agreements and trust arrangements.
The practice receives endorsement for its quality of advice and client services. “Tanner De Witt offers clear, prompt and realistic advice at all stages of a family dispute. They are responsive and sensitive to the needs and wishes of clients, and able to incorporate those concerns into real and effective relief,” observes one source.
“They have a very good understanding and awareness of cultural and legal issues involved in international cases.”
“Joanne is excellent – she is focused on client needs and maintains a clear view of what can be achieved, she is a pragmatic negotiator in mediation. She is especially skilled in divorce, custody and nuptial matters.”
Chambers and Partners Asia 2021
Awards and Rankings
Benchmark Litigation 2023-2025
- Awarded Tier 3 for Family and Matrimonial Practice
Chambers and Partners Greater China Region 2022-2025
- Ranked Band 3 for Family/Matrimonial Practice Area (International Firms)
Doyles Guide 2024-2025
- Leading Family and Divorce Law Firm in Hong Kong
Doyles Guide 2023
- Recommended Family & Divorce Lawyers
- Recommended Family & Divorce Law Firm in Hong Kong
- Partner Joanne Brown is recognised as a “Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer”
Doyles Guide 2022
- Partner Joanne Brown is a Recommended Family and Divorce Lawyer
Asian Legal Business Law Awards 2020 and 2022
- Awarded BDO Family and Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year 2020
- Kingfisher Family and Matrimonial Law Firm of the Year 2022
Benchmark Litigation 2021 & 2020
- Awarded other Notable Firms for Family and Matrimonial Practice
Insights and News
Insights
Understanding Costs in Children’s Proceedings – A Recent Judgment
Insights
Tanner De Witt Partners Secured Return of Child in Complex Cross-Border Abduction Case Across Hague and Non-Hague Signatories
Insights
How to divide pension/Mandatory Provident Funds (“MPF”) Retirement Benefits in Ancillary Relief for Divorce in Hong Kong?
Insights
Free Will or Fair Share? The Court’s Discretion in Making Provisions for a Surviving Spouse
Insights
Paws for Thought: Pet-Nups
Insights
Marriage Equality in Hong Kong: Progress and Next Steps
Insights
Legal Update: Standish v Standish [2024] EWCA Civ 567
Insights
Tanner De Witt’s Family Practice ranked and Joanne Brown recognised as Leading Family and Divorce Lawyer in 2024 Doyle’s Guide Hong Kong.
Insights
The Use of Mediation in International Child Abduction Cases
Insights