Meet Grace Gao, Ogier’s Hong Kong Private Wealth lead

Grace Gao’s practice is global in nature. As a private wealth specialist and counsel in Ogier’s Hong Kong office, she is well placed to collaborate across jurisdictions and deliver tailored, quality service to clients. 

Grace advises the region’s high net worth families on international estate and asset protection planning, wills and probate and the use of tax efficient structures for investment. She also develops family governance structures to facilitate the succession of wealth from one generation to the next. 

Grace was named Woman of the Year – Rising Star IFC at the 2026 Citywealth Powerwomen Awards, a “key lawyer” in Legal 500 and a “Rising Star in Trusts and Estates” at the Euromoney Awards. 

She also won Lawyer of the Year IFC – Managing Associate at the 2025 Citywealth Future Leaders Awards, which was attributed to her “thoughtful and solutions-driven approach”. Judges said Grace "exemplified the modern cross-border private client lawyer". 

In this Q&A article, find out more about Grace’s practice, how she works with the rest of Ogier’s industry-leading Trusts Advisory Group and her interests outside her role at the firm. 

How would you describe your practice? 

I would describe it as very global in nature. I collaborate with counsels in foreign jurisdictions to address cross-border issues, international wealth transfer issues and financial regulatory compliance issues in connection with the set up and operation of complex investment and asset protection structures. 

My focus is always on assisting clients with a broad range of non-contentious private wealth matters, including the establishment, administration and restructuring of trusts, foundations and corporate structures, as well as advising on regulatory matters. 

How does the Hong Kong Private Wealth legal team work with the rest of Ogier’s Trusts Advisory Group?

As Ogier is also global in nature, the Trusts Advisory Group works seamlessly across jurisdictions to find the best solutions for the client. So, from the bustling Hong Kong, we provide British Virgin Islands (BVI), Cayman, Guernsey and Jersey legal services to clients in the Asian time zone, working together with our Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo offices.

There is no shortage of expertise in the firm, and I am always picking up the phone to consult my colleagues in other jurisdictions. While I advise high net worth individuals and families throughout Asia primarily on non-contentious matters, there are also excellent dispute resolution and contentious legal experts in the Trusts Advisory Group who can offer counsel if that becomes necessary. 

Our corporate and fiduciary services division, Ogier Global, works closely with Ogier's partner-led legal teams in BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey and Luxembourg to incorporate and administer a wide variety of vehicles.

You deal with many complex and high-value matters – what do you enjoy most about dealing with these?

As a lawyer, my job is to solve the complex issues of clients, which can range from intricate trust structures and complicated family dynamics to regulatory compliance and beyond. These challenges often require innovative solutions, and I find it particularly rewarding to apply my creative instincts in my legal work.

With over 15 years of training in sketching and oil painting as an amateur painter, I enjoy bringing this creativity to bear when devising tailored legal solutions. For instance, when addressing concerns such as sensitivity to media attention or the political implications of certain decisions, I must think both strategically and innovatively, sometimes using less conventional trust concepts or unusual structures. I work closely with many high net worth families, and it can also be very satisfying to see families unite around solutions that meet their unique needs.

What are the current trends in Private Wealth in the region? 

Many Asian clients are setting up new structures to support long‑term family planning. Succession has become an issue for some families as first‑generation wealth creators reach the stage where transition planning is needed. Geopolitical tension remains a concern, which affects decision-making.  

We’re also seeing how common immigration is in the region, especially among second and later generations, so there is demand for planning that accommodates multiple jurisdictions, tax regimes and lifestyle preferences.

Do you have any responsibilities outside your role at Ogier?

Alongside my responsibilities at Ogier, I serve as chair of the STEP Hong Kong Next Generation Members Sub Committee. This sub committee acts as an important channel for younger industry members to connect and communicate with senior practitioners. We organise social events and work to raise awareness of the STEP organisation among junior professionals in the private client field. 

I’m also a member of the STEP Wills and Estates Sub Committee and the Mental Health, Elder and Capacity Law Sub Committee in Hong Kong.

How Ogier can help 

Grace and her Hong Kong team provide BVI, Cayman, Guernsey and Jersey legal services to clients in the Asian time zone, working together with the firm's Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo client services offices.   

Members of the Trusts Advisory Group based in Hong Kong have a particular focus on providing private client services in multiple languages, including Cantonese, English and Mandarin. Contact Grace for more information. 

About Ogier

Ogier is a professional services firm with the knowledge and expertise to handle the most demanding and complex transactions and provide expert, efficient and cost-effective services to all our clients. We regularly win awards for the quality of our client service, our work and our people.

Disclaimer

This client briefing has been prepared for clients and professional associates of Ogier. The information and expressions of opinion which it contains are not intended to be a comprehensive study or to provide legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific advice concerning individual situations.

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