What are common legal issues in businesses and how to avoid them?

Without pre-empting potential legal issues, business owners can easily find themselves embroiled in costly and time-consuming legal disputes. This is particularly important for small business owners, who likely do not have the funds nor the reputation to survive legal battles.   Although legal issues are often industry and jurisdiction-specific, we have identified the most common legal … Read more

What is an unfair contract term?

Consumers are generally provided with unfair contracts in relation to goods and services. The contract terms tend to be one-sided and in fine print. Most consumers do not care about these unfair contract terms until something blows up, in which case it is arguable whether these terms are enforceable. A term or notice is unfair … Read more

Employee, Sole Proprietor, Independent Contractor, Freelancer: What is the difference?

Employment has undergone significant change in recent years – being ‘self-employed’ is more common than ever. But what does the term mean? Self-employment is an umbrella term that simply refers to an individual who is not ‘traditionally’ employed or subject to the oversight of an employer. Instead, they work for themselves and are their own … Read more

SFC AND HKMA’S JOINT CIRCULAR ON INTERMEDIARIES’ VIRTUAL ASSET-RELATED ACTIVITIES

By HENRY YU & ASSOCIATES On 28 January 2022, the Securities and Futures Commission (the “SFC”) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (the “HKMA”) published the “Joint circular on intermediaries’ virtual asset-related activities” (the “Joint Circular”), which would supersede the “Circular to intermediaries: distribution of virtual asset funds” dated 1 November 2018 (the “2018 Circular”). … Read more

10 Essential Business Contracts for Startups and Small Businesses (with Templates)

As a small business/startup your priority is to grow your business and maximise profits – it is easy to neglect the legal aspects that are tedious, but equally as important. A lot of start-ups even rely merely on trust and verbal agreements when conducting business in their relationships with shareholders, partners, suppliers, and customers rather … Read more

Unfair Contract Terms – Can Consumers Rely on Statutory Protection?

What is an unfair contract term? Consumers are generally provided with unfair contracts in relation to goods and services. The contract terms tend to be one-sided and in fine prints. Most consumers do not care about these unfair contract terms until something blows up, in which case it is arguable whether these terms are enforceable. … Read more