Julia Charlton
Principal Partner
Julia Charlton was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1985 and has practised as a solicitor in Hong Kong since 1987 and is an experienced practitioner in the field of corporate finance, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investment, securities, derivatives and funds. Julia is a Mandarin speaker and vastly experienced in private equity investment in the PRC, advising European, US and Hong Kong based funds on investment in a range of sectors. Julia has worked with companies in the mining and minerals sectors on a variety of deals.
Julia, a corporate finance lawyer, advises regulators, financial institutions and listed companies on the listing rules of both the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and GEM. She is experienced in the fields of securities law, capital markets, private equity, M&A, investment funds, restructuring and regulatory issues.
Julia Charlton is a senior fellow of the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute, a member of the Takeovers and Mergers Panel and the Takeovers Appeals Committee of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, a member of the Company Law Committee of the Hong Kong Law Society, a member of the Working Party on Review of the Law Society’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and a Member of the Listing Review Committee of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
Practice Areas
Corporate finance, securities and derivatives, funds and M&A
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (1st Class Honours, AKC) (Kings College, University of London)
Other interests
Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Leadership, University of Oxford
Certificate in MIT Fintech: Future Commerce, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
HBX Certificate of Negotiation Mastery
Ondeck Podcast Fellow, Ondeck Community Leader Fellow
Jurisdictions
Admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales since 1985
Admitted as a Solicitor in Hong Kong since 1987
Admitted as a Solicitor in Ireland since 2006
Admitted as a Solicitor in BVI since 2013
Admitted as a Solicitor in Pitcairn Islands since 2023
Current Appointments
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Member of the Listing Review Committee of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (2022 to 2024);
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Chairman, Planning and Lands Branch Appeal Tribunal Panel (1 December 2018 to 30 November 2024);
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Member of the Takeovers and Mergers Panel and the Takeovers Appeal Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) (2005 to 2024);
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Member of the Company Law Committee of The Law Society of Hong Kong (2011 to present);
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Senior fellow of the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute (“HKSI”) (2014 to present);
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Member of the Working Party on Review of the Law Society’s Memorandum and Articles of Association; (2016 to present)
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Chairman of the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce (2021 to present); and
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Member of the Global Advisory Council of CWEIC.
Awards
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Asialaw – named an ‘Elite practitioner’ in Capital Markets, Corporate and M&A, 2021 – 2024
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Asialaw – named a ‘Leading Lawyer’ by Asia Law & Practice for years 2002, 2003, 2006-2022 inclusive
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IFLR1000 – ‘Highly Regarded’ in Capital Markets: Equity, and M&A in 2021, 2022 and 2023
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Chambers Greater China Region – Corporate/M&A: Independent Hong Kong Firms, Band 2 in 2021 – 2024
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Asian Legal Business – a finalist in “Woman Lawyer of the year (Law Firm)” and “Managing partner of the year” in 2022 and 2023
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Legal500 – “Leading Individuals 2023 – 2024” in Commercial, corporate and M&A: Independent Hong Kong law firms (TIER 2) and “Recommended lawyers 2023 – 2024” in Corporate (including M&A) (TIER 6)
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Finance Monthly Global Awards – awarded ‘Hong Kong Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year’ 2014
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Acquisition International – named ‘Leading Advisor’ 2013
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American Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong / South China Morning Post – Women of Influence: Professional of the Year
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Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award Hong Kong – Finalist, 2018
Past Appointments
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Member of the Disciplinary Panel (Panel A) of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (often acting as Chair in relation to disciplinary cases) (2011-2021);
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Member of the Listing Committee of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (2012-2018);
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President of International Women’s Forum (“IWF”) Hong Kong (2018-2020);
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Chairperson of the Eurocham Financial Services Business Council (“FSBC”) (2016-2020);
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Member of The Hong Kong Club Long-Term Planning Group (2018-2019);
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Member of The Hong Kong Club Finance Sub Committee (2011-2018);
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Member of the Education Committee of the HKSI (2015-2018);
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Secretary of IWF Hong Kong (2016–2018);
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Member of the Examinations Committee of the HKSI (2007–2014);
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Member & Deputy Chairman of the Share Registrars Disciplinary Committee (2007–2013);
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Chair of the Legalink Committee (2011–2013);
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Treasurer, Friends of the London School of Economics in HK (2006–2013)
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Treasurer, IWF Hong Kong (2011–2013)
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Vice-Chair of the Legalink Committee (2009–2011);
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Member of the Securities Law Committee of the Hong Kong Law Society (1993 to 2011);
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Member of the Editorial Committee of the HKSI, up to end of 2007;
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Former Deputy Chairman of the Standards and Ethics Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors (“HKIOD”);
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Hong Kong Inland Revenue Board of Review (up to end of 2007);
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Non-executive director, Shandong Infrastructure Company Limited (listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange);
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Member of the Committee on Publishing of Guidelines on Corporate Governance for SMEs (2003) for the HKIOD; and
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Member of Edinburgh Napier University Vice Chancellor’s Asian Advisory Committee.
Languages
English and Mandarin (Business spoken)
