Law & More: The Boase Cohen & Collins Podcast

Hosted by Niall

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Current affairs and pressing issues are viewed from a legal perspective by lawyers at Boase Cohen & Collins, one of Hong Kong's leading independent law firms, and our various guests.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 14, 2026Episode 6725 min

Episode 67 - Queenie Lau SC

This episode features Senior Counsel Queenie Lau, who reflects on her early years at boarding school in the UK, university days at Cambridge and her subsequent career in the legal profession, including her initial steps as a corporate solicitor before deciding her future lay at the Bar. Queenie speaks with our Senior Partner Colin Cohen. Stay tuned. 00:37 Meet Queenie Lau01:46 Life and Schooling04:00 Choosing Cambridge Law05:52 From Solicitor to Barrister07:55 Early Bar Practice09:24 Judicial Sitting and Balance10:09 Greater Bay Qualification11:22 Mediation and Arbitration12:01 Taking Silk and CFA14:41 Advice for Aspiring Barristers16:44 Bar Association and Service17:58 Sports Arbitration Spotlight19:06 Travel and Photography21:05 Stage and Music Memories21:57 Hong Kong Disputes Future23:07 Temple Chambers Culture24:34 Closing Thanks Host: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

June 1, 2026Episode 6630 min

Episode 66 - Highlights, Part 1

In this special highlights episode, our Senior Partner Colin Cohen revisits some of the conversations he’s had with guests over the past five years, including politician and former government minister Christine Loh, journalist Douglas Wong, ex-Rugby Union chief Robbie McRobbie and various eminent barristers. All of them have interesting stories to tell. Stay tuned. Host: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

May 11, 2026Episode 6526 min

Episode 65 - Yamilette Cano

Today’s guest is Yamilette Cano, president of the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Yamilette reflects on her life journey: achieving her dream of becoming a professional ballerina, studying international relations at university and then relocating to Hong Kong, where she champions entrepreneurship, innovation and public speaking. She speaks with our Senior Partner Colin Cohen. Stay tuned. 00:47 Welcome and Introduction01:52 Growing Up in Mexico03:00 Ballet Dreams and Discipline04:13 Canada Ballet Crossroads05:24 University and International Relations07:01 Falling for Hong Kong07:48 Breaking Into Events10:01 Founding Louder Global11:29 Confidence and Speaking Tips15:43 Women Empowerment Focus16:43 Leading the Mexican Chamber19:25 Books and Finding Your Voice20:38 Mexico Travel and Safety22:41 Learning Five Languages23:48 Hong Kong Home and Future Plans25:47 Closing Thanks and Farewell Host: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

April 13, 2026Episode 6439 min

Episode 64 - Yang-Wahn Hew & Azan Marwah

In this episode, we examine sports law, a practice area that is evolving rapidly as Hong Kong builds world-class sports facilities and hosts an increasing number of elite international sporting events. Our Senior Partner Colin Cohen is joined by barristers Yang-Wahn Hew and Azan Marwah to discuss the multiple governance, regulatory and compliance issues facing sports stakeholders. Stay tuned. Host: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

March 10, 2026Episode 6334 min

Episode 63 - Malcolm Merry

Today’s guest is academic, barrister and author Malcolm Merry. A leading authority on land law and keen scholar of Hong Kong’s colourful history, Malcolm reflects on his university years, four decades in the city’s legal sector and the diplomatic wrangle that inspired his most recent book. He speaks with our Senior Partner Colin Cohen. Stay tuned. 00:48 Meet Malcolm Merry 01:56 Early Life and Oxford 04:37 Chicago and LLM Detour 05:40 Bar Training in London 06:41 Move to Hong Kong U 08:12 Discovering Land Law 11:11 Joining the Hong Kong Bar 12:39 Full Time Practice Shift 13:03 Title Work and Market Cycles 16:17 Deputy Judge Reflections 17:36 New Territories and Small Houses 18:49 Writing the Definitive Texts 20:42 Back to Academia in 2003 25:33 Grounded at Kai Tak Book 28:46 Retirement Life in England 29:23 Cricket and Camaraderie 31:19 Hong Kong Then and Now 34:07 Final Thanks and FarewellHost: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

February 24, 2026Episode 6235 min

Episode 62 - Regina Ip

Today’s guest is one of our city’s most high-profile public figures, Regina Ip. In a wide-ranging discussion with our Senior Partner Colin Cohen, Regina reflects on her upbringing and university days, her stellar career in politics and administration, and the challenges facing modern Hong Kong. Having spent almost her entire career in public service, Regina has recently retired from the Legislative Council but, as she makes clear to Colin, she has absolutely no intention of slowing down. Stay tuned. 00:51 Welcome to Law & More: Introducing Regina Ip01:42 Grandparent Life & Staying Busy02:07 Why She Stepped Down After 17 Years in LegCo02:54 Early Life, Education & Glasgow Years04:42 From Poetry to Public Service: Joining the Civil Service05:34 First Posting: ICAC Era Discipline Cases & Early Challenges06:49 Rise Through Government: Immigration, Passports & Sino-British Talks09:44 Secretary for Security & the Article 23 Storm10:45 A Reset at Stanford: Studying in the US (2003–2006)12:43 Back to Hong Kong: Think Tank, Elections & Founding the NPP14:40 Pushing Hong Kong High-Tech: Savantas’ Mission16:34 Global Prosperity Summit: Rebuilding Hong Kong’s International Links18:30 Inside ExCo: What the Executive Council Actually Does23:33 Geopolitics & Hong Kong’s Role in China’s Rise27:24 Biggest Challenge Ahead: Aging Society, Families & Fertility29:20 From Stickers to Instagram: Becoming a Social Media Star30:34 2026 and Beyond: Party Leadership, Elections & Mentoring New Talent34:37 Closing Thanks & FarewellHost: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

January 14, 2026Episode 6129 min

Episode 61 - Neil Kaplan KC

Today’s guest is Neil Kaplan KC, one of the world’s leading authorities on arbitration. Neil reflects on his long and distinguished career, beginning as a barrister in London before relocating to Hong Kong to serve in the pre-handover Attorney General’s Chambers. He discusses the joys of working in private practice, the challenges of sitting as a Judge, and his tenure as Chairman of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. He speaks with our Senior Partner, Colin Cohen. Stay tuned. 00:51 Introduction to Neil Kaplan: The Father of Hong Kong Arbitration 01:37 Recent Activities and the Kaplan Lecture 03:42 Journey into Law: Early Inspirations and Career Beginnings 05:58 Specialisation and Transition to Hong Kong 08:00 Government Service in Hong Kong 09:57 Private Practice and Establishing Des Voeux Chambers 10:40 Judicial Career and Arbitration Contributions 13:35 Leaving the Judiciary and Embracing Arbitration 16:10 Growth of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre 18:16 Current Arbitration Landscape and Advice for Young Lawyers 26:57 Reflections on a Distinguished Career and Life in Hong Kong Host: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

December 15, 2025Episode 6036 min

Episode 60 - Bill Ricquier

In this episode, we meet renowned lawyer and academic Bill Ricquier, whose distinguished legal career has included spells in London and Liverpool before settling down as a long-term resident of Singapore. Aside from law, Bill’s other passion is cricket. Having fallen in love with the game as a schoolboy, he has authored several acclaimed books on the subject. He speaks with our Senior Partner – and fellow cricket fan – Colin Cohen. Stay tuned. 00:45 Introduction and Guest Welcome02:20 Early Life and Cricket Passion04:57 Academic Journey and Legal Career07:24 Move to Singapore and Initial Challenges11:24 Return to the UK and Subsequent Career Moves15:09 Significant Legal Cases and Professional Experiences17:30 The Rise and Evolution of Incisive Law18:09 A Career in Academia: Teaching and Writing20:47 Cricket: A Lifelong Passion22:36 Authorship and Controversies in Cricket Literature29:34 The Love for Test Cricket34:17 Future Plans and ReflectionsHost: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

December 4, 2025Episode 5937 min

Episode 59 - Julia Charlton

In this episode, we meet corporate finance lawyer Julia Charlton, a hugely respected and vastly experienced legal practitioner in Hong Kong’s financial sector. Julia looks back on her career journey, beginning with her upbringing in the northeast of England, practicing corporate law in London, and her bold decision as a working mother to relocate to Hong Kong. As she explains to our Senior Partner Colin Cohen, her arrival came at a time when mainland Chinese companies were just beginning to have a major impact on the city’s markets. Stay tuned. 00:46 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:45 Current Projects and Crypto Licensing02:26 Charltons' Recent Award and Firm History03:40 Julia's Early Life and Education06:51 Career Beginnings and Move to Hong Kong11:58 Founding Charltons and Early Challenges14:49 Learning Mandarin and Working in China17:23 Running a Law Firm and People Management18:47 Cryptocurrency and Regulatory Landscape23:28 IPOs and Hong Kong's Financial Market28:17 Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce32:19 Greater Bay Area and Future Prospects35:49 Personal Life and Hobbies36:46 Conclusion and FarewellHost: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.

October 22, 2025Episode 5838 min

Episode 58 - Bebe Chu

In this episode, we meet former judge Bebe Chu, a leading authority in the field of family law. Bebe reflects on her upbringing in Hong Kong, early days as a solicitor and her subsequent career in the Judiciary, where she was eventually appointed as Judge with Special Responsibilities for Family Cases in the High Court. Since retiring from the bench, she has continued her career as an arbitrator and mediator. She speaks with our Senior Partner Colin Cohen. Stay tuned. 00:54 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:49 Current Activities and Recent Work 02:58 Early Life and Education 05:47 Career Beginnings in Law 07:28 Transition to Family Law 13:59 Becoming a Judge 18:01 High Court Experience 22:34 International Hague Network of Judges 26:08 Reflections on Family Law and Reforms 30:36 Retirement and New Ventures 35:35 Final Thoughts on Hong Kong's FutureHost: Colin CohenDirector: Niall DonnellyProducer and VO: Thomas Latter Established in 1985, Boase Cohen & Collins is an independent law firm equipped with Hong Kong knowledge and global reach. Please visit our website.