Kerby Lau recently attended the Cambridge Forum for Asia-Pacific Wealth Advisors 2026 as part of the Hong Kong delegate. This invitation-only gathering remains one of the most exclusive fixtures in the private wealth calendar, serving as a high-level incubator for the most sophisticated legal and financial strategies in the region. Kerby’s participation in this elite forum underscores commitment to staying at the forefront of international wealth trends, by engaging with the top industry leaders in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
The Cambridge Forum is renowned for its stringent selection process, limiting participation to a select group of just 44 preeminent professionals from across multiple jurisdictions, including the U.K, U.S.A, Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the PRC. This year’s cohort brought together a diverse yet focused assembly of private practice lawyers, King’s counsel, trustees, tax experts, and practice leaders from leading banks, accounting firms, and family offices.
Each participant is chosen for their significant experience and expertise in advising High-Net-Worth (HNW) and Ultra-High-Net-Worth (UHNW) families across the Asia-Pacific region. The forum’s unique “roundtable” format encourages candid peer-to-peer exchange, ensuring that the insights generated are both practical and cutting-edge.
Kerby was invited to share his perspective on the evolving legal landscape of one of the world’s premier financial hubs. His contributions focused on the delicate balance between robust asset protection and the increasing demand for transparency and accountability in international wealth structures.
Throughout the forum, Kerby shared deep-dive insights into several critical areas currently impacting UHNW families:
- Cross-Border Estate Disputes and Planning: Navigating the jurisdictional complexities that arise when family assets and beneficiaries are spread across multiple continents.
- The “Weaponization” of Mental Capacity: A growing trend in modern litigation, Kerby discussed the tactical use of mental capacity challenges in probate disputes and how to preemptively guard against them.
- Trustee and Executor Dynamics: analysis on the legal thresholds for the removal of executors and trustees, ensuring that fiduciary duties are strictly upheld, while balancing against the need to respect the wishes of settlors/testators.
- No-Contest Clauses: Evaluating the efficacy and enforcement of non-dispute clauses in varying jurisdictions to prevent protracted family litigation.
On the planning and non-contentious side, a significant portion of the discourse was dedicated to the concept of Wealth 3.0—the next evolution of succession planning. This approach moves beyond mere tax efficiency and legal structures, focusing instead on family governance, the “human capital” of the next generation, and the psychological readiness of heirs. Kerby’s contributions highlighted the importance of integrating these holistic elements into traditional legal frameworks to ensure a seamless legacy transition.
