Hong Kong, October 20, 2026 – THE LAW hosted TLA Hong Kong 2026, Bridging Legal Minds, Shaping Global Futures, today at the Harcourt Suite of The Hong Kong Club. The event brought together lawyers, investors, institutional leaders, sponsors, and media representatives to discuss how law, investment, innovation, and legal leadership connect China and the Middle East.
The afternoon programme opened with a welcome networking session, followed by opening remarks from Dr. Habib Al Mulla, Founder of Habib Al Mulla and Partners and Chairman of the Steering Committee of The Lawyers' Advocates (TLA). Titled Setting the Stage: China and the Middle East in a New Legal Era, his address framed the discussions that followed.
The first panel, Building the China-Middle East Legal and Investment Corridor, examined law firm leadership, capital flows, strategic partnerships, and market development. Moderated by Veronica Chan, Partner at Tanner De Witt, it featured Kirill Udovichenko, Partner at Monastyrsky, Zyuba, Stepanov & Partners (MZS); Kiran Sanghera, Deputy Secretary-General of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC); Sultan Al Ghafri, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Al Khalili, Al Ghailani & Co. LLP (K&Co); Rio Li, Partner at Han Kun Law Offices LLP; and Fatima Balfaqeeh, Founder and Managing Partner of Balfaqeeh Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Dr. Al Mulla then returned for a fireside chat, Legal Leadership in a Changing World, alongside Ziad Ali, Founder and CEO of THE LAW, to address building institutions, leading markets, and shaping the future of the profession.
The second panel, The New Geography of Private Wealth, explored families, capital, succession, and the China-Middle East corridor. Moderated by Gwynn Hopkins, Managing Director at PERUN Consultants, it featured Alia Al Mulla, Partner at Habib Al Mulla and Partners; Josephine Wu, Founder and CIO of Aionious Management; and Denis Slobodyan, Senior Executive at Glencroft Capital Limited.
Fatima Balfaqeeh delivered the closing remarks, after which speakers, sponsors, partners, and guests gathered for a networking reception.
"TLA Hong Kong 2026 comes at a pivotal moment for China and the Middle East. As commercial ties deepen, having a direct platform for legal and business leaders to connect is essential. THE LAW is proud to bring these two regions together to build real partnerships, address shared challenges, and drive the next era of cross-border growth." – Ziad Ali
THE LAW extends its sincere thanks to its partners and sponsors, Habib Al Mulla and Partners, Perun Consultants, and Balfaqeeh Advocates and Legal Consultants, whose support made the event possible, as well as to all moderators, speakers, and guests for their contributions.