Friday 28 January 2011

Saving tycoon’s empire just the latest adventure for busy lawyer


Gordon Oldham, the lawyer representing the interests of Stanley Ho, is as colourful as the family drama of his billionaire client.

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Guanyu said...

Saving tycoon’s empire just the latest adventure for busy lawyer

28 January 2011

Gordon Oldham, the lawyer representing the interests of Stanley Ho, is as colourful as the family drama of his billionaire client.

The Brit arrived in Hong Kong from his home country 30 years ago as a newly minted lawyer. He joined local law firm Philip K. H. Wong & Co as an assistant solicitor and later became a partner.

His litigation practice continued until 1987, when he formed his own firm. He is now a senior partner at Oldham, Li and Nie Lawyers.

According to the law firm’s website, among the areas covered by Oldham is “dispute resolution”.

During his years in Hong Kong, Oldham has been involved in local and overseas businesses, both as a legal adviser and more often than not, as a businessman. An introduction on his law firm’s website says: “Gordon’s direct involvement in business activities has given him a unique insight into the requirements of those who own or run businesses.”

With a creative business mind, in 2002 his law firm tried an unprecedented and unconventional approach of making legal services available for a set annual fee - working in much the same way as an insurance policy.

Oldham also heads Pavilions Resorts - a hotel and resort group with properties in Indonesia and Thailand. He has also been involved in the jewellery business, as a director of John Hardy International - a jewellery manufacturer and distributor, according to an introduction on the website of Peace International Foundation, of which Oldham is a core member. The Hong Kong-based foundation is a non-profit group that advocates the “understanding of peace, to free a world of suffering, from violence, discrimination and poverty”.

To locals, Oldham is perhaps best known for his work at Child Welfare Scheme (Hong Kong), a charity that mainly supports health and education of children in Nepal and on the mainland.

Last September Oldham was interviewed on CNN on his plan for the ultra-marathon race in Nepal this year to raise money for the charity.

At 58, he does not consider himself a sportsman. But he has legs of steel and taken part in ultra-marathon races that have seen him run through the outback of Western Australia and China’s Taklamakan Desert.

He also chairs the publishing group ADKOM, which produces sports and lifestyle magazines such as Action Asia, Asia Pacific Boating and China Boating.

The adventure racer has also tried his hand at environmental protection. He founded the Clean Air Foundation, which, in 2007, filed for a judicial review that argued that the Hong Kong government policy on air quality was in breach of the Basic Law because it was inadequate and outdated.

Anonymous said...

FYI, Adkom was bought by SPH Magazines and is now called Blu Inc Media (HK) Ltd. Gordon is no longer involved with the company.

He was however the co-founder of Action Asia magazine, as well as being a major driving force behind the annual Action Asia Challenge adventure race, now run by Action Asia Events.

Steve White
Editor-in-chief
Action Asia magazine

Guanyu said...

Thanks for your update.