Thomas Mayer & Associes Grants scholarship in France

As they celebrated their 15th birthday, the lawyers of Thomas Mayer & Associés (TMA) decided to do something unprecedented - they announced a scholarship for French and legal studies for a student from Hong Kong.

The French law firm’s senior partner Eric-Jean Thomas and managing partner Eric Mayer were hosting 180 guests, friends and well-wishers at the celebration on October 12 at the Kee Club, when they made the announcement of the Semester in France scholarship that will be awarded to a student of the law in a Hong Kong university. Consul- General of France in Hong Kong Arnaud Barthelemy was among invitees who gathered to toast the milestone of the law firm, which also is the legal adviser to the Consulate General.

“This has never been done before,’’ Eric Mayer says, referring to the scholarship, adding that it represents the French law firm’s commitment to Hong Kong and its aim to nurture future legal talent.

“A scholarship recipient will spend a semester studying French language and French law at a university in France. And then the student will get three to six months training in our firm. This is open to a third year law student in Hong Kong.’’

This firm of French lawyers has demonstrated its staying power for 15 years in Hong Kong and in Paris, where it operates a subsidiary. The Hong Kong firm was established in 1996, and the Paris office opened in September 2010. The firm assists Chinese investors in France and provides initial advice to French investors who explore business and investment opportunities in Asia, especially in Hong Kong and China. TMA Paris is registered with the Bar to the Court of Appeal of Paris.

“Our partners have continued from the beginning,’’ says Eric, noting that this demonstrates the firm’s resilience and its growth over the decade and a half. “We have more than 30 staff in Hong Kong and Paris.’’

Eric says that with strong bonds developed over the years, the firm felt it was time to make a contribution. 

Offered in conjunction with the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong the TMA Scholarship in French and Law is intended to promote the learning of French as a foreign language and to introduce students to French law, whose civil law principles are radically different from Hong Kong’s common law. 

“The recipient will live with a French family for two months in Vichy, and take a crash course in French in a reputable institution specializing in intensive teaching,” says Eric. 

This means the scholarship recipient will have the chance to embrace and absorb the French way of life, before studying a semester in the third year bachelor program from September to December taught in French. 

The language lessons involve eight weeks of intensive study and will allow them to improve their French so they have the skills to enter a French university with confidence.

Eric-Jean, the senior partner, underlines that all expenses including air fare, tuition fees and pocket money are covered by the scholarship.

The student will join the final year undergraduate law programme at the French partner university of their home university for one semester before starting on a three-to-six-month internship with TMA.

This intern may thus one day join TMA and become a part of its team providing legal advice in business law.

“We are the lawyers to large French groups as well as SMEs that are developing their business in Asia”, says Eric-Jean. “We serve French clients in retail, in high fashion, and food and beverage, as well as technology and the industrial sectors.’’ TMA also advises SMEs that have big operations.

Whatever they advice on and whoever they advice, TMA forms a bridge between many French and continental European entrepreneurs and companies trading with and investing in Hong Kong, China and the Asia-Pacific. International business law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, company and commercial law, international tax law, international arbitration, private international law, and immigration law, are its practice areas. Eric points out that some clients have built up long-term relationships with the law firm because the services are adapted to their diverse requirements and depending on the scale of their operations.

One critical factor is that the firm’s clients can be assured of its experience from the local environment and its extensive network of contacts in Hong Kong, China and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from its close relationships with leading financial institutions in Asia.

For example, companies that plan to set up in Hong Kong, in China, or more in Southeast Asia can rely on the expertise of TMA to incorporate a new company or enter into a merger or an acquisition process. In some cases, they may need the advise of TMA to set up joint ventures in China. In situations such as this, TMA offers the clients its local and international contacts, and its experience with international and local laws, to advise on all operations relating to the legal and financial strategy of the company concerned. 

FAST FACTS
• The practice celebrated 15 years

• Paris office, a subsidiary, opened in September 2010

• Practice areas: International business law, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, company and commercial law, international tax law, international arbitration, private international law, and immigration law, are its practice areas.