Asia-Pacific

Sidley is deeply committed to aiding local Hong Kong charitable organizations and businesses in achieving their goals. In 2020, the Law Society of Hong Kong honored Effie Vasilopoulos with the “Gold Award” at its 2020 Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Program. The annual awards recognize legal practitioners in Hong Kong who have made exceptional contributions to the community.

Effie received the award for leading Sidley’s team in connection with a number of pro bono projects, including the firm’s work in developing a new domestic private fund regime benefiting the private equity, venture capital, real estate, infrastructure, credit, and hedge fund segments of the market, which was enacted in August 2020 following a multi-year commission.

Sidley also helped establish and continues to advise Hong Kong-registered charity Help for Children (Asia) Limited. Help For Children is a global foundation that is strongly supported by the hedge, private equity, and wider alternative investment management sector. The foundation provides grants to the most effective child abuse prevention and treatment organizations in six countries, with the goal of making the world a safer place for children. We are also active in the cancer impact investment field, partnering with clients and industry contacts to establish investment funds that raise and deploy capital for companies and projects that are developing innovative research and treatment options for cancer prevention and cures, particularly in relation to pediatric cancers.