Johnson Stokes & Master
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Law firm |
| Founded | 1863 |
| Founder | Edmund Sharp |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
Area served | Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing |
Key people | Terence Tung (senior partner) |
Number of employees | Approximately 120 attorneys (including 40 partners) |
| Parent | None (independent since December 2, 2024) |
Johnson Stokes & Master (abbreviated as JSM) ranks among Asia's most longstanding and sizable law firms, with its main office located in Hong Kong and additional branches in Shanghai and Beijing. Established in 1863, the firm adopted the name Johnson, Stokes and Master in 1890.
Between 2008 and 2024, JSM operated under the umbrella of the U.S.-based law firm Mayer Brown, initially branded as Mayer Brown JSM before simplifying to Mayer Brown. In May 2024, Mayer Brown declared a separation arrangement, enabling JSM to reemerge on 2 December 2024 as an autonomous entity following the departure of most original JSM partners from Mayer Brown. This division resulted in two separate legal entities within Hong Kong: Mayer Brown and Johnson Stokes & Master.
At present, JSM employs approximately 120 attorneys, including 40 partners, distributed among its offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.
History
Originating in 1863 as a sole proprietorship founded by Edmund Sharp in Hong Kong—a city then hosting fewer than a dozen practicing lawyers—JSM adopted the name Johnson, Stokes and Master in 1890. The firm extended its presence to Shanghai by 1893.
By 1895, Alfred Bulmer Johnson had risen to senior partner status alongside Alfred Stokes and Godfrey Cornewall Chester Master. During this period, JSM acted as legal counsel to The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, a pivotal financial institution.
In 1896, Johnson withdrew from private practice and relinquished his role as Crown Solicitor, which was subsequently assigned to Henry Lardner Dennys instead of the firm's next senior partner. The following year, JSM appointed its first locally born Chinese solicitor, Wei Wah-on, who was educated at Oxford.
The firm relocated to the air-conditioned Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Building in 1936. After World War II, JSM recommenced operations there amid Hong Kong’s post-war recovery. Since then, its expansion has paralleled Hong Kong’s economic growth, with further development across key Asian metropolitan areas.
Merger with Mayer Brown
On 28 January 2008, JSM joined forces with Mayer Brown, creating Mayer Brown JSM. Before this merger, JSM was an established law firm with offices across Hong Kong, mainland China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai), Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The firm employed roughly 800 personnel, including over 260 lawyers. On September 1, 2018, the firm phased out the JSM brand in Asia, adopting solely the Mayer Brown name.
Separation from Mayer Brown
On 2 May 2024, after a partnership spanning fifteen years, JSM announced it would part ways with Mayer Brown, disentangling the Hong Kong partnership from the global practice and reinstating its original name, Johnson Stokes & Master (“JSM”). Mayer Brown continues operations in Hong Kong through a newly formed partnership aligned with its international and Asian strategies, while JSM focuses on its identity as a locally rooted full-service law firm based in Hong Kong. Terence Tung, senior partner of the Hong Kong entity, affirmed ongoing service provision from offices located in both Hong Kong and mainland China.
Effective December 2, 2024, Mayer Brown Hong Kong formally divided into two distinct firms: Mayer Brown Hong Kong LLP and Johnson Stokes & Master. JSM sustains its presence through offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.