Parenthood suits family lawyer

Rita Ku's exuberance is infectious. It's the morning after a celebratory party at the China Club and she breezes into the room talking about the night before. The cause for celebration was her appointment as a partner of Withers Worldwide, which has made her the English law firm's first Chinese partner and only the seventh partner in Asia.

The appointment is her second milestone for the global firm. In 2010 she worked on the landmark divorce case ML v YJ, where the ruling in favour of her client pressured the Legislative Council to make important changes to the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance.

Despite her high spirits, Ku stresses the fact that her work as a family-law specialist is centred on acrimonious marital relationships concerning divorce, child custody and ancillary relief.

The divorce cases she handles involve wealthy couples negotiating substantial divorce settlements. Her position requires the ability to deal with the emotional aspects of each family's welfare, especially the children. These are skills Ku has developed over a decade of practice.

"Not all cases end up in court and a lawyer has to find a way to strike a balance because we are talking about family, not business, and children may be involved. The client, caught up in the heat of the moment, may find it hard to understand, but with hindsight, they will recognise that it is in their best interest," she says.

Family law was not Ku's first choice when she graduated with an LLB from Hong Kong University in 2000. She joined a local practice for her two-year apprenticeship which exposed her to a wide gamut of litigation work.