This article is part of our Hong Kong Spotlight series, profiling our lawyers based in our Hong Kong office. In the series, we find out about their backgrounds, their journey through law and hear why Hong Kong is important to them.
Mark Lanning is an Immigration Director at Mishcon de Reya with 18 years’ experience in immigration and cross-border investment. Mark assists clients with US immigration, and residency and citizenship-by-investment programs in Europe and the Caribbean.
I came to be in Hong Kong because… of my job as a US diplomat. My first tour as a diplomat was at the US Consulate Guangzhou (previously known as "Canton") in South China. After that tour, I let my wife choose our next city and she had her heart set on London. My third tour was in Hong Kong. I'm originally from Washington State and I have also studied in Russia.
I knew I wanted to get into law when… After a number of tours as a US diplomat and Visa Officer, I wanted to deepen my business development and immigration know-how skills to service the growing demand among Asian high-net-worth individuals for cross-border investment immigration. After getting to know some of the players in the private client legal space, via lateral hire, I transferred from government to private sector.
I chose private wealth and immigration law because… I saw, on the one hand, the growing demand among emerging market entrepreneurs for investment migration and, on the other hand, the bottlenecks in the market due to barriers such as language, culture, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. I thought my skills, temperament, and experience would be a perfect match to add value in this industry.
The thing that motivates me most is… helping people accomplish their business and immigration goals. Having immigrated to Hong Kong myself, I understand the desire people have to expand their business and seek out new frontiers.
The work achievement I'm most proud of is… Helping the world's most successful businesspeople invest and create jobs around the world. Also aiding individuals who have faced barriers, such as overturning permanent ineligibilities, and giving them a chance at redemption is powerful.
The thing that makes Hong Kong such a great place to live is… on the business front, Hong Kong's international, multicultural, and capitalistic nature, coupled with its proximity to mainland China, presents endless opportunities and a constant flow of investment and talent from around the world. On the personal side, you have probably the densest collection of skyscrapers in the world, but also great expanses of mountain trails and beaches all quite near the urban area. You can work in an office and go for a hike the same day. It's an incredible contrast.
One opportunity in this region… Is Hong Kong's interaction with Mainland China, which solidifies its role as a "Super Connector." As China's growth persists, Hong Kong's strategic position as a two-way gateway will continue to be invaluable.
Somebody that has inspired me during my career is… my father, a nuclear scientist who patented computer software. Despite his introverted nature, his deep thinking and ability to dissect complex problems have been a constant source of inspiration.
One thing I wish I knew when I started my career is… private client is a very people-oriented industry, so maintaining good relationships with clients and intermediaries is extremely important. Over time, I've learned to empathise and see the world through my clients' eyes, enhancing my ability to serve them effectively and fostering a referral network.
One future trend in my practice area is… using AI to streamline processes. For the private client, the personal touch of being able to explain things and give human interaction is very important. AI should help you have the time to do that and help make interactions as efficient as possible.
One thing you don't know about me is... during my time at the US embassy in London, I personally conducted the visa interviews of many British celebrities. I couldn't possibly tell you who though!