Johnson Stokes client cleared of forgery after eight-year battle

Johnson Stokes & Master has successfully defended Hong Kong's richest woman, who was last week cleared of forging her late husband's will to inherit his fortune, following an epic eight-year legal battle.

Prosecutors dropped charges that Nina Kung falsified the will and attempted to pervert the course of justice after the Court of Final Appeal exonerated her in September.

It is the longest-running criminal and civil proceedings ever in Hong Kong.

Johnson Stokes partner Brian Gilchrist led the team in the civil and criminal proceedings throughout the eight-year period.

"It was just good that the Court of Final Appeal really looked at the evidence in making its decision," said Gilchrist.

The saga began with the kidnapping of businessman Teddy Wang 15 years ago. He was never seen again and nine years later was declared dead.

His estate was valued at around $5bn (£2.89bn).

Every twist and turn of the high-profile court case has dominated Hong Kong newspapers for the past eight years.