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ABOUT US
Established in Hong Kong in 1985 and now with offices across Asia, Eastgate Group has advised international, high-net-worth families on matters of trust and estate for over forty years.
We advise parties across Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Taiwan, and China who have interests or family residing outside of Asia in high-tax jurisdictions such as the USA, Canada, and the UK. Eastgate Group does not advise on any Hong Kong matters.
We are proud to share that many of our clients have worked with Eastgate Group for over 25 years.
Senior Partner
Founded Eastgate Group Limited in 1985 and has advised families on international investment and multiple international planning issues for over forty years. Mr. Silsby is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law ('79).
A U.S. lawyer and a member of the California Bar Association, he is a member of the Hong Kong Trustee Association and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
He speaks English and French.
OLIVER SILSBY III
Of Counsel
Having previously served as the firm’s Managing Partner, he played a pivotal role in shaping Eastgate Group's reputation as a trusted advisor to ultra-high-net-worth families with U.S. and cross-border considerations. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations as well as the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. His deep expertise in wealth structuring, succession planning, and international compliance continues to be an invaluable resource to clients and colleagues, providing insight and counsel on complex private client matters. Mr. Silsby served as a Visiting Professor lecturing on principles of Contract Law at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade in 1996 and from 2003 to 2011, led Eastgate’s Shanghai office where he also served as a visiting professor of law in the graduate program at East China University of Politics and Law. He holds an Honors Degree from St. Joseph’s University and a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School. He served as Judicial Law Clerk to Hon. Mary Eva Colalillo, New Jersey Superior Criminal Division.
He speaks English, Mandarin and Spanish.
WILLIAM J. SILSBY
Senior Associate
U.S.-qualified attorney, admitted to the District of Columbia bar, with extensive experience in international legal and business matters. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he was a Provost Scholar and a recipient of the CALI Excellence Award. Prior to joining Eastgate Group, he worked in commercial real estate, EB-5 investment, and immigration, advising clients on a variety of cross-border matters and investments. At Eastgate Group, he focuses on the firm's core practice areas: advising high-net-worth families and individuals on international trust and estate planning, international and U.S. tax issues, U.S. real estate investment, family office management and regulatory compliance, to protect family legacy and wealth. He has played a key role in the firm's operations across multiple international hubs, having managed Eastgate Group's offices in San Francisco, Hong Kong, and Manila.
He is conversant in both English and Mandarin and is currently studying Portuguese.
LAIRD SILSBY
OLIVER SILSBY IV
Senior Associate
U.S.-qualified attorney, admitted to the District of Columbia bar, with extensive experience in international estate and trust planning. He earned his J.D. from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, where he focused on taxation and succession. Prior to that, he completed a B.A. in History at Georgetown University. Before joining Eastgate Group, he worked on matters involving investment, immigration, and financial regulatory compliance. At Eastgate Group, he advises high-net-worth individuals and families on wealth preservation strategies, U.S. property tax considerations, FATCA/CRS compliance, expatriation planning, and cross-border family law. His expertise in international tax and trust structures, combined with his fluency in Mandarin and deep-rooted ties to Asia, enables him to provide strategic guidance tailored to clients with global financial interests. He plays a vital role in the firm’s international operations, assisting clients in structuring their assets to protect wealth and ensure seamless generational transitions.
He speaks English and Mandarin.