Academic & Professional Qualification

JD, University of Michigan
BS (Economics), University of Utah

Biography

Beau has broad experience in corporate and transactional legal matters both in the United States and across Asia. His experience includes capital markets, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and general company matters. He started his legal career at Latham & Watkins in the United States and in Hong Kong, and with Kirkland & Ellis in Hong Kong.

At HKU, Beau teaches law-related courses for undergraduate and graduate business programs. He has also taught executive education in the Women’s Directorship Programme since its inception.

Building on his interest in creating practical experiences for students, Beau created and runs a first-of-its-kind international-based experiential learning course for business undergraduates. Students live and work with small businesses in a developing country, exchanging knowledge and learning in a real-world environment.

Throughout his career, Beau has consistently focused on activities and programs with a direct social benefit to the community. His commentary on a range of issues has been featured in South China Morning Post and HKFP. Along with legal pro bono assistance and service on non-profit boards of directors, Mr. Lefler volunteers in social endeavors around Asia and in South America. He currently serves on the board of The Tandana Foundation, an organization that builds intercultural relationships in Ecuador and Mali.

Beau earned his J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Michigan Law School and his B.S. (cum laude) Economics from the University of Utah. Beau is a member of the California Bar and the Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

Mr. Lefler’s teaching style is based on helping students learn to be observant, productive, and critically thoughtful members of society. His focus is on knowledge and skills that students will find useful in real-world settings. He brings his broad, cross-cultural experience to bear in helping students learn to dissect and analyze legal and business problems and come up with creative solutions.

Beau has lived and worked in mainland China, the Philippines, and Ecuador and throughout the United States.

Teaching

Transformative Business Immersion (Elective course, Undergraduate)
Business Law (Core course, Undergraduate)
Women’s Directorship Programme (Executive Education)
Current Topics in Finance (Elective course, Master of Finance)
Company Law (Core course, Undergraduate)
Asian Financial Markets (Elective course, Master of Finance)

Research Interest

Cross-boundary business transactions
Development of capital markets
Economic development and the role of law
Ethics
Trade

Selected Publications

Lefler, Beau (2010) “Review of Corporate Governance and Financial Reform in China’sTransition Economy,”Asian Journal of Comparative Law: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Op-Ed, “Non-disclosure agreements silence victims and enable sexual predators,” Hong Kong Free Press (8 March 2018).
Op-Ed, “Don’t use the law to discriminate against domestic workers,” South China Morning Post (26 March 2013).
Op-Ed, “Hong Kong must not add another cloak of secrecy to company operations,” South China Morning Post (5 February 2013).