BLAXLAND CONSULTING LIMITED

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗖𝗣 – 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗱-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 

Diane is a senior adviser to private equity portfolio companies.  She helps investors and portcos to deliver robust growth against value creation plans - including via post-merger integration.  She has a sweet spot in Tech-enabled B2B Services including Professional Services in the UK and EMEA.

Her experience includes:

- pre-deal MDD and post-deal operating reviews of portcos - eg for Blackstone, Mercia, Silverfleet, LDC, Rockpool, Foresight
- rapid recovery of post-merger integration and transformation, ahead of an IPO (backed by TPG)
- commercial risk analysis for a PE portco, triggering an exit via secondary buyout (backed by ICG)
- recovery of an off-shore proposition, re-positioning for growth ahead of a merger
- design and global rollout of a post-merger data integration model.

Her skills include P&L management, business strategy, sales, operations, business transformation, and change management – drawing on her experience in startups, scaleups and global business.

Founder

Career Coaching by Diane Blaxland

🚩 How will you know if my Career Coaching is right for you? Five quick signs: 

•	there is a gap emerging between your career and your satisfaction level 
•	addressing the gap is increasingly important to you 
•	there are risks if you do something, and risks if you do nothing 
•	you have some advice, but you want to take a wider, longer term view 
•	talking it through with an experienced executive feels like a good place to start 

#ExpertLeaders #Careers #PersonalDevelopment

Catalysis Advisory Ltd

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗘 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗰𝗼 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
🔺 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 - 𝗕𝟮𝗕𝟮𝗖 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 (𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲)
🔺 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝗱-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 - 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
🔺 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗕𝟮𝗚𝟮𝗖 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗕𝟮𝗕𝟮𝗖 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗕𝟮𝗕𝟮𝗖 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗕𝟮𝗚 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵

Business Advisor

Johnson Controls Inc

$5b EMEA region of $20b Business Services division of $40b Fortune100 listed company

Director Change Management, EMEA

Blaxland Consulting

Advising clients on operational and commercial change.

CPA Global

£100m global Business Services company, backed by Private Equity

Director Strategy

Williams Lea

£20m Division of this £1b global Business Services company, part of DAX30 company DeutschePost

Managing Director 

Clifford Chance LLP

£100m+ M&A practice of this £1bn global Professional Services firm

Head Business Development Operations

Blake Dawson Waldron

A$350m international Professional Services firm (now part of £1b Ashurst LLP)

Business Development, Sales & Marketing management

CEO & Founder Expert Leaders™ | Career Direction & CV Coaching | £1B PSF | $40B Fortune100 | PE scaleups | London Business School

I help professionals step into clarity, confidence, and growth - especially when navigating complex career transitions in challenging or unfamiliar markets.

My clients are technically brilliant, ambitious … and many are internationally experienced. They’re often MBAs, engineers, M&A/finance experts, consultants, lawyers, or technology & data/AI specialists. 

They're ready to step into senior leadership, but something isn’t landing. Their pitch isn’t quite resonating. The growth opportunities they seek feel just out of reach.

That’s where I come in.

With more than 10 years in senior leadership - including as Managing Director responsible for 550 people - I’ve led growth, transformation, and turnaround across organisations from under £10m to over $5Bn. 

I’ve advised private equity investors and portfolio companies on operations, building robust solutions to complex problems. 

And I bring that same level of focus, clarity, and strategic thinking into my coaching practice.

My sweet spot lies in tech-enabled B2B services - including engineering, data/AI, finance, legal, and consulting. 

Highlights of my work include: 

▪️Steering post-merger integration for a $6Bn PE-backed global professional services firm, resolving operational failures, client complaints, and transformation across 15 countries.
▪️Leading the recovery of a £1bn NHS Trust’s lab project post-dispute, bringing together investors, clinicians, scientists, suppliers, and engineers to co-create a viable solution.
▪️Delivering commercial risk analysis that identified a -70% risk to a target exit valuation for a PE-backed £100m B2B services firm, unlocking a £1Bn exit in under three months.
▪️Repositioning a struggling new BPO offshore (India) proposition for profitable growth, delivering 50% savings to the client in a new £3m contract while also tripling profit margins.
▪️Rolling out a post-merger Sales/Marketing/Finance integration model for a £1Bn global professional services firm across 30 offices in 20 countries, deployed to 4,000+ staff.

All of that senior experience now feeds directly into my career coaching.

Many of my clients are mid-career or post-MBA, and sense a need to reframe their narrative, sharpen their presence, and navigate a system that may not easily understand their value. 

We don’t just talk. We rehearse. We edit. We test. We build influence from the inside out.

Whether you're preparing for interview, pitching for promotion, or making a full pivot, I’ll help you to tailor your story, build trust, and move forward with strategic clarity.

🎯 Diane Blaxland

Oldham, Li & Nie

I head a team of energetic and passionate lawyers to:-

- Listen to business model then identify your real concerns and issues

- Advise on how to build sustainable shareholding structure

- Draft documents that don’t just protect your interest, but predict and prevent dispute then allow business to grow 

- Take into account humanity in our work

Services that we offer:-

- Shareholding structuring - advisory, drafting shareholders’ / cofounders’ agreement

- Fund-raising support (SAFE, CB & Equity) - negotiation, term sheet, transaction document review / drafting, closing 

- Advice on ESOP

- Contract negotiation, review & drafting (Service Agreement, License Agreement, Cooperation Agreement, T&C, SAAS Agreement,  User Agreement etc)

- For Hong Kong based business looking for overseas expansion - we work together with boutique firms outside HK to help your business expand swiftly but legally 

- For overseas business to Hong Kong - company set up & other local support 

Check out our brochure here - shorturl.at/ijJQ4

Legal Consultant

The University of Hong Kong

Lecturer

Tsang, Chan & Wong

This is the firm which I have started from 0 to build my own emerging companies / commercial legal practice and followings.

Consultant

Choy, Cheung & Co

I was invited to start (then closed) this no longer existing law firm. I have gained much experience from this journey.

Han Kun Law Offices

Of Counsel

Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP

Associate

King & Wood

As an entrepreneur myself running my own legal practice and other ventures, and also wife of an entrepreneur, that’s how my team and I work with our clients:- 

- We understand and consider business when advising.
- We take care of human elements in our advice.  Relationship matters.
- We discuss with you how your team can also prevent problems on operational level.
- We avoid incurring unnecessary hours and guide with you on things that you can do so to save our hours
- We ask about your budget and provide fee estimate 
- We share our connections with you
- We work in plain language

What can I do for you?

- any agreement drafting and reviewing
- fund raising 
- ESOP and employee motivation plan 
- handling dispute 
- advising on how to deal with negotiations 
- overseas expansion 

Who are my clients?

- Startup / emerging companies looking for scaling up their business and fund raising
- Corporate / individual investors who are new to start up / early stage investment
- Fast growing companies which are yet to afford a full time experienced legal counsel
- Corporates which are keen about corporate innovation but not sure how
- Overseas companies which plans to tap into the Hong Kong and PRC markets
- Overseas law firms who look for reliable Hong Kong legal support
- Individuals who look for more thoughtful and humane legal advice in family / trust / probate matters (which I will work closely with my team)

Industry: E-Commerce, SI, SaaS, Cloud, Food Tech, Prop Tech, Digital Assets, F&B, Retail, Entertainment, Real Estate, Logistics, Franchised Business, Trading, IoT etc.

By having a general retainer (I call it Legal First Aid Kit) with us, you can focus on growing your business.

DM or email me to check out how our Legal First Aid Kit works, or how I may be able to help you - cermain.cheung@oln-law.com

***
Other than work, I am also a (mostly) stay at home working mommy of three adorable kids and a handsome kitten.

Cermain  Cheung

No ball games at a park? Are you serious?  

Yes — I saw a poster at a park near Ma On Shan that said exactly that.  

I approached the security guard to ask why.  

She just stared, said nothing.  

Imagine that — a rule with no explanation.  

When rules are enforced without reason, chaos follows.  

It’s like telling a kid “no,” without telling him why.  

It breeds rebellion.  

In school — kids push back, ignore rules, become unruly.  

In work — teams get frustrated, morale drops, conflicts rise.  

Rules should make sense.  

If you’re leading, ask yourself: are your rules clear, fair, and justified?  

Or are you just creating friction?  

Sometimes, the rules we enforce do more harm than good.  

Think about it.  

What rules are you holding onto — just because “that’s how it’s always been”?  

Time to rethink.  

Because no rule should be worth chaos.  

Sensible rules drive disputes away!

Want better teamwork? Start with rules that actually make sense.

Human-centric legal solutions for everyone | 1/2 entrepreneur (森流GreenFlow & YeeGoo 易雇) | Wife of entrepreneur & mommy of 3 | Work-life integrator

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Ever wondered what a single plastic bag can do? 
Here’s a simple idea: turn it into a tool for change. 

Last weekend, we hiked to Ham Tim Wan (鹹田灣) in Sai Kung — one of the most beautiful beaches around. 

White sand, surrounded by lush hills, it’s a perfect spot for some healthy outdoor fun. 

It’s part of the Maclehose Trail, Section 2, and if you’re into hiking, you know how refreshing it is to breathe in that mountain air. 

But here’s the harsh reality — the scenery gets tarnished by trash. Bottles, beer cans, food wrappers... you name it. It’s heartbreaking when nature’s beauty is spoiled by our own carelessness. 

My friend Franco always carries a plastic bag to collect wood or rocks for his terrarium. This time, we decided to use that same bag to collect rubbish along the trail. 

One bag wasn’t enough. We kept filling and filling, until we had three full bags of trash. 

It’s a small action, but it makes a difference. Dumping trash isn’t just wrong — it’s a stain on all of us. 

So, here’s a challenge: next time you hike, bring an extra trash bag. Do your part, no matter how small. 

Baby steps matter. If enough of us start there, we can turn these trails back into the pristine places they’re meant to be. 

We can do it together. Who’s in? 

End of the day, it’s about respect for nature and our community. Let’s leave behind something better than we found. 

Time to start small and think big. Who else will join me? #TrashBagHike #Hongkongtrails #Saikung #hiking #impact

***

I'm Cermain, an experienced corporate lawyer, a newbie entrepreneur, a mommy of 3 and a work-life integrator. I occasionally post insights on business, law, parenting and life. Stay updated, click the bell icon on my profile. DMs are welcome.

Heartbroken.

I never thought we’d see a man-made disaster of this scale unfold in Hong Kong in 2025.

In trying to figure out how I could contribute or help, I checked the Wang Fuk Court Owners’ Corporation website and noticed in one of the meeting records a discussion on engaging lawyers to prepare documents outlining owners’ shared repair costs, along with fees for late payments. 
Media reports have also highlighted that many owners were well aware of penalties for delayed contributions.

While I haven’t reviewed the major repair contract myself, I wonder if the rights and obligations are truly balanced between individual owners and the contractor—for instance, owners face structured collection processes with interest for late payments, but are there comparable clauses to hold the contractor accountable for delays, deviations from the agreed plan, negligence, or similar issues?

For a HK$330 million project like this, any moderately sized company entering such an agreement—even for a fraction of that value—would typically enlist legal experts to protect both parties’ interests. Yet, when it involves thousands of small owners, many feel overwhelmed or underinformed in navigating legal matters, overly reliant on standard templates for protection, or convinced that justice through the courts (at great expense) will prevail. These unchecked misconceptions slowly entrench outdated systems.

Honestly, even if authorities arrest a dozen individuals and impose lifelong sentences, or if insurance payouts come through, does it truly make a difference for the residents who’ve already lost loved ones and their homes?

That said, the outpouring of donations and supplies from companies is truly heartening and appreciated. However, what’s critically needed now is sustained, long-term support to help the affected residents rebuild their lives and address their emotional well-being.

Looking further ahead, real change starts with greater awareness of our rights and responsibilities, followed by collective efforts to reform the system.

On a related note, I’ve long believed blockchain technology holds immense potential for transparent multi-party decision-making—anyone with expertise care to share insights?

All of the above reflects my personal views and reflections only; it is not intended as professional legal advice, analysis, or a call to action. If anything is inaccurate, I’m open to corrections, but please don’t rely on this as factual evidence. I have no intent to defame any individual or organization, nor to promote any unlawful activities.

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🎯 Diane Blaxland

Cermain Cheung

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The Battle

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Cermain Cheung

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Cermain Cheung's LinkedIn Performance

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