Legal Updates

18Jun2020

Ian De Witt and Jeff Lane speaking at Thought Leaders FIRE virtual event

Partners Ian De Witt and Jeff Lane will be speakers at Thought Leaders FIRE Asia Virtual event on 30 June and 1 July.  Jeff’s session on 30 June is, “The Crucial First Few Hours” and begins at 5:05 pm HKT and will cover best practices…Read More

12Jun2020

Hong Kong Wage Subsidy Update 5 – Reminder: Deadline to apply for 1st tranche of Employment Support Scheme (ESS) closes on Sunday, 14 June 2020 at 23:59 HKT

A reminder for any employers intending to apply for the first tranche of the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) in Hong Kong that applications will close this coming Sunday, 14 June 2020 at 23:59 HKT.  The application needs to be made online via the ESS portal…Read More

04Jun2020

Liquidators do not require Court Approval for Litigation Funding Agreements

Re Patrick Cowley and Lui Yee Man, Joint and Several Liquidators of the Company, is another welcome decision of the Hong Kong Companies Court supporting third-party funding in the insolvency context, write Robin Darton of Tanner De Witt and James Wood, Barrister-at-law. Background On 27…Read More

29May2020

Key project team members for a Security Token Offering

Security token offerings (“STO”) are a next-generation financing model that combine the benefits of blockchain technology with traditional fund raising.  As with any fundraising exercise, conducting an STO can be stressful.  The stress is increased as the novelty of STOs makes the process more opaque. …Read More

28May2020

Section 183 notice: your right to silence may be put on hold when the SFC calls

Right to silence is a fundamental legal right that has been recognized in Hong Kong as well as in many of the world’s legal systems.  However, such a right of an individual is not guaranteed in all circumstances and it has often become a trap…Read More

27May2020

The Court-Free Amalgamation Process in Hong Kong

An amalgamation is a legal process under which the assets and liabilities of two or more companies incorporated in Hong Kong merge and are brought under one of the original companies.  Tim Drew and Herman Pang from the Corporate and Commercial practice group of Tanner…Read More

19May2020

Another obiter judgment, what is the status of the “Lasmos” approach now?

On 12 September 2019, we discussed the importance of the Court of Appeal’s judgment in But Ka Chon v Interactive Brokers LLC[1] (“But Ka Chon”). In But Ka Chon, the Court of Appeal made obiter observations moderating the Lasmos approach[2] in that a debtor would not be able to simply deny a…Read More

19May2020

Hong Kong Wage Subsidy Update 4 –Employment Support Scheme (ESS) Application details announced

UPDATE 5: 12 June 2020 – Hong Kong Wage Subsidy Update 5 – Reminder: Deadline to apply for 1st tranche of Employment Support Scheme (ESS) closes on Sunday, 14 June 2020 at 23:59 HKT The Hong Kong Government has announced the application process for the…Read More

18May2020

STOs: The What, Why, Who and How

Contents Part 1: What are security tokens? What is a token? A token is a digital asset that represents rights in respect of an application built on a blockchain protocol. The owner of the token has the ability to access, use, receive the benefit of…Read More

14May2020

Hong Kong Wage Subsidy Update 3 – HK Government releases further details on application process for Employment Support Scheme (ESS)

UPDATE 5: 12 June 2020 – Hong Kong Wage Subsidy Update 5 – Reminder: Deadline to apply for 1st tranche of Employment Support Scheme (ESS) closes on Sunday, 14 June 2020 at 23:59 HKT UPDATE 4: 19 May 2020 – Hong Kong Wage Subsidy Update…Read More

12May2020

Power of Chairman at General Meeting to Disallow a Member’s Vote

The general rule under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)[1] subject to the provisions of a company’s articles is that every member present in person or by proxy is entitled to vote at a general meeting. This general rule was tested in the case of Kwok…Read More

08May2020

Mergers and Acquisition – Deposit at the MOU Stage

In the context of mergers and acquisitions, it is not uncommon for the intended seller to ask for a deposit or other amount to be paid under a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”).  The MOU, much of which is usually not binding, will also provide for…Read More