News & Media

18Sep2023

ALB Forum: All About the Money

In recent years, the traditional pricing arrangement between a law firm and a client has been increasingly challenged by requests for alternative frameworks, while the turbulent economic environment has further squeezed budgets on legal spending. Law firms in Asia share what they have experienced with…Read More

11Sep2023

Notice-ably Wrong: The Importance of Proper Notice in Arbitration Proceedings

What difference can a “t” make? Apparently, a lot. In a Hong Kong Arbitration Society arbitration, the Claimant served its Notice of Arbitration (NoA) on the Respondent using [email protected] instead of [email protected] (the Respondent’s email for service under the relevant contract).  That difference was sufficient…Read More

05Sep2023

Court of Final Appeal: Government must provide alternative means of recognising same-sex partnership

On 5 September 2023, the Court of Final Appeal in Sham Tsz Kit v Secretary for Justice [2023] HKCFA 28 ruled that the absence of alternative means of legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Hong Kong amounts to a violation of the constitutional right to…Read More

01Sep2023

Tanner De Witt expands IP Practice

Tanner De Witt announces the appointment of Douglas Clark as Partner to join its Intellectual Property practice. The appointment is effective today, Friday 1st September 2023. This marks a significant advancement in the firm’s strategic initiative to enhance its IP practice along with its litigation…Read More

29Aug2023

The importance of proof of the genuine reasons for dismissal in defending discrimination claims

The District Court has recently handed down a judgment against a logistics company (“Respondent”), for refusing to pay a former pregnant employee (“Claimant”) her year-end bonus and for not renewing her employment contract after she had informed the Respondent about her pregnancy.  Background The Claimant…Read More

25Aug2023

Our Partners Pamela Mak and River Stone attended the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum 2023 held in Chengdu

Our Partners Pamela Mak and River Stone attended the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum 2023 held in Chengdu.  The forum addressed key concerns for enterprises in Sichuan and Chongqing, including sound risk management in the context of cross-border transactions and foreign investment. It also highlighted Hong Kong’s role as…Read More

23Aug2023

Stay of Play: Winding-Up v. Arbitration (Again)

The recent Hong Kong Court of First Instance decision of Re Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited marks another intersection between the public domain of insolvency and the private realm of arbitration.  In this and previous decisions, the Hong Kong courts have grappled with the issue…Read More

21Aug2023

Should a professional administrator be appointed? 

In Re the Estate of Yeung Kam (HCAP 19/2022), the Hong Kong High Court refused to appoint 2 beneficiaries of the Estate to be the administrator ad colligenda bona (for the purpose of collecting assets) and administrator pendente lite (pending litigation) and decided to appoint…Read More

09Aug2023

Consultation on proposed acceptance of commitments from Foodpanda and Deliveroo

On 1 June 2023, the Competition Commission commenced a consultation on its proposal to accept legally binding commitments (“Proposed Commitments”) from two leading online food delivery platforms in Hong Kong, Foodpanda and Deliveroo (“Platforms”). The Competition Commission conducted an investigation into the respective agreements between…Read More

07Aug2023

Recent Changes to Hong Kong Bankruptcy Laws; a win for creditors and the environment

The Government of Hong Kong continues its push towards favouring digitisation over using hardcopy documents.  The new changes to local bankruptcy laws allows: (1) electronic service of statutory demands; (2) using electronic bundles and skeletons for winding-up and bankruptcy applications; and (3) allowing electronic submission…Read More

01Aug2023

Legal update: “The arbitration agreement is spent” – Hong Kong Court lifts stay of proceedings notwithstanding pending application to set aside arbitral awards in foreign court

Hong Kong is widely recognised as an efficient and reliable jurisdiction for international arbitration.  It is a popular dispute resolution venue due to its modern arbitration legal framework and an independent judiciary.  The Hong Kong Courts’ intervention to arbitration proceedings is typically kept to a…Read More

28Jul2023

ChatGPT for lawyers – are we out of a job?

It is almost impossible to open a newspaper these days without being confronted by a dozen or so articles about Artificial Intelligence. OK , so I guess the reference to a ‘newspaper’ was the first clue to the fact that I may not be in the…Read More