Practice Areas
As a prominent commercial litigator with more than 25 years solid experience, William with his team of lawyers specialise in the following:
Commercial litigation
William's commercial practice ranges from companies’/shareholder's disputes, joint venture disputes, winding up/bankruptcy, restructuring and corporate risk management issues. His clients would include from prominent liquidators and/or receivers, corporates, listed companies, directors/officers of listed companies, banks/lenders, investors, charitable organisations to private/corporate shareholders and bankrupts. Notably, William and his team have recently been involved in a number of large winding up/re-restructuring matters and acting for a well-known tycoon in appealing against the bankruptcy order.
William also acts for both trustees and beneficiaries on contentious trust and probate matters, particularly for high net worth individuals on personal wealth matters.
He also handles general debt recovery matters for listed companies, financial institutions and banks and is well known for his efficiency and costs effectiveness producing great results for clients.
He has ample experience in acting for both Claimants and Recipients for funds internet fraud cases.
Insurance litigation
William acts for more than 10 large international/PRC insurers covering public liability, property, marine, travel and EC/PI insurance. He is also a leading advisor in dealing with industrial accidents with emphasis in fatal and serious injury cases. He has formed a specialist team in dealing with crisis management which would arrive at the accident scene (fatal and serious injury) quickly to deal with urgent compliance matters and enforcement authorities.
William regularly gives talks and seminars on insurance matters due to his high acclaim within the industry.
Transport litigation
William acts for shipping companies, forwarders, international logistic companies, four of the largest container terminals in Hong Kong and leading warehouse operators along with their liability/property insurers. He has unrivalled experience in handling a wide range of contentious matters on bills of lading/air waybills, cargo claims, forwarding, warehousing, logistics disputes and non-contentious matters such as drafting of complex logistic services agreements. Particularly he is a leading figure in advising container terminals on their contracts with shipping lines, emergency casualty, employment, compliance matters, property damage and fire incidents and oil spillage cases. He has advised on transport related regulatory matters such as enforcement actions by Customs and Excise Department, Labour Department, Environmental Protection Department and ICAC.
William is also on the Transportation and Logistics Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong.
Pleasure crafts
William has vast experience on yacht matters including sale and purchase of super yachts (including escrow service), collision, casualty, fire and their related personal injury, insurance and litigation matters.
Escrow agent / accounts
William frequently advises on escrow agent / account agreements and their litigation risks to facilitate sale and purchase of high value yachts, club debentures offshore properties and high value antiques/ paintings etc. In appropriate cases, our firm will act as escrow agent or stakeholder.
Arts/Paintings
William also advises on sale and purchase of arts/paintings for a number of prominent collectors.
Accreditation
William has been consistently named as one of the leading lawyers in Hong Kong by various legal directories. He is admitted to practise law in both Hong Kong and England and Wales.
William also holds a number of public posts with a view to rewarding the society.
Professional Memberships
Present
Since 2024
Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings Ordinance Cap.123) appointed by the Secretary for Development, Government of HKSAR
Member of Small and Medium Firms Committee of The Law Society of The Hong Kong (Co-option)
Since 2021
Member of Patient Complaint Committee of The Prince Philip Dental Hospital
Since 2018
Transportation and Logistics Committee of The Law Society of Hong Kong (Co-option)
Since 2023
The Transport Tribunals' Panel (Chairman) appointed by Secretary for Transport and Housing
Since 2013
Admiralty Court Users Committee appointed by Chief Justice of HKSAR (Member)
Past
Since 2017 to Mar 2023
The Transport Tribunals' Panel (Member) appointed by Secretary for Transport and Housing
Since 2015 to Dec 2020
The Board of Review, Inland Revenue Department (Panel member)
Since 2015 to Aug 2020
The Obscene Articles Tribunal (Member Adjudicator appointed by Chief Justice of HKSAR)