Professional Practice
Thomas is developing a broad civil and arbitration practice and accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ work. He has a variety of experiences in trial work and interlocutory matters from the District Court (including the Lands Tribunal) to the Court of Appeal, both as a led junior and sole advocate. He is fluent in Cantonese, English and Mandarin, and is comfortable with drafting documents in Chinese.
Prior to commencing practice, Thomas served as a Judicial Assistant at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. In this capacity, he assisted in substantive appeals, applications for leave to appeal, and practice-related research and publications.
Thomas has contributed to practitioner texts and published at peer-reviewed legal periodicals in various areas of private law and arbitration, including matters on conflict of laws and cross-border issues. He teaches tort law at the University of Hong Kong and had assisted in teaching arbitration at the City University of Hong Kong on a part-time basis.
A detailed CV (English / Chinese) is available upon request.
Read More- Hong Kong (2022)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, University of Hong Kong
- Master of Laws, London School of Economics and Political Science (Merit)
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Durham (1st Class Honours)
Appointments:
- Part-Time Lecturer, University of Hong Kong (2023 – Present)
- Member of the following Committees of the Hong Kong Bar Association (2023 – Present):
- Standing Committee on International Practice
- Practice Committee on Companies Law
- Judicial Assistant, Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (2020 – 2021)
Memberships:
- Associate Member, Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators
Seminars
- “UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG): ‘Love it or hate it, but NEVER leave it!” (2023) (with Louise Barrington, Samuel Wong, and Sherlin Tung)
Practitioner Texts
- “Winding-Up by the Court” in Dr Stefan H.C. Lo (ed), Company Law in Hong Kong: Insolvency 2023
- “Vicarious Liability” and “Conflict of Laws” in Kemal Bokhary NPJ (ed), Tort Law and Practice in Hong Kong (4th edn) (forthcoming)
Practitioner Notes
- “A regional comparison of arbitration landscapes: Hong Kong” Asia Business Law Journal (19 October 2023) (with Samuel Wong and Edward K H Ng)
- “Hong Kong: Competition Litigation” The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides (August 2023) (with Kenneth Lee, William Tse, Edward K H Ng, and Kristy K Y Wong)
Academic Publications
- “Taking ‘Public Function’ Seriously” (2021) 51(2) Hong Kong Law Journal 547–572 (with Gabriel Wan) (referred to in Chitty on Contracts — Hong Kong Specific Contracts (7th edn), §14-151)
- “Pacta Sunt Servanda in Changing Times” (Chinese University of Hong Kong, “Pacta Sunt Servanda” academic conference; 25 June 2021) (as Research Assistant to the Hon Geoffrey Ma)
- “Maintaining Constants amongst Variable Factors: The Challenge of Equitable Accounting in the Property Context” (2021) 27(8) Trusts and Trustees 761–770 (with Benny Chung)
- “Joe Zhixiong Zhou v SAIF Partners II L.P.: The Importance of Mapping Out the Correct Corporate Structure” (2021) 27(5) Trusts and Trustees 394–405 (with Benny Chung and Bennett Au Yeung)
- “Comparative Constitutional and Administrative Law in Hong Kong: In Search for Coherence” [2021] Public Law 261–270 (with Trevor Wan)
- “Xiamen Xinjingdi Group Co Ltd v Eton Properties Ltd: Clarifying the Steps and Issues to Consider when Lodging a Trust Claim in Cross-Border Disputes” (2021) 27(3) Trusts and Trustees 246–263 (with Benny Chung)
- 3 Verulam Buildings Prize for Best Overall Submission, LSE Law Review (2020)
- Winner, Ambassador’s Moot (2018)
- Clyde & Co Research Internship in Public Law and Human Rights, Durham Law School (to Professor Helen Fenwick, Professor Roger Masterman, and Dr Se-Shauna Wheatle) (2017)
- Letter of Commendation for Academic Excellence, Durham Law School (2016)
Arbitration
- Acting for a Hong Kong cosmetics and skincare products company in a joint venture dispute (HKIAC Rules) (with Samuel Wong)
- Advised a state-owned enterprise on potential arbitration proceedings arising from failure to deliver metal ores due to supplier’s administration proceedings (with Samuel Wong)
Banking / Finance
- Xue Xiaoyun v Susan Yung and BOCI Securities Limited HCA 2526/2018 (with Samuel Wong) — negligent misstatements by investment advisor on cross-border transactions, vicarious liability of investment bank
- Sin Pui Ching v Zero Finance Hong Kong Limited HCA 1792/2018; HCMP 637/2018 — breach of loan agreement and declaration of non-existent beneficiary interest, common intention constructive trust and resulting trust over property subject to loan agreement
- Yinggao Resources Limited and another v The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited HCA 329/2015; CAMP 94/2023 (with Tanie Toh) — breach of banking mandate and negligence dispute arising from loss in metal trading contracts
Commercial
- Yee On Engineering Limited v Fred & Willie Bros Const Eng Co Limited DCCJ 997/2020 — commercial dispute over installation and maintenance of building facilities (settled)
- Advised on an agency fee dispute over referrals made and services done with regard to sale of properties
Civil Fraud / Asset Recovery
- Lam Cheuk Wai Trevor, The Sole Executor of the Estate of Lam Hak Man (deceased) v Wong Man Hon Frederick HCA 2379/2018 — joint venture dispute over investment in listed company shares, constructive trust and unjust enrichment
- Advised on an intended claim for breach of director’s duties, fraud, and restitution of unjust enrichment
Company
- In the Matter of Hong Kong Real Estate Agencies General Association Limited HCMP 1132/2023 — disputes over election of executive committees and validity of election resolutions; interim-interim injunction restraining expulsion of members
- Wesoft Nationmark Limited v Nationmark (HK) Limited and others HCA 724 & 1317/2019 (with Samuel Wong) — shareholder dispute involving breach of fiduciary duties, causing loss by unlawful means, conspiracy, and asset tracing
Property / Probate and Succession
- Au Din Har Ellen v Au Yee Wan and others HCA 1591/2022 — will made under undue influence, constructive trusts over and duty to account for family properties; discontinuance of proceedings with costs on indemnity basis
- Cheuk Kin Shan v Lau Kai Fan LDRT 436/2023 — recovery of vacant possession as a result of rental and tenancy disputes (settled)
- Advised on the application for a grant of probate in Hong Kong as a substituted executor under a will made in a foreign jurisdiction
Tort / Personal Injuries
- Advised on intended claims in employee’s compensation and personal injuries arising from hazardous installations at workplace
Winding Up / Bankruptcy
- Re Dada Oluwaseun John HCB 3723/2022 — obtained bankruptcy order for the petitioner law firm arising from statutory demand for unpaid legal fees
White Collar Crime
- 香港特別行政區 訴 秦錦釗及另外五人 DCCC 919/2015 — review of taxation of costs following 97-days criminal trial on conspiracy to export unmanifested cargo and money laundering
- Advised on the merits of charges of conspiracy of money laundering and obtaining property by deception as a result of bank-account fraud