Professional Practice
William’s practice covers all areas of intellectual property and technology litigation, with particular experience in trade mark and copyright disputes. He has been ranked as a leading junior in Legal 500 (2022-2024) for IP and is described as “sharp, thorough, and well researched” and “demonstrates remarkably prescient judgement and excellent listening skills”.
William has appeared as counsel in trade mark and copyright cases representing for example Alibaba, Allergan Holdings France SAS, Bentley Motors, Cartier International AG, CFA Institute, Garmin Switzerland GMBH, Google, HKKLA (the then licensing body of Sony, Warner and Universal for karaoke music videos), Mariage Frères, Parfums Christian Dior, Richemont International S.A., Société des Produits Nestlé S.A, and Van Cleef & Arpels S.A..
William is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators and accepts appointment to act as arbitrator. He has been appointed as the presiding arbitrator in an IP dispute concerning online gaming licenses and has acted for parties in HKIAC-administered arbitrations.
Read More2013 PCLL (Chinese University of Hong Kong)
2010 Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of International Studies (University of Sydney)
2005 Saint Ignatius College, Riverview (Sydney)
Fellow, Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators
Part-time Lecturer (Non-Clinical), Department of Professional Legal Education, The University of Hong Kong (2020-present)
Committee Member, Committee of Intellectual Property of the Hong Kong Bar Association (2019-present)
Committee Member, Standing Committee of Continuing Education of the Hong Kong Bar Association (2022-present)
“Hong Kong: Competition Litigation” The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides (August 2023)
“Metaverse, Trademarks, Competition” 2022 (CPD Seminar)
“Competition Law with Industry Focus on Construction Materials and Related Sectors” November 2020
“Neway Music Ltd v Hong Kong Karaoke Licensing Alliance Limited: A Landmark Decision by the Copyright Tribunal” Hong Kong Lawyer, 11 June 2020
“Competition Law as a Defence in Civil Actions” 2019 (CPD Seminar)
“Introduction on Competition Ordinance Cap. 619” 2017 (CPD Seminar)
Intellectual Property
High Court
- Wong To Yick Wood Lock Ointment Ltd v Sun Ascent Development Ltd [2024] HKCFI 2706: resist an application to set aside an ex parte order granting leave to institute committal proceedings for alleged breach of Island Records orders on ground of material non-disclosure (led by John Yan SC)
- Wong To Yick Wood Lock Ointment Ltd v Imperial Charity Hall Medicines Ltd & Anor [2024] HKCFI 1867: contempt of court, breach of Island Records orders
- Wong To Yick Wood Lock Ointment Ltd v Yue Hwa Cosmetic Ltd & Anor [2024] HKCFI 1868: contempt of court, breach of Island Records orders
- Cartier International AG & Ors v Dynasty Jewelry (Hong Kong) Ltd [2023] HKCA 1002; [2021] HKCFI 1005: contempt of court, breach of Island Records orders (with Philips Wong) (pending appeal before the CFA)
- Bentley Motors Ltd v Aucera S.A. HCIP 6/2024: invalidation of registered trade mark
- Jupiter Investment Management Group Ltd v Jupiter Research Capital (Asia) Ltd HCIP 104/2023: trade mark infringement and passing off
- Advanced Card Systems Ltd v Leung Tin Chak Gilbert & Anors HCIP 80/2023: copyright infringement and infringement of registered design
- Blackbird Concessionaires Ltd v Wong Kathy Car-Yee trading as Workaholic Productions HCIP 53/2023: ownership of film, exclusive licensee and copyright infringement
- Mr. Chi Wing Ltd & Law Oi Ying Ltd Trading as Singapore Heardway Medicine Company v Cheung Ka Cheong trading as Hong Kong Chung Shun Medicine Manufactory HCIP 39/2023: trade mark infringement, passing off, invalidation and revocation of trade mark registration (led by Andrew Liao SC)
- JK Ballet & Jazz School Ltd v Jolly Kids Education & Ors HCIP 68/2022: trade mark infringement, passing off, invalidation of trade mark registration, acquiescence and estoppel
- Hung Win Trading Co Ltd v Ku Ka Fai Alan HCIP 57/2022: trade mark infringement and passing off
- Bentley Motors Limited v Aucera S.A. HCIP 53/2022: revocation of trade marks for non-use
- Re Hong Kong Standard Patent No. HK40026920 HCIP 23/2022: amendment of patent specification
- German Pool Group Co Ltd & Ors v Dyson Technology Ltd & Another HCIP 53/2019: inquiries of damages on cross-undertaking given for an interlocutory injunction and groundless threats of patent infringement (led by Andrew Liao SC)
- Monster Energy Company v 洪嘉珮 HCIP 5/2019, [2020] HKCFI 561: appeal against a decision of the Registrar of Trade Marks
Trade Marks Registry & Copyright Tribunal
- Revocation of trade mark “嶺南東方酒店” (decision pending)
- Opposition of trade mark “B.Duck” (decision pending)
- Opposition of trade mark “Off & Device” (decision pending)
- Opposition of trade mark “grMail” (decision pending)
- Opposition of trade mark “Atwo illuma” [2024] HKTMR 8
- Opposition of trade mark “CVA” [2023] HKTMR 66
- Opposition of trade mark “CVA” [2023] HKTMR 65
- Opposition of trade mark “Buffy” [2023] HKTMR 61
- Opposition of trade mark “VIVO” [2023] HKTMR 40
- Opposition of trade mark “CHALI” [2023] HKTMR 34
- Opposition of trade mark “ATWO” [2023] HKTMR 30
- Opposition of trade mark “a2 Store” [2023] HKTMR 29
- Opposition of trade mark “OT Tango & Device” [2023] HKTMR 24
- Revocation of trade mark “JAGUAR” [2023] HKTMR 4
- Opposition of Trademark “HAUTE COUTURE MARIAGE FRERES” [2022] HKTMR 41
- Opposition of Trade Mark “KINWONG” [2022] HKTMR 26
- Opposition of Trade Mark “阿里康美” [2022] HKTMR 16
- Opposition of Trade Marks “JUVÉDERM” & “Juvederm & Device” [2022] HKTMR 11; [2022] HKTMR 10 (written submissions)
- Invalidation of Trade Mark “永良” [2022] HKTMR 8
- Invalidation of Trade Mark “Goodever PF” [2022] HKTMR 7
- Neway Music Ltd v Hong Kong Karaoke Licensing Ltd CT 2/2010, 23 December 2019: 37 days trial before the Copyright Tribunal on the reasonableness of licence fees charged under a karaoke music videos licensing scheme (led by Andrew Liao SC and with Norman Hui)
Civil & Commercial
- Shun Pong Ltd v Chan Koo Kai Felix and others HCA 255/2017: beneficial ownership of land, proprietary & promissory estoppel (judgment pending)
- HK88 Enterprises Limited v Su Yuan-Yu [2024] HKCFI 1678: beneficial ownership of land, constructive and resulting trust
- Advanced Card Systems Ltd v Leung Tin Chak Gilbert & Anors HCA 644/2023: breach of confidentiality obligations, employee’s breach of contract and of duty of good faith and fidelity
- Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd v Homer International Sports (Shanghai) Co., Ltd & Anor DCCJ 3090/2021: breach of licensing agreement, foreign law
- E-Hold Construction Ltd v Oasis Well Ltd DCCJ 2648/2021: breach of construction contract, summary judgment
- Lee Man Fai v Yip Pak Keung HCA 1631/2018 trial settled on second day: contract, misrepresentation, restitution, illegality defence
- Design Time Ltd v Complete Power International Ltd & ors HCA 1808/2019: summary judgment application, bond dispute
- Toy Quest Ltd v Nuance Communications Ireland Ltd HCA 832/2018: breach of technology licensing agreement
Arbitration
- Chair arbitrator in an IP dispute concerning online gaming licenses (HKIAC arbitration)
- Acted as counsel in a dispute concerning sale and purchase of future receivables (HKIAC arbitration)
- Refusal of enforcement of a Mainland arbitral award (led by Andrew Liao SC)
Competition
- Taching Petroleum Co Ltd v Meyer Aluminium Ltd [2021] HKCT 2; [2021] HKCFI 3028 Counterclaim for damages arising from price fixing in contravention of first conduct rule. With Kenneth Lee and Nana Lui
- Taching Petroleum Co Ltd v Meyer Aluminium Ltd [2021] HKCA 294 Appeal against Competition Tribunal’s decision in refusing to grant leave to amend Points of Defence and refusing leave to adduce expert evidence. With Kenneth Lee and Nana Lui
- Advised an undertaking on matters involving investigation brought by the Competition Commission