Barristers & Arbitrators

Admissions

2022                             Barrister, Hong Kong 

Academic 

2020                              Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, University of Hong Kong

2019                              Master of Laws, London School of Economics and Political Science (Merit)

2018                              Bachelor of Laws, University of Durham (First class honours)

Practice profile 

Thomas is developing a broad civil and commercial practice (including urgent injunctive and interlocutory matters) and has experience across Chambers’ areas of expertise, including matters involving cross-border elements and conflict of laws. He accepts instructions both as sole counsel and as part of a larger counsel team. He is capable of preparing legal documents and conduct hearings in both English and Chinese. He has also contributed to several practitioners’ texts and academic papers in domestic and cross-border litigation.

Prior to commencing practice, Thomas clerked as a Judicial Assistant at the Court of Final Appeal. In this capacity, he assisted in substantive appeals, applications for leave to appeal and other legal research and publications.  He currently assists part-time at as a Judicial Associate (General) at the High Court.

Thomas is a Middle Temple Scholar and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators.

Appointments and Memberships

Appointments

  • Judicial Associate (part-time), Court of Appeal (2026 – Present)
  • Member of the following Committees of the Hong Kong Bar Association:
    • Standing Committee on International Practice (2023 – Present)
    • Practice Committees on Financial and Securities Law (2025 – Present), Arbitration (2024 – Present), and Companies Law (2023 – Present)
  • Tutor, City University of Hong Kong (2024 – 2025)
  • Lecturer (Non-Clinical), University of Hong Kong (2023)
  • Judicial Assistant, Court of Final Appeal (2020 – 2021)

Memberships

  • Fellow, Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (since July 2024)
  • International Editor (Asia), Cambridge Law Review (2019 – 2020)

Selected  cases

Arbitration (tribunal work and court-related applications)

  • Assisted a HKIAC tribunal on a 2-day hearing on an application for partial award based on breach of information and share covenants under an investment deed (governing law: Hong Kong law)
  • Advised on the setting aside of an HKIAC-award on the basis of denial of due process and impact of an agreement to stay its execution

Banking, Financial Services, and Securities

  • Yinggao Resources Limited and another v HSBC [2024] HKCA 1130 – Breach of banking mandate and negligence dispute arising from loss in metal trading contracts; application to amend pleadings to claim for damages from lost opportunities to invest (with Tanie Toh)
  • Xue Xiaoyun v Susan Yung and BOCI Securities Limited [2025] 5 HKLRD 473 – 5-day trial on negligent misstatements by investment advisor on cross-border transactions and vicarious liability of securities firm (with Samuel Wong)
  • In the Matter of China Investment Fund Co Ltd and Smartac Group China Holdings Ltd — 19-day trial before the Market Misconduct Tribunal on false trading, price rigging, stock market manipulation, and assisting / conniving in perpetration of market misconduct
  • Acted for an investor in an ICC arbitration against a trust management services company for default in periodical payments from trust fund and return of principal (governing law: Hong Kong law)

Bankruptcy and Insolvency

  • In the Matter of Ta Yang Group Holdings Limited HCCW 221/2026 — winding-up petition against a HKEx-listed company; capital reduction and rights issue exercises for restoring to solvency (with Sebastian Hughes)
  • In the Matter of Bloomyears Limited [2026] HKCFI 1646 — winding-up petition against an SFC-licensed entity for failure to repay loans lent for meeting Financial Resources Rules requirements
  • In the Matter of China First Capital Group Limited [2025] 2 HKLRD 750 — substitution application by supporting creditor based on an HKEx-listed company’s failure to repay principal and interests on investment bonds
  • Advised on the presentation of proof of debt against a PRC property development company concurrent or alternative to commencement of arbitration proceedings for breach of investment agreements by the company and its former directors

Commercial and International Trade

  • XY, LLC v Jesse Zhu and Grand Network Technology Ltd (with Phillip Rompotis):
    • HCA 3039/2016 – 6-day trial on enforcement of foreign judgment and recovery of assets from company under judgment debtor’s control and beneficial ownership
    • HCMP 869/2014 – Resisted application to vary a Mareva injunction for payment of legal fees for trial (ex tempore judgment)
  • Stanford Swim School Company Limited v The Australian International School Foundation Limited HCA 704/2025 – Licensing dispute over use of school facilities for external classes; resisted ex parte on notice injunction for continued use of facilities by a swimming school (with Phillip Rompotis)
  • Acted for a Hong Kong cosmetics and skincare products company in a 5-day HKIAC arbitration for breaches of joint venture agreement for damages over HK$300 million (governing law: Hong Kong law) (with Samuel Wong)
  • Advised an international logistics provider on potential proceedings against carrier and freight forwarder arising from theft of cryptocurrency mining equipment during delivery in the United States
  • Advised a US logistics conglomerate on loan recovery actions and breach of directors’ duties actions in Hong Kong, PRC, and the United States (with Phillip Rompotis)

Company

  • In the Matter of East Asia Vacuum Plating Factory Limited HCMP 1274/2024 – Application under section 570 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.622) to appoint directors for company with no living directors or shareholders (ex tempore judgment)
  • Advised a minority shareholder of an international resort developer on dissipation of substantial assets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia by the company’s board of directors and unfairly prejudicial conduct by majority shareholders and directors
  • Advised a director of a Cayman Islands company holding Hong Kong, PRC, and offshore investments on defences against potential applications of removal from directorship over alleged failure to manage and distribute assets to beneficiaries under family trusts

Fraud and Asset Recovery

  • Michael Yap and another v Lai Yip Dyeing Factory Limited and others HCA 1084/2011 — Payment of judgment debt following oral examination of judgment debtors arising from judgments for failures to repay under a promissory note and deed of guarantee (ex tempore judgment) (with Samuel Wong)
  • Ng Hiu Ngai v Jan Dostal DCCJ 2019/2025 — resisted an ex parte on notice application for injunction by a victim of fraud over funds in a bank account subject to a garnishee order of the Court of First Instance (ex tempore judgment)

Taxation and Costs

  • Hang Yue Engineering Limited v Tse King Yuen [2025] 5 HKC 365 – 2-day trial on recovery of costs and compensation paid by employer to employee from tortfeasor
  • 香港特別行政區 秦錦釗 ([2024] 6 HKC 434 – Review by Taxing Master; [2025] 4 HKC 524 – Review by Judge (with Wing So)) – taxation of costs following 97-day trial on conspiracy to export unmanifested cargo and conspiracy to commit money laundering in excess of HK$3 billion

Trusts, Probate, and Succession

  • In the Matter of the Estate of Li Wun Yee (administration of estate of assets worth over HK$100 million and recovery actions in the PRC):
    • HCA 1436/2023 – Acting for the estate against claims for breach of directors’ duties and breach of trust (led by Ambrose Ho SC)
    • HCCA 5726/2023 – Resisted passing-over application pursuant to section 36 of the Probate and Administration Ordinance (Cap.10) by a caveator 
  • Gordon David Michael George Oldham, the Administrator of the Estate of David Tang HCMP 944/2024 — Application for a Beddoe Order in favour of the sale of company shares for estate administration and distributions (ex tempore judgment)

Publications and Seminars

Publications – Practitioners’ Texts

  • Chitty on Contracts: Hong Kong Specific Contracts (8th edn), “Carriage by Sea” (with Edward Alder) and “Suretyship and Guarantees” (forthcoming)
  • Company Law in Hong Kong: Insolvency 2027, “Winding-Up by the Court” (with Bronson Chan) (forthcoming)
  • Bullen and Leake and Jacob’s Hong Kong Precedents of Pleadings (4th edn), “Admiralty” (with Edward Alder); “Bankers” and “Bills of Sale” (with Kenneth Lee and Tanie Toh)
  • Tort Law and Practice in Hong Kong (4th edn), “Vicarious Liability” and “Conflict of Laws”

Publications – Academic Papers

  • “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)
  • “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 Trustees394–405 (with Benny Chung and Bennett Au Yeung)
  • Xiamen Xinjingdi Group 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)

Seminars

  • “Recognition / Enforcement of Arbitration Award; Challenge to Enforcement, and setting aside of Arbitration Award in Hong Kong” (HKIArb Training Course for the Jiangsu Lawyers Association; October 2025) (with Sebastian Hughes)
  • “UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG): ‘Love it or hate it, but NEVER leave it!’” (October 2023) (HKIArb Seminar: with Louise Barrington, Samuel Wong, and Sherlin Tung)
  • 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)

Scholarship and Awards

  • Middle Temple Scholarship for Advocacy Training (2025)
  • Winner, 9th Hong Kong Human Rights Moot (2020)
  • 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)