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William Leung

Partner


Direct +852 2803 3782
Mobile +852 9171 9800
Fax +852 2803 3608
Email [email protected]


Jurisdictions England and Wales
Hong Kong
Languages English, Cantonese

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution

China Practice

Insurance

Shipping and International Trade

Distressed Debt

Profile

"William is our preferred legal adviser for litigation matters. He is client-oriented and is able to provide timely advice and support" Client testimonial in Chambers 2025

 

"The hardworking William Leung provides pragmatic and solutions-oriented advice."  Client testimonial in Legal 500 2024

 

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 and also advises on crypto currency fraud/scams and related urgent recovery actions including injunctive reliefs, as well as related enforcement and tracing actions.

 

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.

Experience

2015 Howse Williams
2009 Eversheds
2001 DLA Piper
2000 Stevenson Wong & Co
1998 Hampton, Winter & Glynn

Education

1997 PCLL, University of Hong Kong
1993 LLB, University of Wales / Portobello College, Dublin, Ireland

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

2001 England and Wales
1999 Hong Kong

Present
Since 2024
Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings Ordinance Cap.123) appointed by the Secretary for Development, Government of HKSAR
Since 2024
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)

Reported Cases/Deal List

Reported Cases since 2016

 

1. CHINA HEALTH GROUP LIMITED v. LI ZHONG YUAN AND OTHERS; CAPITAL FORESIGHT LIMITED v. CHINA HEALTH GROUP LIMITED [CACV 20/2024; Date of Judgment on 18 October 2024; 2024 HKCA 927]

  • Commercial dispute involved a US$4-million loan ordered for recovery against the Listed Company, raising issues of breach of fiduciary duties, dishonest assistance, and knowing receipt.
  • Our firm successfully acted for the appellant in enforcing the loan against the Listed Company.
  • Subsequently, the Listed Company announced that they have accepted this Court of Appeal Judgment and will not further appeal ending this litigation which has lasted for 6 years.

 

2. PAN SUTONG v. CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, TIANJIN BRANCH AND OTHERS; [CACV 525/2021; CACV 261/2022; CACV 266/2022]; CHINA CITIC BANK CORPORATION LIMITED, TIANJIN BRANCH AND OTHERS v. SILVER STARLIGHT LIMITED [CACV 265/2022; CAMP 294/2022]; Date of Judgment on 28 June 2024; 2024 HKCA 580

  • Acted for tycoon and his wholly-owned company in bankruptcy and winding-up proceedings in relation to an HKD 8-billion loan in the Court of Appeal, involving important issues of jurisdiction, procedure and witness tampering.

 

3. EMPIRE SUMMIT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (IN COMPULSORY LIQUIDATION) v. SUN HONGMEI; EMPIRE SUMMIT INTERNATIONAL LIMITED (IN COMPULSORY LIQUIDATION) v. SUN HONGMEI, ORIENT SECURITIES (HONG KONG) LIMITED, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA (ASIA) LIMITED [HCA 282/2022 & HCMP 729/2023; Date of Judgment on 14 March 2024]

  • Winding Up - successfully recovering for Liquidators HK$46m plus costs and interest with of assets wrongfully transferred to a third party by company’s ex-officers prior to winding up including obtaining a Vesting Order against the security company which held those assets.

 

4. CHINA HEALTH GROUP LIMITED v. LI ZHONG YUAN AND OTHERS; CAPITAL FORESIGHT LIMITED v. CHINA HEALTH GROUP LIMITED [HCA 2549/2017 and HCA 2569/2017; Date of Judgment on 20 December 2023; 2023 HKCFI 3290]

  • Commercial dispute involved a US$4 million loan ordered for recovery against the Listed Company, raising issues of breach of fiduciary duties, dishonest assistance, and knowing receipt.
  • Our firm successfully defended the 2nd and 3rd Defendants in HCA 2549/2017, addressing significant financial misconduct and corporate governance issues.

 

5. BISON BIRDSVILLE GLOBAL LIMITED v. YANG MINGZHI, GU JIANWEI, NOTTING HILL LIMITED, LOCH NESS LIMITED [HCA 2031/2020 & HCA 1951/2021; Date of Judgment on 1 December 2023; 2023 HKCFI 3130]

  • Commercial/investment dispute regarding a failed IPO, we successfully acted for the plaintiff to recover a RMB 10 million investment with interest.
  • The Court dismissed the defendants' appeal, upheld the Summary Judgment in our client’s favour, and compelled the Defendants to fulfill their financial obligations.

 

6. HAN JAEJOON v. LEE SANG YOUNG [HCA 1484/2022; Date of Judgment on 25 August 2023; 2023 HKCFI 2202]

  • Commercial/ Dispute on Ownership of shares in a Hong Kong private "holding" company/ Injunction restraining a Shareholder from dealing with the shares; cross border injunctions involving Korean entities.
  • Successful discharge of injunction, indemnity costs.

 

7. HAN JAEJOON v. LEE SANG YOUNG [HCA 1484/2022; Date of Judgment on 13 January 2023; 2023 HKCFI 348]

  • Commercial/ Dispute on Ownership of shares in a Hong Kong private "holding" company/Injunction restraining a Shareholder from dealing with the shares; cross border injunctions involving Korean entities.

 

8. CHINA HEALTH GROUP LIMITED v. LI ZHONG YUAN AND OTHERS [HCA 1270/2019; Date of Judgment on 17 December 2021; 2021 HKCFI 3806]

  • Commercial/Opposing the Consolidation Application defending Hong Kong Listed Company actions regarding dishonest assistance, knowing receipt and breach of fiduciary duty.  Debt recovery against the Listed Company.

 

9. RE GENENTECH, INC [HCIP 57/2020; Date of Judgment on 26 July 2021; 2021 HKCFI 2178]

  • Patent – amending specification

 

10. CHAN KA CHING v. PAJS CO [HCCW 11/2021; Date of Judgment on 2 July 2021; 2021 HKCFI 1947]

  • Companies Winding Up/Shareholders Loan/Cross Claims

 

11. CHAN KA CHING v. AJS CO [HCCW 10/2021; Date of Judgment on 2 July 2021; 2021 HKCFI 1947]

  • Companies Winding Up/Shareholders Loan/Cross Claims

 

12. RE CHINA OIL GANGRAN ENERGY GROUP HOLDINGS LTD (the “Company”); Report in: [2021 3 HKLRD 69] [HCCW 120/2019; Date of Judgment on 4 June 2021; 2021 HKCFI 1592]

  • CompaniesWinding Up/Listed Company/Restructuring/ Scheme/Parallel Scheme

 

13. YUM SIU WAH v. AUTO ITALIA LIMITED [HCLA 14/2018; Date of Judgment on 27 November 2020; 2020 HKCFI 2965]

  • Commercial – acting for a Listed Company subsidiary in defending a Labour Tribunal Appeal

 

14. RE WONG YAM TAK [HCB 4489/2019; Date of Judgment on 27 September 2019; 2019 HKCFI 2365]

  • Contested Bankruptcy

 

15. HAW PAR PHARMACEUTICAL HOLDINGS PTE LTD v. HUA HAN HEALTH INDUSTRY HOLDINGS LTD [CAMP 182/2019; Date of Judgment on 14 August 2019; 2019 HKCA 906]

  • Commercial/Internet Fraud for US$6.7m

 

16. CYPRESS HOUSE CAPITAL LTD v. HUA HAN HEALTH INDUSTRY HOLDINGS LTD [HCCW 110/2019; Date of Judgment on 18 July 2019; 2019 HKCFI 1826]

  • Winding Up/Appointment of Provisional Liquidators on Hong Kong Listed Company

 

17. NGAI YING CHU JUDY AND ANOTHER v. LEUNG CHI LING VINCY AND ANOTHER [HCA 991/2015; Date of Judgment on 3 May 2019; 2019 HKCFI 1158]

  • Commercial/Misappropriation of Funds by Employee

 

18. FERRARI NORTH AMERICA, INC v. CHANGHON INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CO, LTD AND OTHERS [HCA 852/2017; Date of Judgment on 24 April 2019; 2019 HKCFI 1175]

  • Commercial/Internet Fraud for US$6.7m

 

19. SAMP INTERNATIONAL TRADE CO LTD v. DIRECT SOURCE LTD [HCA 858/2018; Date of Judgment on 4 April 2019; 2019 HKCFI 844]

  • Debt recovery/Summary Judgment on disputed debt for US$34m

 

20. LI LIAN INTERNATIONAL LTD AND OTHERS v. HERPORT HONG KONG LTD AND OTHER [HCAJ 160/2015; Date of Judgment on 29 March 2019; 2019 HKCFI 826]

  • Transportation/Forwarder Company - Third Party Action against Ocean Carrier and Exclusive Jurisdiction Clauses

 

21. CARDOMON INTERNATIONAL LTD v. LONGVIEW CORPORATION LTD [HCCW 85/2018; Date of Judgment on 9 January 2019; 2019 HKCFI 239]

  • Contested Winding Up by Contributory (50/50 Shareholder)

 

22. The Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the Ship or Vessel 'TS SINGAPORE" v. The Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the Ship or Vessel "XIN NAN TAI 77" AND ANOTHER [CACV 144/2017; Date of Judgment on 29 June 2018; 2018 HKCA 299]

  • Transportation/Tripartite vessel collision

 

23. SUM MUN KID FREDERICK v. AUTO ITALIA LTD AND OTHERS [HCA 60/2017; Date of Judgment on 16 May 2018; 2018 HKCFI 1049]

  • Commercial/Dispute on Ownership of Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta and a La Ferrari and Injunction/Disclosure Orders

 

24. CELERITY SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND I, L. P. (formerly known as DONGLIN SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND I, L. P.) v. CHINA LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL LTD [HCA 2993/2016; Date of Judgment on 20 April 2018; 2018 HKCFI 815]

  • Debt recovery/Costs Order against third parties (Directors of Defendant Company)

 

25. FUNG CHUEN v. SANDMARTIN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LTD [CACV 240/2017; Date of Judgment on 17 April 2018; 2020 HKCA 146]

  • Commercial/Defending on Appeal against an Order for disclosure of documents by a Hong Kong Listed Company under S.740 of Companies Ordinance

 

26. WINTA INVESTMENT (HONG KONG) LTD v. NG KAM CHIT [DCCJ 1620/2012; Date of Judgment on 12 April 2018; 2018 HKDC 342]

  • Commercial/Injunction against Employee for breach of restrictive covenants

 

27. CELERITY SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND I, L. P. (formerly known as DONGLIN SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND I, L. P.) v. CHINA LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL LTD [HCA 2993/2016; Date of Judgment on 7 February 2018; 2018 HKCFI 259]

  • Debt Recovery/Set Aside Default Judgment and Money Lenders Ordinance Defence

 

28. CELERITY SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND I, L.P. (formerly known as DONGLIN SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND I, L.P.) v. CHINA LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL LTD [HCCW 120/2017; Date of Judgment on 15 January 2018; 2018 HKCFI 63]

  • Commercial/Retrospective Registration of Legal Charge for HK$40m/Money Lenders Ordinance

 

29. LUK WING YAN v. CMB WING LUNG BANK LTD (PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS WING LUNG BANK LTD) [HCA 1249/2016; Date of Judgments on 14 December 2017 & 5 March 2021; 2021 HKCFI 279]

  • Commercial/Fraud by bank staff and bank's negligence

 

30. PRIMUS PACIFIC PARTNERS (GP1) LP AND ANOTHER v. LI, WENLEI AND ANOTHER [HCA 3373/2016; Date of Judgment on 6 June 2017]

  • Commercial/Setting Aside Mareva Injunctions involving US$36m/Breach of Fiduciary Duties

 

31. The Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the Ship or Vessel "TS SINGAPORE" v. The Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the Ship or Vessel "XIN NAN TAI 77" AND ANOTHER [HCAJ 49/2013; Date of Judgment on 2 June 2017]

  • Transportation/Tripartite vessel collision

 

32. CHINA HEALTH GROUP LTD v. LI HONG HOLDINGS LTD [HCMP 2593/2016; Date of Judgment on 29 March 2017]

  • Winding Up/Injunction by Hong Kong Listed Company against Winding Up Petition

 

33. SKECHERS SARL AND OTHERS v. ETERNITY INT'L FREIGHT FORWARDER (HK) LTD AND OTHERS [HCCL 6/2016; Date of Judgment on 22 August 2016]

  • Transportation/Forwarder Misdelivery of Cargo, Strike Out Amendments

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