Denis Chang’s Chambers is a ‘reputable set of chambers in Hong Kong‘, and among the preeminent sets for high-profile and significant administrative and public law work. It is home to Hectar Pun SC, who is active across a range of judicial review applications, and his client base is broad, representing institutional clients and individuals. Of recent note, Pun SC acted for the appellants in Q and Tse v Commissioner of Registration, a case regarding the refusal of the Commissioner of Registration to amend the gender markers on a transgender person’s Hong Kong identity card away from that of their sex recorded at birth. Administrative and public law specialist Earl Deng is also a key member of the team. Paul Harris SC departed chambers in June 2023 – he is now at Cornwall Street Chambers in Birmingham.
Administrative and public law in Hong Kong Bar
Denis Chang’s Chambers
Testimonials
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers is a legendary set, with its barristers frequently appearing in high-profile disputes before the Court of Final Appeal. It is the set to go to for any client challenging administrative decisions.’
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers is well-known for its strong practice in public law matters. With its leading silks and strong senior-juniors, as well as young members, Denis Chang’s Chambers remains to be one of the leading and most well-known chambers in town.’
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers is a strong set which renders a wide spectrum of legal service.’
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers is one of, if not the, leading public law set in Hong Kong.’
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers is a reputable set of chambers in Hong Kong, with an emphasis on public law matters.’
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers has barristers specialising in all of the key practice areas in Hong Kong. It is also singled out as the only set of chambers in Hong Kong that maintains a pre-eminent public law practice alongside a commercial dispute resolution practice.’
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers is a first port of call on the applicant side of judicial reviews.’
‘Denis Chang’s Chambers offers a variety of counsel and there is always the most satisfactory of collaboration. A distinct feature is that they have counsel experienced in administrative law and continue attracting like-minds, which has become rarer these days.’
Work highlights
Temple Chambers
The team at Temple Chambers is praised as ‘one of the market leaders in public and administrative law litigation with commercial or regulatory dimensions‘. Key Silks include Jin Pao SC and Abraham Chan SC, who represents both applicants and respondents, including corporates, public authorities, and individual claimants in high-profile and complex public law disputes. Anthony Chan SC made Silk in the 2023 round and is active in cases regarding the Basic Law. Chan SC acted in HKSAR v Li, which concerned claims that the conviction of villagers for conspiracy to defraud a public officer when they falsely declared they owned land was in contravention of the Basic Law. Bonnie Cheng is a key junior and she represented the Secretary for Environment and Ecology in a judicial review claim brought by a transgender person on the grounds of discrimination and infringement of the right to privacy based on the Public Conveniences Regulation, which prohibits people entering part of a public toilet that is assigned for the use of the opposite sex. Tim Parker joined the set in November 2023 from Denis Chang’s Chambers.
Testimonials
‘Temple Chambers has a number of barristers who can properly be called experts in the area of public law. They are known particularly for their respondent work, appearing for various public authorities, though their barristers do appear on both sides.’
‘They have significant experience in commercial judicial reviews, and often act as amicus curiae to assist the court in difficult public law cases.’
‘Temple Chambers stands unequalled in the area of administrative and public law in view of its combination of applicant and respondent instructions, the variety of sub-areas covered by its members, the quality of its advocates, and the highly sought after synergy that comes from the set’s strength in both the commercial and public law domains in public and regulatory matters where both private and public law elements combine.’
‘Temple Chambers is a clear leader in the field, particularly in relation to commercial judicial reviews, disputes in statutory tribunals, and the highest-stakes constitutional cases.’
‘Temple Chambers is unparalleled in this practice area in terms of the number of its silks and juniors and the range of their work, including high-value public law disputes with a commercial dimension.’
‘Temple Chambers is by far one of the market leaders in public and administrative law litigation with commercial or regulatory dimensions.’
‘Temple Chambers is a top set in Hong Kong.’