Earl Deng > Denis Chang’s Chambers > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile
Denis Chang’s Chambers Offices
9th Floor, One Lippo Centre
89 Queensway
Admiralty
Hong Kong
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Earl Deng
Career
Earl Deng read Law at the University of Cambridge, Fitzwilliam College on a Prince Philip Scholarship Bursary and was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2008, joining Chambers in the same year.
Earl has an active civil law practice involving advisory and advocacy work in complex commercial, contractual, chancery, and intellectual property disputes and is known as a specialist advocate for public and administrative law matters and sexual minority rights.
Earl has regularly appeared in all levels of the superior courts in Hong Kong. A selection of his recent cases involve Silver Universe Ltd v China Times Securities Limited [2019] HKCFI 153, 834 injunctive and tracing measures to unwind alleged fraudulent share non-recourse loan arrangements; award of aggravated damages for defamatory remarks by an incorporated owner Tam Heung Man v Incorporated Owners of Lung Poon Yuen [2019] HKDC 822; and Navarro Luigi Recasa v The Commissioner of Correctional Services [2018] 4 HKLRD 38 where a pre-operative transgender prisoner challenged her allocation to a male prison wing and being subject to strip-searches by male prison offers.
Earl is also a regular contributor to a large volume of practitioner publications, and has authored original chapters and volumes, including Chitty on Contracts (Hong Kong Specific Edn.), Employment Law and Practice in Hong Kong, Discrimination Law in Hong Kong, and various volumes of Halsbury Laws of Hong Kong.
Memberships
Committee Member, Committee on Civic Education, Hong Kong Bar Association (2009 – 2018)
Committee Member, Committee on Constitutional Affairs & Human Rights , Hong Kong Bar Association (2010 – 2016)
Education
King George V School (1993 – 2000)
MA (Cantab), BA (Cantab), Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge (2002-2005)
PCLL, University of Hong Kong University (2006)
Lawyer Rankings
Hong Kong Bar > Administrative and public law
(Leading Juniors)Earl Deng – Denis Chang’s Chambers ‘Earl is strong in thinking outside the box while being comprehensive in his legal research, and one can often rely on him for exhausting remedies for a client. He is a first-class public lawyer.’
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.
Hong Kong Bar > Labour and employment
(Leading Juniors)Earl Deng – Denis Chang’s Chambers ‘Earl is strong in thinking outside the box while being comprehensive in his legal research, avoiding the risk of tunnel vision in the field, which often hampers effectiveness of some public interest lawyers. Because of his research skills and comprehensiveness, he is a brilliant junior.’
Denis Chang’s Chambers is praised as ‘one of the most renowned chambers in Hong Kong‘, and its employment and personal injury practice boasts sought after counsel who frequently represent large companies, organisations, and high-profile individuals in proceedings before the Labour Tribunal. Simon Wong acts for both employers and employees, and his broad practice encompasses employment contract disputes, employees’ entitlement mandates, and accidents at work claims. Earl Deng is skilled at handling discrimination matters, as well as constructive dismissal cases, misconduct issues, and immigration-related employment mandates. Deng represented the plaintiff in Kamalawathi v Ng Fan Ying, a case concerning a foreign domestic helper who suffered from paranoia and hallucinations resulting in hospitalisation after being forced to work excessive hours in locations outside of her contracted premises. Rising star Flora Lam is also of note, and she specialises in personal injury cases.
Hong Kong Bar > Commercial disputes
(Leading Juniors)Earl Deng – Denis Chang’s Chambers ‘Earl is meticulous and detailed, conscientious and hard working, able to communicate in a non-professional language with lay clients, sees issues from lay client’s perspective, and succinctly sums up his advice in conference. His speaking style is courteous and his overall advocacy manner very much styled along the English bar tradition.’