Ian De Witt > Tanner De Witt > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Lawyer Profile
Tanner De Witt Offices
17TH FLOOR, TOWER ONE, LIPPO CENTRE,
89 QUEENSWAY,
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
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Ian De Witt
Work Department
Restructuring and Insolvency
Position
Partner, Head of Restructuring and Insolvency
Career
Ian is a partner and head of our highly awarded Restructuring and Insolvency practice. He has been recognised as a leading lawyer in major legal publications including Chambers Asia Pacific, Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Who’s Who Legal for more than a decade. An experienced litigator, Ian advises officeholders, shareholders, large multinationals, high net worth individuals and listed companies on insolvency, restructuring and litigation matters. He was recently selected by Asian Legal Business as one of the Top 50 Disputes Lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ian and his team have been involved in most of the major restructurings and insolvencies in the region over the past two decades, acting for liquidators, receivers, creditors, bondholders, financial institutions and directors across a wide range of sectors. His experience finding solutions for clients puts him at the forefront of the restructuring and insolvency legal market in Hong Kong. He is seen as a go-to advisor for companies and individuals in distress and works with a wide and established network of professionals in Hong Kong and abroad including in offshore jurisdictions.
Additionally, Ian advises on a wide range of commercial and contractual disputes, partnership and shareholder disputes, high value fraud matters involving debt recovery, asset tracing and the enforcement of judgments, pre-emptive actions such as injunctions, court appointed receivers, and the appointment of provisional liquidators.
Over the years, Ian has acted in respect of investigations, regulatory matters and prosecutions carried out by the Police, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and various disciplinary committees.
Ian has been a member of the International Insolvency Institute for several years and sits on the Insolvency Committee for the Law Society, the Technical and Editorial Committee of the Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Official Receiver’s Office Services Advisory Committee, and was recently reappointed to his role as director of the Company and Insolvency Law Society (COINS). Ian is a member of the Working Party on Taxation in Civil Proceedings of The Law Society of Hong Kong and is also an accredited mediator of HKMAAL.
Ian De Witt was born in Wales and obtained an honours degree in law in London. After qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, he joined and became a partner in a prominent London law firm where he worked for many years before coming to Hong Kong in 1996. Ian founded Tanner De Witt in 1999 with Richard Tanner with just one member of staff.
Memberships
Professional Memberships
- American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI)
- British Chamber of Commerce
- Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA)
- Fellow of the Hong Kong Credit and Collection Management Association (HKCCMA)
- Hong Kong International Arbitration Center
- Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty Technical Sub-Committee
- Insolvency Law Committee of The Law Society of Hong Kong
- Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong
- International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL International)
- International Bar Association (IBA)
- International Insolvency Institute (III)
- International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)
- Law Society Insolvency Committee
- Mediator accredited by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)
- The Law Society of Hong Kong
- ThoughtLeaders 4 Fraud, Insolvency, Recovery, Enforcement (FIRE)
- Turnaround Management Association (TMA)
- Company and Insolvency Law Society (COINS)
- Working Party on Taxation in Civil Proceedings of The Law Society of Hong Kong
Other Memberships
- Classic Car Club of Hong Kong
- Gold Coast Yacht and Country Club
- Hong Kong Club
- Hong Kong member of: St David’s Society; The Royal Society of St George; St Patrick’s Society; and St Andrew’s Society
- Land Rovers Owner Club
- MG Owners’ Club
- Oriental Club London
- Royal Commonwealth Society
- Royal Geographical Society
Lawyer Rankings
Hong Kong > Restructuring and insolvency
(Hall of Fame)International investors, corporates, and financial institutions frequently rely on Tanner De Witt for guidance in various restructuring and insolvency matters, especially those that have cross-border implications. The team frequently taps into its close relationships and referral network across the broader Asia-Pacific region to deliver comprehensive advice, and recently has been notably focused on guiding numerous PRC property developers within the sphere of publicly listed companies. These engagements extend beyond the real estate industry, encompassing a broad spectrum of sectors, including aviation and TMC, as well as construction. Regularly sought-after by a diverse clientele that includes investors, financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, and distressed entities, the R&I team maintains a strong presence in both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team’s leadership, represented by the ‘exceptional problem solver’ Ian De Witt
and Robin Darton, brings substantial expertise to managing complex insolvency-related matters and contentious matters. Witt specialises in commercial litigation and insolvency matters, while Darton is a key contact for private equity and distressed funds, asset managers, and debtors seeking guidance on various insolvency issues. Witt’s and Darton’s proficiency spans Hong Kong’s boundaries, and also embraces international landscapes, encompassing winding-up proceedings, bond restructurings, and the complexities of cross-border recognition proceedings, all with a specialised lens on off-shore matters. Another key name to note is Sunny Hathiramani, who is renowned for his representation of office holders in recognition and enforcement proceedings.