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
- Firm Profile
- Go to...
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)Housing a group of insolvency specialists, Tanner De Witt draws upon its ‘wealth of experience’ and ‘market knowledge’ when acting for major companies in winding up petitions and complex bankruptcy litigation. The firm has extensive expertise in acting for an array of liquidators, receivers, and creditors, primarily focusing on the financial services and shipping sectors. Co-headed by ‘top insolvency lawyer’ Ian De Witt
and Robin Darton, the group is well regarded for its commercial litigation and insolvency offering, and Sunny Hathiramani is an expert in multi-jurisdictional issues and enforcement proceedings. Troy Greig is knowledgeable of fraud and regulatory measures, Veronica Chan concentrates on cross-border bankruptcy claims, and Tim Au is noted for his debt recovery work.
Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation
Tanner De Witt is a key player in the Hong Kong litigation market, acting on the full range of matters, including restructuring, insolvency disputes and fraud. Practice head Pamela Mak, according to one client, is ‘no doubt one of the sharpest individuals in civil litigation‘. Mak represents conglomerates and PRC state-owned enterprises as well as engaging in offshore matters, and advising on complex high-value commercial litigation matters with an emphasis on complex shareholders’ disputes in private and listed companies. Insolvency partner Ian De Witt acts for liquidators, receivers, creditors and directors and is recommended alongside Robin Darton and Sunny Hathiramani.
China > Restructuring and insolvency: foreign firms
Showcasing extensive experience in handling multi-jurisdictional winding-up orders and liquidations, the ‘strong and capable’ team at Tanner De Witt counts domestic and global corporations in the real estate, life sciences, and financial services industries amongst its key clients. Led by the duo of Ian De Witt and Robin Darton, the Hong Kong-based practice specialises in advising insolvency practitioners, distressed funds, and debtors, in insolvency and bankruptcy matters, whilst Sunny Hathiramani acts for private equity funds, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals on a range of insolvency matters. Troy Greig and Veronica Chan are also highlighted as key practitioners.
Lawyer Rankings
- Hall of Fame Hong Kong > Restructuring and insolvency
- Restructuring and insolvency Hong Kong
- Dispute resolution: litigation Hong Kong