Robin Darton > 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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Robin Darton
Work Department
Restructuring and Insolvency
Position
Partner, Head of Restructuring and Insolvency
Career
Robin has been practising as a lawyer in Hong Kong since 1995, and has been a partner and head of our Restructuring and Insolvency team since 2005. Robin is recognised as one of the ‘most prominent’ insolvency and restructuring lawyers in Hong Kong and as having ‘great all-round experience’ by Chambers Asia Pacific. He is also recognised in Legal 500 Asia Pacific’s Hall of Fame for Restructuring and Insolvency in Hong Kong.
Robin has advised on some of Asia’s highest profile insolvencies and restructurings over the past two decades (for example Moulin Eyewear, Akai, Lehman Brothers, MF Global, OW Bunker, Kaisa, projects for China Cinda). Robin advises insolvency practitioners, private equity and distressed funds, asset managers and debtors on a range of issues with an emphasis on restructuring and insolvency matters. His experience includes acting in domestic and cross-border winding-up proceedings; bond restructurings; schemes of arrangement; bankruptcy matters; appointments of provisional liquidators; cross-border recognition proceedings; claims against directors and auditors; fraud and asset tracing; enforcement of security; and debt recovery. Robin advises across a range of sectors including retail, natural resources, construction, real estate and financial services.
Robin also advises in relation to general commercial litigation including shareholders’ disputes and disputes relating to international sales of goods and commodities. Robin has also throughout his career advised on shipping, aviation and marine insurance related disputes.
Robin has extensive experience acting in banking litigation matters with a focus on financial transactions disputes. This includes debt recovery; enforcement of securities; guarantees; and contentious matters relating to trade and securities finance, such as disputes concerning Letters of Credit and Bills of Exchange.
A significant proportion of Robin’s matters involve offshore considerations where he makes regular use of his strong and well established relationships with offshore qualified lawyers, particularly those from Cayman, BVI, Channel Islands and Bermuda. Many of Robin’s matters also involve cross-border elements in Mainland China where he works closely with Mandarin speaking members of the team.
Robin is consistently recognised as a ‘Leading Lawyer’ for restructuring and insolvency in Hong Kong by various industry publications including the Asia Pacific rankings of Chambers and Legal 500, IFLR, Lawdragon, Who’s Who Legal and the Global Restructuring Review. Robin lives with his family in Clearwater Bay, has a keen interest in all sports, in particular football, and enjoys exploring the country parks near his home.
Memberships
Professional Memberships
- American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI)
- Banking Litigation Network
- Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty (RIF)
- International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL International)
- International Insolvency Institute
- International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)
- Turnaround Management Association (TMA) of Hong Kong (past President)
- The Law Society of England and Wales
- Law Society of Hong Kong
- The Company and Insolvency Law Society (COINS)
- ThoughtLeaders 4 Fraud, Insolvency, Recovery, Enforcement (FIRE)
Other Memberships
- Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong (FCC)
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)
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.