Des Voeux Chambers > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile
Des Voeux Chambers Offices
38/F Gloucester Tower
The Landmark
Central, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
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Des Voeux Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Hong Kong Bar > Commercial disputes Tier 1
With ‘plenty of very high-quality barristers’, Des Voeux Chambers ‘is regarded as one of the leading sets in commercial disputes’. At the senior end, insolvency experts José-Antonio Maurellet SC and Rachel Lam SC led on the landmark case of Citicorp International Limited v Tsinghua Unigroup Co., Ltd, which concerned the nature and extent of the obligations that keepwell providers have to bondholders, as well as novel issues of Greater China insolvency. Charles Sussex SC led Tom Ng in PT Asuransi Tugu v Citibank NA, which assessed bankers’ Quincecare duty, which dictates that a bank should not, in certain circumstances, take a payment from a customer’s account which is fraudulent. Catrina Lam‘s practice encompasses a wide range of contentious commercial matters, and she is also highly adept at handling domestic and international arbitrations, representing clients from the banking and finance, technology, real estate, media and entertainment, education, aviation, and gambling sectors. Benny Lo has also been increasingly active in international commercial arbitration proceedings, while a significant proportion of Frances Lok‘s practice involves acting for listed companies, their shareholders, and directors across a range of mandates, including winding up proceedings and unfair prejudice petition matters. Christopher Chain SC made Silk in the 2023 round.Rising stars
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Des Voeux Chambers is well-known for having the best advocates in general commercial litigation. It leads the market and has generated a number of young senior counsels. You can feel confident entrusting cases to their barristers.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is one of Hong Kong’s largest commercial sets and a leading chambers. It has great strength in depth, availability of counsel, and rigorous training for pupil barristers.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is regarded as one of the leading sets in commercial disputes. They have plenty of very high-quality barristers and can be available on short notice.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is one of the top sets of chambers in Hong Kong with a strong pool of junior counsel.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers has a very good mix of barristers at all levels of seniority. The size of the set means that the clients will have options in case anyone is not available for a particular hearing.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is undoubtedly a first-tier leading set in Hong Kong with members who are consistently involved in big-ticket cases. They are particularly impressive for companies and insolvency work.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers comprises barristers with a wide variety of background and experience. The barristers there are generally very helpful, approachable and user friendly.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is particularly strong in commercial disputes, with a large number of silks and bright juniors. They often provide regular legal updates.’
Hong Kong Bar > Competition Tier 1
Des Voeux Chambers is ‘one of a very few number of sets that can handle competition law litigation from start to finish‘. Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association’s Special Committee on Competition Law Catrina Lam frequently represents regulators and respondents from the telecoms, raw materials, banking and financial services, beauty and cosmetics, and real estate and construction sectors in competition proceedings. Lam is acting for the respondents in the case of Competition Commission v ATAL Building Services Engineering Ltd & Ors, which concerns one of the largest and high-value cartel cases brought by the Competition Commission against two major suppliers of air-conditioning services in Hong Kong regarding parent company liability. Connie Lee acted for a respondent in the case of Competition Commission v T.H Lee Book Company Limited & Ors, which concerned an enforcement action against three book publishers for price fixing, market sharing, and bid rigging when selling textbooks to secondary schools.Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Des Voeux Chambers is a leading first-tier commercial set that offers expertise in the relatively new and niche area of competition law.’
‘The set is well-endowed with talent and resources in civil litigation and is one of a very few number of sets that can handle competition law litigation from start to finish.’
‘The set runs its own training programmes, some of which are available to members of the profession outside the set.’
‘The whole set has a very strong practice in civil litigation.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers has an all-rounded practice.’
Work highlights
Hong Kong Bar > Construction and property Tier 1
Des Voeux Chambers is the preeminent set in Hong Kong’s construction and property arena ‘with both leading and junior counsel‘. Amongst the set’s juniors, Calvin Cheuk stands out for his expertise in handling construction-related disputes spanning across Hong Kong, Mainland China and beyond. Cheuk, led by John Scott SC, acted for the plaintiff in Johnson Controls Hong Kong Ltd v Wangle Engineering Lt, a dispute regarding whether there was a presumption that interim payment certificates are provisional and subject to a final review; this was the first case of its kind in the Hong Kong Court of Appeal. Kaiser Leung is another key member of the set with significant experience in complex construction disputes concerning heavyweight infrastructure projects and commercial and residential developments. Jonathan Chan is also a notable team member.Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘Des Voeux Chambers has a diverse specialty practice. Always a first choice when choosing chambers to approach on potential matters.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is viewed as number one in construction and engineering matters across all levels, including in arbitrations, with both leading and junior counsel.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers has the largest number of construction counsel in Hong Kong.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is an excellent set of chambers.’
‘De Voeux Chambers has a set of barristers with an excellent reputation and lots of strength in depth.’
‘The leading set in construction disputes and it has a number of impressive juniors who are talented and experienced in such disputes.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is the largest set of barristers chambers in Hong Kong and has a robust presence in construction law. It has several very good barristers specialising in construction law.’
‘Des Voeux Chambers is a go-to set of chambers in Hong Kong.’
Work highlights
Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Arbitration counsel Tier 2
Hong Kong-based set Des Voeux Chambers is home to Benny Lo, who regularly sits as arbitrator under the auspices of the SIAC, HKIAC, ICC, CIETAC, AIAC, BAC and WIPO. Lo’s workload includes investor-state issues and large-scale commercial matters. Calvin Cheuk is another key figure in the team, who is well-known for his expertise in handling construction arbitrations concerning projects in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.Leading Juniors
Hong Kong Bar > Family and private client Tier 2
Des Voeux Chambers has demonstrable expertise in family law mandates, especially cases involving multi-jurisdictional elements. Kerby Lau is a strong member of the set with experience in cases concerning contentious probate, wills, estates, and trusts. Notably, Lau acted for one of the plaintiffs in a case regarding the administration and division of Henry Fok's estate. Jacqueline Law is also another key member of the set.2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Testimonials
‘The counsel at Des Voeux Chambers are all-rounded and elites in the legal field.’
Work highlights
Hong Kong Bar > Intellectual property
Leading Juniors
Hong Kong Bar > Regulatory, investigations and crime
Leading Juniors
Hong Kong Bar > Shipping and aviation
Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Arbitrators
Leading arbitrators
Hong Kong Bar > Administrative and public law
Leading Juniors
Gary Lam – Des Voeux Chambers 'Gary is a diligent barrister with a growing public law practice.'
Des Voeux Chambers > Firm Profile
DVC is a leading set of chambers based in Hong Kong with an illustrious history dating back over 30 years. Its members have cultivated a reputation for combining intellectual rigour with effective advocacy. As one of the largest sets of chambers in Hong Kong, DVC is home to over 90 astute legal minds, many of whom have spearheaded groundbreaking cases. Helmed by Winnie Tam SBS, SC, JP, DVC houses 23 members who have been appointed Queen’s Counsel and Senior Counsel in Hong Kong and elsewhere.
The broad range of expertise of our members makes DVC a convenient one-stop shop for all areas of civil and commercial advisory work, with the added capability of white collar crime expertise. DVC’s barristers handle cases which raise multiple issues in more than one field, making members agile and adept at responding to clients’ needs.