Temple Chambers > Hong Kong, Hong Kong > Firm Profile

Temple Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings

Hong Kong Bar > Commercial disputes Tier 1

Temple Chambers is revered in the field of commercial disputes, described as ‘undoubtedly the top set in Hong Kong’ and featuring ‘a wide bench of talents at all levels’. From the senior counsel, Alexander Stock SC is leading an ongoing high-value professional negligence claim in Asia-Pac Infrastructure Development Ltd v Shearman & Sterling. The case considers and applies the doctrines of maintenance and champerty in the context of assignment of causes of action. Abraham Chan SC is leading a high-value dispute over property development and joint-venture obligations. The set is bolstered by leading silk Charles Hollander KC who enjoys a reputation as a ‘hugely experienced practitioner’ and shares dual tenancy with London-based Brick Court Chambers. Turning to the set’s juniors, Queenie Lau is acting in the substantial audit negligence claim China Medical Technologies, Inc. (in liquidation) & Or v KPMG where the liquidators of China Medical Technologies have alleged severe negligence on the part of KPMG in their audit work - the Caymanian company collapsed in 2012, defaulting on US$426m of bond debt, allegedly as a result of fraud on the part of the company's CEO.

Hong Kong Bar > Family and private client Tier 1

Temple Chambers excels in matrimonial and family law matters. From the silks, Deepak Nagpal KC remains in high demand for his ‘forensic mind and his attention to detail’ which sees him regularly undertake highly complex and sensitive matrimonial finance matters. The strength of the juniors is equally evident; Bonnie Cheng’s matrimonial and private client practice sees her frequently instructed on complex disputes. As of August 2022, she is currently representing the administrators of a will dated 1954 in Re Estate of Li Sing Kui. Theresa Chow was praised as ‘a robust and reliable counsel’. 2022 saw her undertake several high-value and challenging cases across the practice area. The set has strong crossover with the top level of the London family Bar – Nagpal KC is also a member of London elite family set 1 King's Bench Walk, and the set also includes Richard Todd KC, who also practices in London from 1 Hare Court.

Hong Kong Bar > Administrative and public law Tier 2

Temple Chambers boasts a team that is well-versed in handling high-profile disputes at all levels of the court system. From the silks, Abraham Chan SC regularly embarks on complex and landmark judicial reviews – Tam Sze Leung & Others v Commissioner of Police saw him act for the successful appellants in a systemic, constitutional challenge to the practice of ‘letters of no consent’ which are oft-used by law enforcement to impose informal freezes of bank accounts. Representing the juniors, Anthony Chan is acting in the ongoing judicial review challenge China Concrete Co Ltd v Environmental Protection Department, raising novel grounds of alleged lobby group pressure and alleged improper motives on the part of the Environmental Protection Department. Bonnie Cheng is well-known for her practice in public law, often involving challenging judicial review proceedings – she is acting for the Hong Kong Society of Notaries in Li Chiu Wah Joseph v Hong Kong Society of Notaries which concerns a challenge against the regulatory body on grounds including both ultra vires and the Wednesbury unreasonableness.

Hong Kong Bar > Competition Tier 2

Temple Chambers excels in competition matters. At the top end, Abraham Chan SC is currently leading on behalf of the defendants in the anti-competitive conduct case Competition Commission v Gray Line Tours of Hong Kong Limited, Harbour Plaza 8 Degrees Limited & Ors., which concerns an application made by the commission which alleges anti-competitive conduct within the travel and hotel industries in Hong Kong. Eva Sit SC is described as ‘the market leader’ and received praise for her ‘forensically perceptive insight’. She regularly lends her considerable expertise across a broad range of competition matters.

Hong Kong Bar > Labour and employment

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Arbitrators