Des Voeux Chambers is home to a number of ‘top notch barristers’, who are widely described as ‘excellent and easy to work with.’ Insolvency is a particular strength for members of the set, with senior barristers José-Antonio Maurellet SC and Rachel Lam SC leading on a number of high value insolvency matters. At the junior end, Catrina Lam is acting in many complex commercial disputes, dealing with developments of law in a range of contract and company law matters. Connie Lee and Cherry Xu possess strength in liquidation matters. Lee successfully led in Yeung Man v. New Winning Finance Company Limited, handle a series of enforcement and recovery actions. Kerby Lau continues to broaden his practice, often acting unled in a range of complex commercial matters. Frances Lok SC took May 2024, recently leading in the matter of In re Shimao Group Holdings Limited acting for China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Phone
+852 3413 0623
Email
Profile
Social

Profile

Career

Arbitration, Commercial Law, Company and Insolvency Law, Competition Law, Securities Law, Regulatory, Administrative Law, Chancery, Probate, Land, Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property

Cherry obtained her LLB degree from the University of Hong Kong with First Class Honours, ranking top of her year.  She was elected the Rhodes Scholar for Hong Kong in 2013 and proceeded to read BCL at Oxford University.  She graduated from the BCL degree with a distinction in competition law. In addition to the distinguished Rhodes Scholarship, she has been awarded various scholarships including the Charles Ching Memorial Scholarship in 2016.

Prior to joining Chambers as a tenant in 2016, Cherry completed pupillage with William Wong SC, Johnny Ma SC, Rachel Lam SC and Derek CL Chan SC.

Cherry is developing a broad practice in civil and commercial law with a particular focus on commercial, company, insolvency securities, competition and regulatory matters.  She is also regularly instructed to act as counsel in arbitrations and related court applications.  She has dealt with various arbitration cases in the HKIAC, SIAC and LCIA.  She is also experienced in dealing with regulatory matters involving securities and competition matters and is regularly instructed to appear as counsel and/or provide legal opinion in related matters.

Cherry is also well sought after for her advice on compliance matters due to her experience in civil, commercial, securities and competition matters.  Her clients include various listed companies, especially those in the pharmaceutical industry.  Her professional experience and her deep understanding of the Chinese culture make her a popular choice amongst clients.

Cherry is a native Mandarin speaker and is fluent in English and Cantonese. With her unique background, she is quick to understand the needs of Chinese clients and has been regularly instructed to represent Chinese clients in cross-border litigation and international arbitration, including acting as sole counsel in trials.

Besides acting as an advocate, Cherry has served as a guest lecturer in the International Commercial Arbitration/International Commercial Dispute Resolution course for LLM students at Peking University since 2016. She has been serving as a Judicial Associate to the judges of the Court of Appeal of Hong Kong from time to time since February 2020.  She is also a member of the Committee on Competition Law and the Standing Committee on Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Bar Association.

She was recognised by Legal 500 as a Rising Star in commercial dispute resolution in January 2021, 2022 and 2023: “Cherry is analytical, thorough and adopts a practical approach. She is very industrious, and her advocacy is persuasive.”
Year of call

  • 2016

Languages

English, Mandarin, Cantonese

Memberships

  • Judicial Assistant to the Court of Appeal of Hong Kong (March-April 2020, January-February 2021, and continuing)
  • Member, Committee on Competition Law of the Hong Kong Bar Association (2020-now)
  • Member, Standing Committee on Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Bar Association (2016-2017, 2022-now)
  • Tutor, Contract Law, University of Hong Kong (2016-2017)
  • Guest Lecturer, International Commercial Arbitration / International Commercial Dispute Resolution course, Peking University (2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Education

  • LLB (HKU) (First Class Honours)
  • PCLL (HKU) (Distinction)
  • BCL (Oxon)

Content supplied by Des Voeux Chambers

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'I have always been impressed by Des Voeux Chambers and most of the members I have instructed there. The Chief Clerk Elaine Chan is always a pleasure to deal with and is highly responsive.'
  • 'DVC is the leader. From the most junior barrister to experienced silks, they provide effective and commercial legal solutions and are overall extremely strong advocates.'
  • 'Highly respected Chambers with strength in depth at all levels'
  • 'The range of talent in DVC is unparalleled in any chambers in Hong Kong. They are diligent and user-friendly, and well understand clients' needs. Their junior barristers are well supported and have plenty of opportunities to grow.'
  • 'The Des Voeux Chambers as a whole has some of most competent counsel in Hong Kong with people specialising in different fields. They charge reasonable fees and are very efficient in providing their services.'
  • 'DVC is pre-eminent in contentious insolvency and commercial dispute, from Senior silks to baby juniors.'
  • 'I believe that Des Voeux Chambers as a whole is strong and available in handling commercial disputes. They are capable and well-trained to deal with matters of high level of complexity.'
  • 'DVC has a wide range of barristers with different seniority and experience especially in commercial disputes. They have been involved in some of the big commercial dispute matters.'
  • 'Des Voeux Chambers is a set of chambers with many excellent-skilled barristers who are professional, approachable and easily accessible to solicitors and clients. They are fully equipped to act in any type of complex commercial litigation and arbitrations.'
  • 'Des Voeux Chambers has a good mixed of senior counsel and junior counsel of different seniority. It has a team of very dedicated members who spend a great of time of recruiting and training law students with potentials to become pupils and future tenants of the chambers. This in turn helps to ensure the quality of all new tenants of the chambers.'