Jeff Chan

BARRISTER

Call: 2017

Jeff is developing a broad civil practice with a focus on commercial, property and trusts disputes. He is a Charles Ching Scholar and served pupillage with Mr Ambrose Ho SC, Mr Derek Chan SC, Mr Norman Nip SC, Mr Eugene Yim and Mr Isaac Chan.

In 2015-2016, Jeff worked as a Judicial Assistant in the Court of Final Appeal and assisted judges in substantive appeals, leave applications and other speaking engagements. In 2021-2024, he served as a part-time Judicial Associate in the Court of Appeal.

Jeff has published in law journals. One of his articles on company law has been cited by the High Court of Singapore.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • Redland Precast Concrete Products (China) Ltd v Permasteelisa Hong Kong Ltd [2023] HKCA 1278: Acted for a construction company in a dispute concerning the approach to appeals against inferences from primary findings of fact, implication of contract by conduct and quantum meruit (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • China Health Group Ltd v Chiu & Partners (A firm) [2023] HKCFI 2995: Acted for a law firm in striking out a claim brought by a former client for breach of contract, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty (led by Mr Norman Nip SC)
  • 李明實 & Ors v Ace Lead Profits Ltd & Anor [2023] HKCFI 3038; [2024] HKCFI 206; [2024] HKCA 523: Resisted an injunction application and subsequent leave to appeal applications concerning restraint of voting in respect of shares in a company listed in Nasdaq (led by Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Chow Sang Sang Securities Ltd v Shen Shuai [2023] HKCFI 453: Acted for the defendant in a HK$470 million claim involving setting aside a guarantee for breach of fiduciary duty (led by Mr Victor Dawes SC and with Mr Isaac Chan)
  • SFC v Andrew Liu & Ors (HCMP 2653/2016): Represented the SFC in a trial against 10 directors for disqualification and compensation orders (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC and Mr Norman Nip SC, with Ms Bonnie YK Cheng and Mr Jonathan Fung)
  • Appeared in a 5-day arbitration under HKIAC rules concerning a private equity dispute (led by Mr Matthew Gearing KC)

OTHER NOTABLE CASES

Commercial

  • China Agri-Products Exchange Ltd v Wang Xiu Qun [2021] HKCFI 137; [2022] HKCFI 1533: Represented a listed company in a 23-day trial involving a RMB 510 million claim for breach of warranty and dishonest assistance (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC and with Ms Bonnie YK Cheng)
  • Mututal Brilliant Ltd v Shin Ho Cable (Holdings) Co Ltd & Anor [2024] HKCA 519: Appeared in the Court of Appeal in a dispute concerning a commercial property development project in the PRC (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Build Kingdom Ltd & Ors v Tsang Lin Yau Linda [2022] HKCFI 3247: Acted for the plaintiffs in a HK$111 million debt claim against the estate of a deceased director (led by Mr Norman Nip SC)
  • Hui (Annie) Guo v Yuedong Xu & Ors [2022] HKCFI 1629: Resisted a specific discovery application in a commercial dispute involving parallel proceedings in Australia (sole counsel)
  • New Front Developments Ltd v Alpha Giant Ltd [2021] HKCFI 707; [2021] HKCFI 708: Acted for the plaintiff in applications for an injunction and disclosure orders (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC and with Mr Isaac Chan)
  • Wah Lun International Development Ltd v Lau Chiu Shing [2021] HKCFI 407: Appeared in a trial of a dispute involving the acquisition of a majority shareholding in a listed company (with Mr Isaac Chan)
  • Wah Lun International Development Ltd v Lau Chiu Shing [2020] HKCFI 2572: Resisted an application for evidence to be given via video conferencing facilities (sole counsel)
  • Sintat Taxi Agency Ltd v Poon, Chi Lun Allen (HCA 653/2020): Acted for the plaintiff in a breach of contract claim concerning cross-border licenses (led by Mr Norman Nip SC)
  • Yang Yueguang v Dragon Hill Development Ltd (HCA 2120/2019): Appeared in a striking out application on limitation ground in relation to a loan dispute (led by Mr Norman Nip SC)
  • Xue Xiaoyun v Susan Yung & BOCI Securities Ltd (HCA 2526/2018): Acted for a securities firm in a claim concerning negligence and vicarious liability (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Appeared for the plaintiffs in obtaining an anti-suit injunction from the Hong Kong Court in favour of arbitration in Hong Kong (led by Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Acted in an arbitration under HKIAC rules concerning a dispute arising from a ship financing transaction (led by Mr Norman Nip SC)
  • Appeared in a 5-day arbitration trial involving a secured loan transaction (led by Mr Victor Dawes SC and with Mr James Man)
  • Acted in an arbitration involving a dispute over a sale and purchase agreement of company shares and infringement of trademarks (with Mr Roger Phang)

Property and Trusts

  • LCK v DLKY & Ors [2022] 4 HKC 1, [2022] HKCFI 496: Represented the plaintiff in an 8-day hearing involving an application for making a statutory will for a mentally incapacitated person and the setting up of a discretionary trust (with Mr Michael Yin)
  • Osman Mohammed Arab & Wong Kwok Keung v Ng Shui Ching, Irene (2021) 24 HKCFAR 153, [2021] HKCFA 23; [2021] HKCA 220: Appeared in the Court of Final Appeal for the trustees-in-bankruptcy in an unfair preference claim involving a declaration of trust (led by Ms Audrey Eu SC and with Ms Prisca Cheung)
  • Anthony Francis Li and Clarence A Li, Managers of Li To Wan Tso v Kwok Wui Knitters Ltd [2021] HKCFI 407: Appeared for the purchaser in a dispute involving disposal of Tso land in the New Territories (with Mr Roger Phang)
  • Kushaev v Greenly Holdings Ltd [2019] HKCFI 2745: Appeared for the defendants in a dispute involving a declaration of trust and discharge of injunction (with Mr Roger Phang)
  • Chan Pui Sze and Mak Hau Yin v Wang Jue (HCMP 1655/2017): Represented the trustees-in-bankruptcy in a trial concerning the beneficial ownership of properties in the US (with Mr Roger Phang)
  • Advised a landowner on the construction of a restrictive covenant in a Government lease (led by Ms Audrey Eu SC)

Regulatory

  • Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Preliminary Investigation Committee of the Medical Council of Hong Kong v Hospital Authority [2022] 1 HKLRD 16, [2021] HKCA 1793: Instructed by the Department of Justice in an appeal concerning the power of a statutory body to seek disclosure in disciplinary proceedings (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • SFC v Li Han Chun [2019] HKCFI 1966: Appeared in an application for variation of injunction pending a Market Misconduct Tribunal inquiry (with Mr Norman Nip)
  • SFC v Andrew Liu [2018] HKCFI 1105: Appeared for the SFC in proceedings for disqualification of directors (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Advised a statutory body on intended disciplinary proceedings (led by Ambrose Ho SC)

Civil Fraud

  • Kot See For v Lam Man Cheung [2021] HKCFA 31; [2021] 2 HKLRD 263, [2021] HKCA 348: Appeared in the Court of Appeal and the Court of Final Appeal in an appeal concerning the privilege against self-incrimination in civil proceedings (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Kot See For v Tang Kwok Pang [2019] HKCFI 3001: Acted for the respondent in contempt of court proceedings (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Natures Mark HK Ltd v Hongkong Honxintai Trading Co Ltd [2022] HKCFI 1382: Acted for the plaintiff in an email fraud case (sole counsel)
  • Masterwork Group Co., Ltd v Rieckermann International Ltd & Ors [2023] HKCFI 3266: Acted for a listed company in the PRC in a cross-border fraud claim against a former employee and related companies (sole counsel)

Employment

  • Owyang Loong Shui Ivan v Winco Paper Products Co Ltd [2018] 6 HKC 359, [2018] HKCFI 1228: Acted for an employer in an appeal from the Labour Tribunal on mistaken payments and set-off (led by Mr Ambrose Ho SC)
  • Appeared in a 5-day arbitration under HKIAC rules in relation to a claim concerning restraint of trade clauses, breach of confidence and negotiating damages (led by Mr Matthew Gearing KC)
MORE CASES

APPOINTMENTS

  • Judicial Associate (Part-time), Court of Appeal (2021-2024)
  • Judicial Assistant, Court of Final Appeal (2015-2016)

PUBLICATIONS

  • ‘Should “reverse piercing” of the corporate veil be introduced into English law?’ (2014) 35 Company Lawyer 163 (cited by the High Court of Singapore in Koh Kim Teck v Credit Suisse AG, Singapore Branch [2015] SGHC 52 and Jhaveri Darsan Jitendra v Salgaocar Anil Vassudeva [2018] 5 SLR 689, [2018] SGHC 24)
  • ‘C v Director of Immigration: A Step forward in Hong Kong’s refugee screening process’ (2014-15) 5 CityU LR 115
  • Co-author, The Annotated Ordinances of Hong Kong, Cap. 584 (Lexis Nexis 2019)
  • Contributing editor, Tort Law and Practice in Hong Kong (3rd Ed, Sweet & Maxwell 2014)
  • Editor, UCL Journal of Law and Jurisprudence (2014-2015)
  • Senior Editor, Hong Kong Journal of Legal Studies (2013-2014)

EDUCATION

  • LLM (Distinction), University College London (2015)
  • PCLL, The University of Hong Kong (2014)
  • LLB, The University of Hong Kong (2013)

SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRIZES

  • Charles Ching Memorial Scholarship (2017)
  • Peter Vine Postgraduate Law Scholarship (2014)
  • Deacons Cup (Best Mooter) and Hong Kong Bar Association Cup (Champion Team), HKU Faculty of Law Compulsory Moot (2013)
  • Best Mooter and Champion Team, HKU Basic Law Moot (2013)
  • Runner-up, HKU Haldanes Criminal Law Moot (2013)
  • HKSAR Government Scholarship (2013)
  • HKU Undergraduate Worldwide Exchange Scholarship (2012)
  • Runner-up, ALSA International Arbitration Moot (2011)
  • Dean’s Honours List (2010)
  • HKU Foundation Entrance Scholarship for Outstanding Students (2009)