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Johnny Mok, SC

BBS, JP

Profile

Profile

Johnny Mok SC, BBS graduated from Diocesan Boys’ School in Hong Kong and Philips Exeter Academy in the US in 1975 and 1976 respectively. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in English from York University in 1980 and in History and Education from the University of Toronto in 1981. Later, he finished his studies of Bachelors of Laws and Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (with five distinctions) at the University of Hong Kong in 1985 and 1986.

Johnny Mok SC, BBS was admitted to the Hong Kong Bar in 1986. In 2006, he was appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal. He has been appointed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to be one of 12 members on the Basic Law Committee. In 2013 and 2016, he was appointed as a Justice of the Peace and awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star respectively.

Johnny Mok SC, BBS’s practice is centred on cases involving public interest (especially in the field of constitutional law, Basic Law and administrative law). He regularly represents the Hong Kong Government, Secretary for Justice and various public bodies. Johnny Mok SC, BBS also has a range of practice encompassing a wide spectrum of commercial matters, telecommunication, securities transactions and commercial crimes. He also has a deep interest in areas ranging from FinTech, RegTech, use of big data and other technology-related legal issues and advises public bodies and private enterprises on these matters.

Judicial Review in Hong Kong (2nd Edition, LexisNexis), co-authored by Johnny Mok SC, BBS and Richard Gordon QC in England, has been adopted by the University of Hong Kong as its textbook at the Department of Law.

Memberships & Appointments

  • Bronze Bauhinia Star (2016)
  • Member, Basic Law Committee, appointed by the National People’s Congress (2007 –  up to present)
  • Justice of the Peace (2015 – up to present)
  • Advisor, Our Hong Kong Foundation (2015 – up to present)
  • Advisor, Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre (2010 – up to present)
  • Member, Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee Working Group (2015 – up to present)
  • Door Tenant, Brick Court Chambers, London (2007 to now)
  • Senior Counsel, High Court, Hong Kong (2006 – up to present)
  • Member, Air Transport Licensing Authority, Hong Kong (2001 – 2003)
  • Member, Hong Kong Consumer Council (1989-1994)
  • Advocate and Solicitor, Supreme Court, Singapore (admitted in 1993)
  • Part-time Member, Hong Kong Central Policy Unit (1992)

Selected Cases

  • Sham Wing Kan v Commissioner of Police, CACV 270/2017 (2.4.10: CA)
  • Cheung Tak Wing v Director of Administration, CACV 577/2018 (14.2.10: CA)
  • Designing Hong Kong Ltd v Town Planning Board [2017] 2 HKLRD 60 (CA), FACV 4/2018 (CFA)
  • Hung Shui Fung v Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, CACV 489/2018 (16.12.19: CA)
  • HKSAR v Lew Mon Hung (2019) 22 HKCFAR 159 (CFA)
  • Chief Executive of the HKSAR v Leung Kwok Hung, CACV 200/2017 (15.2.19: CA)
  • Competition Commission v Nutanix Hong Kong Limited & Ors (Discovery) CTEA 1/2017 (14.3.18: Competition Tribunal)
  • Chan Ho Tin v Lo Ying Ki Alan & Ors HCAL 162/2016 (13.2.18: Au J)
  • HKSAR v Wong Ying-ho Kennedy & Ors DCCC 190/2017 (8.1.18: HH Judge Douglas Yau)
  • Chief Executive of the HKSAR v Clerk to the Legislative Council & Ors [2017] 4 HKLRD 115 (Au J)
  • Competition Commission v Nutanix Hong Kong Limited & Ors (Public Interest Immunity) CTEA 1/2017 (28.3.17: Competition Tribunal)
  • Yau Wai Ching v Chief Executive of the HKSAR [2017] 1 HKLRD 460 (CA), (2017) 20 HKCFAR 390 (CFA)
  • Sin Chung Yin Ronald & Ors v The Dental Council of Hong Kong (2016) 19 HKCFAR 353 (CFA)
  • The Registrar of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants v X CACV 244/2016 (20.10.17: CA)
  • Kwok Cheuk Kin v Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs (2017) 20 HKCFAR 353 (CFA)
  • Chau Hoi Shuen, Solina Holly v SEEC Media Group Ltd (2015) 18 HKCFAR 582 (CFA)
  • Leung Hon Wai v Director of Environmental Protention FACV 2/2015 (18.12.15: CFA)
  • Commission of Inquiry into the Collision of Vessels near Lamma Island on 1 October 2012 (Report: April 2013)
  • HKSAR v Wong Yuk Man (2012) 15 HKCFAR 712 (CFA)
  • Secretary for Justice v Commission of Inquiry on Allegations relating to The Hong Kong Institute of Education [2009] 4 HKLRD 11 (Report: June 2007)
  • Ming Shiu Chung v Ming Shiu Sum (2006) 9 HKCFAR 334 (CFA)

Scholarships and Awards

  • Baker & McKenzie Postgraduate Prize (for Revenue Law and Commercial Law and Practice)
  • David Ling Prize (for most promising potential legal practitioner)
  • Maxwell Law Prize (for most promising student intending to be a barrister)
  • YM Wong Memorial Prize (for Conveyancing and Probate Practice)
  • Woo Po Shing Medal in Law (for best performance in advocacy)
  • Simon Lee Medal in Law (for best LL.B. degree)
  • Baker & McKenzie Prize (for Law of Business Association)
  • Baker & McKenzie Scholarship for International Summer Clerkship
  • Hong Kong Team, Jessup International Moot Court Competition Washington D.C.
  • Winner’s Cup, Mooting Competition
  • Bernard Downey Book Prize (for all round achievements)
  • Representative of Hong Kong in Jessup International Moot Court Competition at New York City
  • Ho Food Prize (for academic achievements)
  • Member, Dean’s Honour Roll, York University
  • Member, Cum Laude Society, Phillips Exeter Academy

Publications / Lecture / Talks

  • Co-authored with Richard Gordon Q.C. & Johnny Mok S.C., Judicial Review in Hong Kong

Specific Areas of Expertise

Chancery, Securities Law

Accolades

for Johnny Mok, SC

Johnny Mok SC has been ranked Band 2 for Commercial Dispute Resolution: The Bar and Spotlight for Administrative & Public Law: The Bar.

In the field of Commercial Dispute Resulotion, Johnny “is renowned for maintaining a practice which spans the constitutional and administrative and general commercial law fields, winning him regular instructions from government entities and corporates alike.” Source commend “Johnny has got a big profile and a big name.”

In the field of Administrative and Public Law, Johnny “is highly regarded for acting across an array of administrative and public law matters, most notably for the government.” Source commend “Johnny Mok has a big profile and is a big name for public law matters on the government’s side”, “He’s a very prominent and capable public law silk who is versatile, quick and insightful; he’s one of the first to come to mind”.

— Chambers & Partners: Greater China Region (2023)

Johnny is lauded for being “pretty much the doyen of public law.” He is also characterised as “a heavyweight whose submissions are highly respected by the Bench” and as “a thoughtful and effective advocate.” He is renowned for a practice which spans the constitutional and administrative and general commercial law fields, winning him regular instructions from government entities and corporates alike.” “If anyone can approach a commercial case from a public angle, then it’s him.”

— Chambers & Partners Greater China Region (2022)

Johnny Mok SC receives plaudits for his enduring reputation as a “leading counsel in public and administrative law and a highly skilled cross-examiner.” His practice spans the constitutional and administrative and general commercial law fields, winning him regular instructions from government entities and corporates alike. “Mok is probably the expert in public law.”

— Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2021)

“A heavyweight barrister whose submissions are highly respected by the bench.” Johnny Mok SC is recognised as a Leading Silk for Commercial Disputes.

— Legal 500 Asia Pacific HK Bar (2021)

Johnny Mok SC, BBS, JP of Des Voeux Chambers stands out for interviewees, not only as an “outstanding advocate,” but more specifically as one who is “a go-to for what looks like a dead duck case or anything involving extreme difficulty,” where he may be relied upon “to think of the points that others haven’t thought of and present them in a way that will be well received by the Bench.” Especially well known as a “go-to counsel for the government” in constitutional cases, he is also noted for “combining commercial and public law expertise,” one source asserting that “his main forte is judicial review cases with a commercial element.”

— Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2020)

Johnny Mok SC of Des Voeux Chambers is said by one source to be “one of those people who appear in the most high-profile cases,” while another observes: “If you’re in a really bad situation, just go to him and he’ll come up with something: the chances of success will increase considerably.” Interviewees base these judgements on their view of Mok as “an excellent strategist and most effective advocate who knows how to package a case and what points to push.” A favoured choice of government agencies requiring representation in judicial review cases, he is also sought after for technology-related and competition disputes and appeared for the applicant in Competition Commission v Nutanix Hong Kong Limited and Others, the first case to be considered by the new Competition Tribunal.

— Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2019)

Johnny Mok SC of Des Voeux Chambers is described by sources as an “obviously very sought after” barrister who is “seen in many high-profile cases.” He is known for his ability to “come up with extremely persuasive arguments that no one else could think of “and which” could turn a bad cases into a good ones.” Maintaining a versatile commercial and public law case, he is particularly well known for his frequent representation of government bodies in judicial review cases, but is by no means restricted to this role, lately acting successfully for four dentists in Court of Final Appeal proceedings which overturned disciplinary sanctions imposed upon them by the Dental Council of Hong Kong.

— Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2018)

“Johnny Mok SC of Des Voeux Chambers is well known for his work in public law and has particularly “impressive regulatory expertise.” His additional capabilities extend across judicial reviews and shareholders’, competition and regulatory disputes.”

— Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2016)

“Incisive and combative work in the commercial and judicial arenas.”

— Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific (2010)

Book Releases

by Johnny Mok, SC

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