Tommy Cheung is a Bar Scholar. Prior to joining Des Voeux Chambers, he obtained his BCL (Distinction) from the University of Oxford, ranking first in corporate insolvency law. He also received First Class Honours in his LLB and BBA(Law) (Majoring in Accounting) from the University of Hong Kong, ranking first in his year for both degrees.

Tommy is developing a broad civil and commercial practice. He has appeared as sole advocate and as led junior in trials and at various Court levels, including as sole advocate before the Court of Appeal and the Appeal Committee of the Court of Final Appeal: WFC Holding Ltd v New Castle Investments Ltd [2020] HKCA 931; [2021] HKCFA 5 (landlord and tenant dispute). He is also regularly instructed to appear in interlocutory applications, including applications for urgent injunctions and orders as sole advocate.

Tommy has handled cases concerning a wide range of areas, including land, trusts, probate, family, intellectual property, competition, employment, company, insolvency, bankruptcy, banking, money lender and general commercial matters.

Notably, Tommy’s practice in commercial dispute resolution was recognised by the legal directory (The Legal 500 – Hong Kong Bar, 2023). His cases include two milestone decisions in insolvency law: Re CW Advanced Technologies Ltd [2018] 3 HKLRD 552 (as amicus curiae, on issues to consider for common law recognition and assistance of a moratorium granted by a foreign Court, led by Dr William Wong SC) and Re CEFC Shanghai International Group Ltd [2020] 1 HKLRD 676 (the first application to Hong Kong Court for recognition of liquidation in Mainland China and cross-border insolvency assistance at common law, with Mr Look-Chan Ho). He has also rendered opinions on Hong Kong laws for use in the English High Court and the People’s Courts in Mainland China.

Alongside his practice, Tommy routinely gives seminars on recent developments in civil and commercial laws. He is also a part-time lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, and he received the Faculty of Law’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2020 for his teaching in land law, conveyancing, commercial law and legal research & writing.

 

 

Selected Cases

Company and Insolvency

• Re CW Advanced Technologies Ltd [2018] 3 HKLRD 552 – Appeared as amicus curiae to assist the Court in determining the relevant issues for common law recognition and assistance in cross-border insolvency (led by Dr William Wong SC)
• Re CEFC Shanghai International Group Ltd [2020] 1 HKLRD 676 – Appeared for the joint and several liquidators of the company in the first application to Hong Kong Court for recognition of liquidation in Mainland China and cross-border insolvency assistance at common law (with Mr Look-Chan Ho)
• Re Hsin Chong Construction Co Ltd [2021] 5 HKLRD 489; HCCW 239/2018 – Supporting the application by the provisional liquidators of the company for a regulating order (led by Mr Daniel Fung SC); opposing West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s application to challenge the voting procedures at the creditors’ meeting (led by Mr Douglas Lam SC)
• Re UIL Hong Kong Ltd HCCW 205/2019 – Opposing the Petitioner’s applications for the appointment of provisional liquidators and for a winding up of the company (as sole advocate)
• Re Asia Today Ltd HCCW 76/2020 – Application for the appointment of provisional liquidators (with Mr Look-Chan Ho)
• Geng Hua Zhong & Another v Li Shu Hon & Another HCCW 403/2017 – Opposing the 1st Respondent’s application to strike out the winding up relief (with Mr John Hui)
• Re China City Construction (International) Co Ltd [2019] 3 HKLRD 491 – Opposing the Petitioner’s application to convert a creditors’ voluntary liquidation into a compulsory liquidation (as sole advocate)
• Anna Grüter & Others v Reign Digital Creatives Ltd & Another HCMP 964/2020 – Applications for inspection of the company’s documents and for the holding of a general meeting (as sole advocate)
• Wong Ho Kwan & Another v Hsin Kuang Restaurant (Holdings) Ltd HCMP 481/2019 – Application for leave to commence statutory derivative action on behalf of Hsin Kuang Restaurant (Holdings) Ltd (led by Mr Douglas Lam SC and with Ms Sabrina Ho)
• Various petitions against private and/or public companies, involving (1) inability to pay debts, (2) unfair prejudice, (3) just and equitable winding up, (4) restructuring and/or (5) validation orders

Land, Trust and Probate

• Tse’s Brothers Co Ltd v Kinghall Development Ltd & Another CACV 371, 372, 391 & 392/2018 – Opposing appeals against findings of trust over an industrial unit (led by Mr Jenkin Suen SC)
• Wong Tin Chee Tinly & Others v Wong To Yick & Another HCMP 1316/2018 – Application by the beneficiaries to collapse a trust for sale under the rule in Saunders v Vautier (with Ms Sabrina Ho)
• Lee Goo Lynette Siu Yin & Others v Cheung Wai Ming Daisy & Others HCMP 1836/2017 – Opposing application for removal of executor (led by Mr Douglas Lam SC and with Ms Jacqueline Law)
• Tsang Yee Kam v Yip Kwun Lun HCA 608/2014 – Application for a declaration that certain properties were trust assets held by the Deceased for the benefit of the Plaintiff, and therefore do not form part of the estate of the Deceased administered by the Defendant (with Mr Richard Leung)
• Sunterly Ltd v The IO of Far East Mansion HCA 1049/2019 – Opposing the Plaintiff’s application for injunction to restrain the IO from carrying out building and construction works of and relating to an escalator at the common parts of the building (as sole advocate)
• Lam Clansmen Mutual Aid Association Ltd v Lam Kam Loi HCA 2005/2018 – Application for default judgment on declaratory relief of possessory title acquired by adverse possession (as sole advocate)
• Wu Kai Wai & Others v Lui Chun Shing & Another DCCJ 3740/2017 – Application for vacant possession and opposing counterclaim of adverse possession (as sole advocate)
• Various land, property and/or building management cases, involving (1) constructive and resulting trusts, (2) adverse possession, (3) landlord and tenant disputes, (4) construction of DMCs and other agreements concerning land and/or (5) orders for partition and/or sale under the Partition Ordinance (Cap 352)

Commercial and Tort

• Raafat Imam v Life (China) Co Ltd & Others [2018] 4 HKLRD 152 – Opposing on jurisdictional and procedural grounds the Plaintiff’s application for a declaration that a civil action funding agreement does not offend the law prohibiting maintenance and champerty (led by Mr Clifford Smith SC and with Ms Sabrina Ho)
• Citibank NA v Hunter Socks & Apparel International Ltd & Others HCMP 2063/2016 – Represented Citibank NA in opposing an application for stay of proceedings and enforcing a mortgage for the sum of around HKD 6.8 million (with Mr John Hui)
• Chief Holdings (HK) Ltd & Another v He Chenguang & Others HCA 2415/2014 & HCA 414/2015 – Application for an order that the Hong Kong proceedings concerning the return of HKD 270 million be stayed, pending the determination of the Beijing proceedings (led by Dr William Wong SC)
• Siu Nai Ying & Another v Octagon Workshop Ltd & Others HCA 375/2019 – Application to strike out various parts of the amended statement of claim against the director of the company (led by Mr Simon Westbrook SC)
• Lam Kit Ieng v Wise Empire Investments Ltd HCMP 476/2021 – Application for declaratory relief on cessation of licence agreement (as sole advocate)
• Li Kuen Kwai Jay & Another v Lok Chun Cheong & Another DCCJ 1922/2016 – Opposing claims concerning water leakage allegedly caused by the Defendants (with Mr Kaiser Leung)

Injunctive Relief

• Tang Jialin v Sinopac Securities (Asia) Ltd & Others HCA 90/2018 – Opposing a co-Defendant’s application for Mareva injunction based on alternative causes of action that it will rely upon if and when its defences to the Plaintiff’s claims fail (led by Ms Rachel Lam SC)
• Hiromi Okada v Tomohiro Okada & Another HCMP 2446/2017 – Application for interim proprietary injunction to restrain Tomohiro Okada from disposing of or otherwise dealing with the disputed shares valued at around HKD 1.38 billion in Okada Holdings Ltd (led by Mr Charles Sussex SC and with Mr Justin Lam)
• ADL Express Ltd v A&B Logistics Ltd & Others HCA 3033/2017 – Application for ex parte domestic Mareva injunction in the sum of around HKD 23 million (with Mr John Hui); application for ex parte worldwide Mareva injunction (as sole advocate); opposing application for variation of the worldwide Mareva injunction (as sole advocate)
• Sensing Technology Investment Ltd v Liu Haitao & Others HCMP 812/2018 – Application for ex parteinterlocutory injunction to restrain unauthorised individuals from holding out as having the authority of the company (with Mr John Hui)
• Wang Linping & Another v Huang Keqin & Others HCMP 632/2012 & HCA 373/2014 – Opposing the 1st Defendant’s applications for interlocutory injunction and withdrawal of part of his undertakings given in 2012 (as sole advocate)
• Chan Chee Tseng Christopher & Another v Chan Hon Tai Jason DCCJ 6578/2019 – Application for injunction to restrain the Defendant from committing acts of nuisance, intimidation and harassment against the Plaintiffs (as sole advocate)
• Various asset recovery and/or civil fraud cases, involving applications for (1) Mareva and/or proprietary injunctions, (2) disclosure orders, (3) gagging orders and/or (4) anonymity orders

Matrimonial

• CCYL v CCSR FCMC 15718/2018 – Opposing the Wife’s applications for maintenance pending suit and legal costs provision (as sole advocate); opposing the Wife’s application for leave to release the Husband’s documents filed in the family proceedings for use in the bankruptcy proceedings (as sole advocate); representing the Husband at the Children’s Dispute Resolution hearing (as sole advocate)
• L v W FCMC 5026/2015 – Application for an immediate taxation of the 1st Intervener’s costs (as sole advocate)

Employment

• Law Ting Pong Secondary School v Chen Wai Wah [2021] 3 HKLRD 185; HCLA 22/2018 – Opposing the teacher’s refusal to make payment in lieu of notice on the grounds that the payment in lieu of notice clause relied upon by the school had been incorporated into the employment agreement and was not an unenforceable penalty clause (as sole advocate)
• Wong Lan v Yung Kit Ping & Others HCA 1020/2019 – Application for variation of undertakings on the ground that the 1st to 5th Defendants have resigned from the company (led by Mr Douglas Lam SC and with Ms Sabrina Ho)

Competition

• Competition Commission v W Hing Construction Co Ltd & Others [2020] 2 HKLRD 1229; [2019] 3 HKLRD 46; [2018] 5 HKLRD 437 – Acting for one of the parties in the Competition Commission’s enforcement action in relation to contravention of the first conduct rule by price fixing and market sharing agreements (with Ms Connie Lee)

Enforcement of Judgment

• Li Ping Chun v Liang Tonghua & Others HCA 745/2011 & HCA 2239/2017 – Applications for post-judgment Mareva and proprietary injunctions in the sum of around HKD 15 million (as sole advocate); applications for ancillary disclosure orders and continuation of post-judgment Mareva and proprietary injunctions (as sole advocate)
• China CITIC Bank Corporation Ltd (Quanzhou Branch) v Li Kwai Chun & Others HCMP 1408/2017 & HCMP 1439/2017 – Application for stay of execution pending appeal (as sole advocate)
• Agorai Pte Ltd v Hongkong Yinxan Ltd & Another HCA 2099/2018 – Application for garnishee order to enforce a money judgment of around HKD 3.3 million (as sole advocate)