Can a good faith obligation under PRC law preclude a party from bringing a winding up petition in Hong Kong? A recent Hong Kong Court of First Instance suggests not. In Harbor Prosper (HK) Investments Ltd v. Elegant Profit (Hong Kong) Ltd [2020] HKCFI 2261, the respondent to a winding up petition argued that it … Read more

In a previous article we discussed circumstances where an employer may seek damages against an employee who has engaged in serious misconduct or been seriously negligent at work. In the recent case of Xu Yi Jun v GF Capital (Hong Kong) Ltd [2020] HKCA 663, the Court of Appeal considered whether it is permissible for … Read more

The English Court of Appeal has held that, where an auditor negligently failed to detect management’s dishonest concealment of the claimant’s insolvency, it was liable for the losses suffered by the claimant in continuing to conduct its loss-making business: Assetco Plc v Grant Thornton UK LLP [2020] EWCA Civ 1151. While the decision recognises that … Read more

Tomorrow marks an important day for dispute resolution users as the Singapore Mediation Convention comes into force, just over a year after its signing ceremony on 7 August 2019.   The UNCITRAL Working Group II’s aim to implement an international regime for the enforcement of mediated settlements broadly akin to the 1958 New York Convention for … Read more

In UDA Land Sdn Bhd v Puncak Sepakat Sdn Bhd [2020] MLJU 892, the High Court was required to determine whether an award should be set aside because the sole arbitrator (“Arbitrator”) wrongly concluded that it had no jurisdiction to determine a counterclaim and insolvency set-off raised in the arbitration.  The High Court set aside … Read more

Herbert Smith Freehills has launched the 8th edition of its guide, “Dispute resolution and governing law clauses for China-related commercial contracts‎”. Better known as “The Dragon Book“, this practical guide explains how Mainland Chinese law affects parties’ choice of law and dispute resolution in China-related contracts.‎ Join us for a launch webinar on Wednesday 9 … Read more

Restructuring and insolvency in China is evolving and investors must stay ahead of the latest developments. Our new guide, The Basics of Restructuring and Insolvency Law in Mainland China, provides an essential roadmap for both investors and practitioners. While offshore stakeholders have historically been cautious in engaging in onshore insolvency processes, recent developments demand a … Read more

The Hong Kong High Court (the “Court”) allowed an urgent application by the defendant for him and his wife to give evidence in trial by videoconference (“VCF”) (the “Application”) in the recent case of Au Yeung Pui Chun v Cheng Wing Sang [2020] HKCFI 2101 (handed down on 10 August 2020). The Application was brought … Read more