Practice Profile
Ryan is ranked as a "leading junior" for regulatory, investigations, and crime in the Legal500 guide to the Hong Kong Bar for 2025 and 2026. He is a Hardwicke Scholar of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, and a member of the Denning Society for scholars of the Inn. He holds fellowships with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (FHKIArb).
Prior to joining the bar, Ryan obtained his LLB (First Class Honours, ranking first in his year) at the University of Manchester in 2015 and his MPhil in Criminology (First Class average, with Distinction) as a Manuel Lopez-Rey Scholar at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge in 2016. He then obtained his PCLL at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (with UGC Funding/Distinguished Scholarship) in 2017. He was awarded more than 10 academic scholarships and prizes along the way. He then assisted John McDonnell K.C. of Three Stone Chambers in numerous appeals which were heard in the UK Supreme Court, the Privy Council, and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal before commencing practice in Hong Kong.
Ryan is recognized as an expert in regulatory/white-collar crime, company, chancery, professional negligence/misconduct, and arbitration matters. In his regulatory practice, he is regularly instructed as sole counsel or led junior in complex investigations and proceedings involving market misconduct, listed securities, and corruption. He is particularly sought after by foreign banks, investment portfolios, listed companies, financial intermediaries, and their directors/officers for both contentious and advisory work. He is experienced in proceedings brought by regulators, including petitions under sections 213 and 214 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) and proceedings in the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal. In his chancery practice, he is often instructed in trust disputes, private client work, offshore matters, urgent injunctions, and asset recovery. In the field of arbitration, he has been appointed as counsel, arbitrator, and tribunal secretary in various HKIAC and ICC arbitrations.
Outside Hong Kong, Ryan is a Foreign Lawyer (full registration) of the Singapore International Commercial Court. He has been instructed to provide expert evidence on various areas of Hong Kong law in foreign court (including PRC, UK, BVI, Cayman Islands, DIFC, and Timor-Leste) and arbitration proceedings (including CIETAC, ICC, and SIAC).
Qualifications & Awards
Education
- LLB (1st Class Hons., Ranked 1st in Year)
University of Manchester - MPhil in Criminology (Distinction)
Queens' College, University of Cambridge - PCLL
Chinese University of Hong Kong - Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration
CIArb
Awards & Scholarships
- Leading Junior (Regulatory, Investigations and Crime)
Legal500 | 2025-2026 - Subject Prize (Company Law)
University of Manchester | 2013 - Hardwicke Scholarship
Lincoln's Inn | 2014 - Dean's Award for best LLB dissertation
University of Manchester | 2014 - R.G. Lawson Prize for Academic Excellence
University of Manchester | 2014 - Best Mooter; Best Oralist
Essex Court National Mooting Competition | 2015 - Subject Prize (LLB Dissertation)
University of Manchester | 2015 - Manuel López-Rey Studentship
University of Cambridge | 2016 - Award of Distinction for MPhil Dissertation
University of Cambridge | 2016 - UGC Funding/Distinguished Scholarship
Chinese University of Hong Kong | 2017
Professional Appointments & Memberships
Member of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
2014
Member of the Lord Denning Society (for Scholars of the Inn) at Lincoln's Inn
2014
Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (FHKIArb)
2019 – present
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
2019 – present
Member of the Hong Kong Bar Association's Practice Area Committee on Arbitration
2019 – 2023
Member of the Hong Kong Bar Association's Practice Area Committee on Land, Trust and Probate
2020 – 2023
Member of the Hong Kong Bar Association's Practice Area Committee on Sports Law
2025 – present
Member of the Hong Kong Bar Association's Practice Area Committee on Financial & Securities Law
2025 – present
Selected Cases
Geng Feng v AI International Technology Limited & anor HCA 3355/2016; HKIAC Arbitration
Successfully resisted stay application in the High Court action which is being brought alongside substantively similar HKIAC arbitration proceedings (led by Jason Pow S.C., Anson Wong S.C.; with Edward Tang)
IO of Yuet Lai Court v Sunarts (Holdings) Engineering Limited HCA 1329/2018
Successfully stayed High Court proceedings against claimant proceeding in breach of arbitration agreement
Greenorange Trade Co. Limited v Evoland International Co. Limited HCCT 6/2020
Successful enforcement of arbitral award rendered in a CIETAC arbitration
Milton Construction Engineering Limited v Tung Sai Cheong HCA 799/2022
Successfully resisted an application for stay in favour of arbitration
Geng Feng v AI International Technology Limited & anor HCCT 30/2025
Successful enforcement of arbitral award which had been partially complied with; Application under O.45 r.6 to enforce mandatory order in arbitral award
HKIAC Arbitration
Dispute as to the jurisprudential effect of contractual provisions on the claimant's substantive claim, specifically whether it extinguishes the arbitrator's jurisdiction or the admissibility of the claim
HKIAC Arbitration
Dispute arising from the exercise of a put option in the aftermath of a state-owned entity's substantial investment into a failed IPO
ICC Arbitration
Dispute as to the power of arbitral tribunal to order remedies against non-signatory to contract containing arbitration clause
SIAC Arbitration
Dispute arising from a subscription of shares by a hedge fund into a cryptocurrency/blockchain startup (led by Clifford Smith S.C.; with Edward Tang)
ICC Arbitration
Dispute arising from the performance of an agreement for mining work to be carried on in Sierra Leone; Appointment of receivers in aid of the arbitral proceedings
HKIAC Arbitration – Tribunal Secretary
Sitting as tribunal secretary; Rendering award for a party's challenge to the jurisdiction of the Arbitral Tribunal; Rendering costs award; Rendering award for application for specific discovery
Margaret Chiu v Administratrix of the Estate of Deacon Chiu Te-Kan HCMP 165/2019
Represented a beneficiary in an application for interim distribution of a multi-billion-dollar estate
The Incorporated Owners of Grenville House Limited v Commerce Company Limited HCA 622/2020
Dispute over boundary lines of car parking spaces; Dispute over compliance with Government Lease
Re Estate of Tan Kiam Toen HCAP 3/2021; HCMP 1192/2019
Dispute over the validity of joint wills; Application to revoke a grant of probate; Norwich Pharmacal application against testator's former legal advisors
Lam Mui & anor v Frontrich Investment Limited & ors HCA 34/2021; [2024] HKCFI 2295; [2024] HKCFI 3367; HCA 481/2021; HCA 2462/2024
Successfully resisted an application for a carry-on order under O.15 r.7 and an injunction application brought in aid of a claim for adverse possession, followed by an order for dismissal for want of prosecution
Lee Chun Fung Michael & anor v Lee Wai Ling Celine HCA 1084/2021; DCCJs 622, 4098, 5123, 5170/2021
Dispute over beneficial interest in property; concurrent claims in respect of purchase monies
Cheng Ching Fong v Ting Sok Kay Peggy (as sole executrix of the Estate of Ting Sok Hang, deceased) [2025] HKCFI 2046
Successfully claiming beneficial interest in two residential properties involving an equitable agreement not to sever joint tenancy
AXHT Co Ltd v Freeway Finance Co Ltd [2020] 4 HKLRD 133
Successfully obtained restitution for a moneylender who fell victim to a fraudulent scheme; Clarified the law on the effect of interposition of third party on restitution claims
Purple Surgical v Win Billion HCA 1600/2020
Fraud involving online order of surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic
iRealty Investments Limited HCA 867/2021
Telephone fraud; Application to join financial institution as a respondent; Application for relief under s25A of the High Court Ordinance where the defendant had gone incognito
Leo Absolute Return Fund SPC v Dancing Magnet Pop Culture Limited (formerly known as AMTD Investment Solutions Group Limited) HCA 570/2024
Claim for return of funds in excess of HK$2,200,000,000 misappropriated from securities account (ongoing)
AXHT Co Ltd v Lam Choi Ming & ors CACV 28/2025
Appeal against first instance judgment on the finding that a payment constituted earnest monies instead of part payment of a contractual debt (ongoing, with Edward Tang)
August Rosy Limited & anor v Baywind Global Limited HCA 2318/2017
Dispute over application of estoppel per rem judicatam arising from foreign proceedings between the same parties; Dispute over scope of licence to start construction on land granted in anticipation of a contract to purchase the land (ongoing, with Edward Tang)
Wu Lianmo & Zhang Zhusheng v Lu Shaoping HCSD 31/2017 & HCSD 32/2017; HCA 589/2019; HCCW 323/2019
Contractual dispute over documents alleged to be shams; Dispute over time bar (led by Clifford Smith S.C.)
Michelle Yeung v Chan Ho Chung & Multi-Course Investment Limited HCA 1155/2019
Obtained full restitution against an unlicensed middleman on behalf of a victim of a sophisticated fraud
Li Yuhong v AMTD Global Markets Ltd HCA 475/2020
Allegations against a SFC licenced entity for breach of discretionary asset management agreement
Alpha Financial Press v AMTD Group Company Limited [2022] HKCFI 1084
Successful appeal against the grant of summary judgment in respect of an unsigned purported contract for financial printing services (led by Clifford Smith S.C.)
HG Property Investment HK Limited & Hundred Gain International Holding Limited v Cheng Mei Holdings Limited (receivers and managers appointed) & ors HCA 1469/2022; HCA 502/2023
Action to set aside the sale of a property valued at HK$6,700,000,000 (led by William Wong S.C.; with Edward Tang)
CMF Global Quantitative Multi-Asset SPC v Blossom International Investment Holdings Limited HCA 1532/2023; Ming Yang International Opportunities Fund SPC v Blossom International Investment Holdings Limited HCA 2484/2024
Defending claims brought by two segregated portfolio companies against an exempted Cayman Islands fund
Cosmic Paramount Enterprises Limited v Hong Kong Pork Exchange Limited HCA 1830/2025
Representing a creditor in its application to enforce a guarantee and a share charge; Successfully struck out the defendant's defence on the basis of the Holme v Brunskill equitable principle
Angela Li v Hermitage Capital HK Limited & ors HCA 2313/2025
Defending an SFC-licenced fund manager and its senior management against allegations of an anticipatory breach of an investment agreement (ongoing)
LR Capital China Growth II Company Limited v Leo Absolute Return Fund SPC & ors HCA 479/2025
Defending a Cayman Islands mutual fund and its director against a claim for breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraud, and deceit (ongoing)
oOo Securities (HK) Group Limited & ors v Leo Absolute Return Fund SPC & ors HCA 757/2025
Defending a Cayman Islands mutual fund and its director against a claim for misuse of confidential information obtained by a whistleblower ex-employee (ongoing); successfully resisted application for interim-interim relief restraining the deployment of the confidential information in legal proceedings
Re PSC Partners Limited HCCW 137/2020
Application to withdraw a public interest winding-up petition; Application to remove provisional liquidators (led by Clifford Smith S.C.; with Edward Tang)
Re Hong Kong Universal Jewellery Limited (in Members' Voluntary Liquidation) HCMP 807/2020; [2022] 2 HKLRD 779; [2022] 4 HKC 437; [2022] HKCLC 489; [2022] HKCFI 1062
Liquidators' application under s255 of Cap 32 for directions relating to distribution of a solvent company's assets
Re Hong Kong Universal Jewellery Limited (in Members' Voluntary Liquidation) HCMP 2039/2020
Defending directors and senior officers of a company against a misfeasance claim brought by shareholders under s276 of Cap 32 (ongoing, with Edward Tang)
AB Club Ltd & ors v Chan Yin Ki Cubie & ors HCA 1644/2020; [2020] HKCFI 2769; [2021] HKCFI 681
Resisting application for interim-interim relief and interim relief (including springboard injunctions) against ex-employees on the basis of misuse of confidential information (with Edward Tang)
Re Big Kingdom International Limited HCMP 1862/2022
Representing a creditor in opposing the debtor's application for quia timet injunction restraining the creditor from presenting a winding-up petition
HKSAR v Lee Yam Pui David & ors CACC 425/2015
Appeal against conviction and sentence in the first-ever prosecution of "To Ding" (套丁)-related activities (led by Arthur Luk S.C.)
HKSAR v Choi Wang [2018] HKCFA 27
Application for leave to appeal to the Court of Final Appeal on the grounds that a bind-over order was made on an invalid factual basis, and without allowing the Applicant the opportunity to seek legal advice and/or representation (led by Arthur Luk S.C.)
HKSAR v Lee See-Yin Letitia KCCC 3358/2018
Defending criminal proceedings brought by the ICAC in relation to election donations and expenses (led by Cheng Huan S.C.)
HKSAR v Wang Wenning ESCC 566/2024
Defending criminal proceedings brought by the ICAC in relation to the affairs of China National Coal Group Corporation (中国中煤能源股份有限公司), a state-owned coal mining enterprise
L v K HCMC 6/2010
Application for discharge of ancillary relief order involving intellectual property disputes and allegations of forgery; Application for examination of judgment debtor
CKP v SYK FCMC 2441/2017
Application to set aside post-nuptial agreement on the grounds of material non-disclosure
Re Nimble Holdings Company Limited, formerly known as The Grande Holdings Limited HCCW 177/2011
Representing a listed company in a dispute with its former provisional liquidators over remuneration and the costs of compliance with several discovery orders (ongoing)
Re Silver Faith Holdings Limited HCCW 111/2014
Application to wind up a company alongside parallel proceedings between the parties in the BVI
Re Margaret Chiu HCA 1431/2017; HCB 7106/2018
Examination of Judgment Debtor pursuant to O49B RHC; Successful application for discharge of Prohibition Order in aid of enforcement proceedings; Successfully resisting application for committal of the Judgment Debtor
Re Great Beauty Holdings Limited HCCW 102/2019
Successfully resisted winding-up petition presented on the basis of a purported director's loan, with indemnity costs awarded for procedural abuse
Re Chen Mei Huan [2020] 1 HKLRD 409
Successfully resisted bankruptcy petition presented on the basis of a HK$117,000,000 gambling debt on the grounds of the Hong Kong court not having jurisdiction over the Debtor
Chow Frank v Yuen Hoi Po CACV 261/2025
Appeal against dismissal of bankruptcy petition on the finding of a bona fide dispute on the strength of a document alleged to be a sham; application of the Ming Shiu Chung v Ming Shiu Sum & ors (2006) 9 HKCFAR 334 principles (ongoing, with Edward Tang)
Chen Mei-Huan & Peckson Limited v Ng Man-Sang [2017] UKPC 27; (BVI) BVIHC (COM) 88/2012; BVIHCMAP 11/2019
Successful appeal in the Privy Council, followed by retrial in the Eastern Caribbean Commercial Court and appeal in the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal in a long-running dispute concerning beneficial ownership of shares in a BVI company (led by John McDonnell K.C. and Dancia Penn K.C.; with Rosalind Nicholson)
Expert Evidence on Hong Kong law
Giving expert evidence to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in the BVI on Hong Kong law in relation to the powers of the Hong Kong Court in interim relief in aid of arbitration proceedings seated in Mainland China
Expert Evidence on Hong Kong law
Giving expert evidence in English proceedings on the requirements of service of proceedings in Hong Kong.
Advisory work
Advising a foreign (Dubai) branch of a Swiss bank in relation to the effect of FDC Co. Ltd v Chase Manhattan Bank in relation to an application for disclosure of documents in aid of foreign proceedings
Secretary for Justice v Tam Siu-hang HCMP 524/2022
Application to vary a Restraint Order prohibiting disposal of assets in Hong Kong and elsewhere made pursuant to s.15 of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) in aid of criminal proceedings for alleged market misconduct offences (ongoing)
朱瑜竹 v 雅高（香港）投資集團有限公司 & ors HCRE 64/2024
Application to set aside registration of PRC judgment on the grounds that the secondary liability is of an indeterminate amount (ongoing)
重慶中拓房嚴經紀有限公司 v 雅高控股有限公司 HCRE 52/2024
Application to set aside registration of PRC judgment on the grounds of improper service of originating process in breach of PRC law
Li Angela v Hermitage Capital HK Limited & anor LBTC 1928/2025
Acting for and advising a private equity fund manager in relation to claims brought by its former General Counsel pursuant to a purported employment agreement (ongoing)
Immigration Appeals
Representing the Director of Immigration in appeals brought by claimants in the Torture Claims Appeal Board
Li Pui Yuk Prudy v Midland Realty International Limited & anor HCA 141/2016
Successfully defending a firm of solicitors in a professional negligence claim; successfully opposed the filing of witness statements out of time, with the Plaintiff's claim being dismissed as a result
AXHT v Cham & Co., Solicitors HCA 692/2019
Successfully obtained compensation from a firm of solicitors on the grounds of professional negligence when advising on a mortgage
Tam Yuk Ching & ors v Hoosenally & Neo & anor HCA 1511/2020; [2023] HKCFI 555; [2022] HKCFI 3825; CACV 99/2026
Successfully defending a firm of solicitors at the trial of a professional negligence claim; successfully struck out one plaintiff's claim for disclosing no reasonable cause of action; Resisting the plaintiffs' appeal (ongoing, with Edward Tang)
Medical Council Proceedings
Representing a medical doctor in an investigation into possession of Part 1 poisons (lidocaine), conducted by the Centre for Health Protection and the Drug Office of the Department of Health, and concurrent disciplinary proceedings brought by the Medical Council of Hong Kong (ongoing)
HKSAR v Lai Wun-yin & anor CACC 18/2020; [2021] HKCA 566; [2023] 2 HKLRD 85; [2023] 2 HKC 538
Appeal against conviction for conspiracy to defraud the HKEX in respect of a listing fraud (led by Martin Hui S.C.)
Re Teamway International Group Holdings Limited (1239.HK) HCMP 1830/2022
Representing an INED of a listed company in a s214 Petition brought by the SFC (ongoing)
Re Fingertango Inc (6860.HK) HCMP 1725/2023
Representing a listed company in a s214 Petition brought by the SFC (ongoing)
ICAC v C HCCM 577/2023
Representing an individual in an ICAC investigation into an alleged s9 POBO offence
HKSAR v Tam Sze Leung & ors DCCC 778/2024
Defending 7 individuals in criminal proceedings for conspiracy to defraud and/or money laundering arising out of alleged false trading (ongoing; trial fixed for 45 days)
HKSAR v Tse Yiu Chung & ors DCCC 780/2024
Defending an individual in criminal proceedings for conspiracy to defraud and/or money laundering arising out of alleged false trading (ongoing; trial fixed for 35 days, led by Marc Corlett K.C.)
SFC v Wu Tsun Ming & ors HCA 1755/2024
Representing an individual investor in a s213 Petition brought by the SFC (ongoing)
SFC v Chan Kai Sun Joseph & ors HCA 215/2025
Representing 7 individuals in a s213 Petition brought by the SFC (ongoing)
Competition Commission Investigation (EC/10ZM)
Representing an individual in an investigation conducted by the Competition Commission on suspected anti-competitive practices in the seafood wholesale industry
Regulatory Investigations
Representing and advising numerous financial institutions and intermediaries in relation to investigations conducted by various regulators, including SFC (particularly under s.183), HKEX, SGX, and NYSE; see selected examples below
SFC/ICAC Joint Investigation
Representing an individual in a joint investigation by the SFC and the ICAC into allegations of trading on insider information relating to the privatization of listed companies (ongoing)
SFC Investigation
Resisting the SFC's attempt to inspect files on a computer seized pursuant to a search warrant (obtained pursuant to s191 of the SFO) on Sham Wing Kan grounds
SFC Investigation
Representing the Chairman and CEO of a financial institution dual-listed in the NYSE and SGX in relation to an SFC investigation (led by Clare Montgomery K.C., Selwyn Yu S.C.; Derek Chan S.C.; with Edward Tang)
Civil Claims
Advising a financial institution in relation to civil claims by a Chinese conglomerate (led by Michael Todd K.C., Clifford Smith S.C., Selwyn Yu S.C.; with Edward Tang)
Advisory Work
Advising on the applicability of Part V of the SFO on an offshore unlicensed asset manager operating through a Hong Kong asset manager holding inter alia Type 9 licence (led by Michael Todd K.C.)
Advisory Work
Advising a Japanese company listed on the HKEX in relation to a proposed distribution of special dividends, and its ramifications under the Listing Rules
Independent Forensic Investigation
Independent forensic investigation into the legitimacy and validity of certain investments made by a company listed on the Main Board of the HKEX using IPO proceeds
Licensing Advisory
Advising an intermediary on an application for a licence to carry on Type 8 Regulated Activity (securities margin financing)
Stop Notice Applications
Representing a listed company in four applications to set aside stop notices pursuant to O50, r11 RHC
Publications
LexisNexis Practical Guidance (Hong Kong, 2021-2024)
Guides on Arbitration, Corporate Insolvency, Personal Bankruptcy, Injunctive Relief, and Civil Procedure
Guide to enforcing foreign and Mainland judgments in Hong Kong
Personal
Outside his legal practice, Ryan is a passionate racing driver, having been ranked in the FIA Driver Categorisation list since 2021. He has participated in sprint and endurance races in various GT, one-make, and touring car (TCR) specifications. He recently competed in the Passione Ferrari Club Challenge, the Lotus Cup China where he finished on the podium, as well as the Lynk & Co Cup where he was the overall champion at the Shanghai International Circuit. Ryan is also an avid foodie who documents his gastronomical adventures on his Instagram food blog.