Ian Chu

Year of call : HK (2021), Solicitor: Hong Kong (2016-2020)

Ian has a broad practice in general civil, family, company & commercial and criminal matters. Given his previous practice as a corporate lawyer, he continues to advise as Counsel on transactional matters including compliance issues in IPOs, capital market transactions and the Listing Rules.

Ian commenced his legal career as a solicitor in 2016 until 2020.  He is now a barrister-at-law in Hong Kong.  Ian has a broad practice in predominately in general civil litigation, international arbitration, contractual and commercial disputes, land, probate, Intellectual properties and family matters.  He is also instructed by the Department of Justice to prosecute cases at Magistrates’ Court as Counsel-on-fiat from time to time.  During his appointment by the Judiciary as Judicial Associate, he assisted High Court Judges (including Justices of Appeal) in civil matters particularly in appeal cases at the CA level.

 

Ian passed the 3rd GBA Legal Professional Examination and training.  He is a GBA lawyer and practising in the GBA.

 

In September 2023, Ian was selected to the list of LexisNexis® 40 UNDER 40 2023, which is an exclusive industry recognition that selects 40 professionals who are 40 years old or younger and show tremendous potential to grow and motivation to lead the development of the legal sector in Asia Pacific.

 

He has been appointed by the Department of Justice in February 2024 to be a member of the Advisory Group of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area advising the development and cooperation of the legal services in the GBA.

 

In terms of his tribunal experience and statutory appointments, Ian is the Chairman of Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings) (such appointment requires the same minimum requirements of the appointment of a District Court Judge) and a member of the Torture Claim Appeal board, Registration of Persons Tribunal and Insurance Appeals Tribunal.

LEGAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Jurisdictions

  • Hong Kong barrister (since January 2021)
  • Hong Kong Solicitor (2016-2020)
  • GBA Lawyer (since 2024)

 

Professional Experience

  • Barrister-at-law, Gilt Chambers (2021 – present)
  • Solicitor, practised in law firms including Stevenson, Wong & Co., Fangda Partners and Charltons, (2016 – 2020)
  • Judicial Associateat the High Court of Hong Kong (on various short- term appointment between 2020 and 2022)
  • Part time lecturerin Construction & Contract Law, Chu Hai College (2022 – present) 

 

Education

  • Tsinghua University – EMPA candidate, expect to graduate in early-2026
  • The University ofHong Kong – Master of Laws (LLM) in Compliance and Regulation
  • BPP Law School– Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons)
  • University of Cambridge– Master of Arts in Economics
  • University of Cambridge– Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Economics

Memberships:

  • Hong Kong Bar Association – General member
  • Standing Committee on Young Barristers, Hong Kong Bar Association – Committee member
  • Standing Committee on Mainland Affairs, Hong Kong Bar Association – Committee member
  • Intellectual Property Committee, Hong Kong Bar Association – Committee member
  • The Law Society of Hong Kong (2016-2020)

judicial/statutory body or other appointments:

  • Advisory Group of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Lawyers of the Department of Justice, Member (February 2024 –present)
  • Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings), Chairman (December 2021 – present)
  • Torture Claim Appeal Board, Member (June 2023 – present)
  • Registration of Persons Tribunal (June 2023 – present)
  • Insurance Appeals Tribunal, Member (July 2021 – present)
  • Disciplinary Panel A of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member (December 2020 – October 2022)

Scholarship, prizes & honorable mentions

Legal Awards

  • Awardees under LexisNexis® 40 UNDER 40 2023
  • 2016-17, 2018-19 & 2020-22 Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services – Individuals’ Special Awardawarded by the Home Affairs Bureau of the HKSAR Government.
  • 2017, 2018 & 2019 Pro Bono and Community Work Recognition Programme – Gold Award awarded by the Law Society of Hong Kong.

LANGUAGES SPOKEN:

English, Mandarin, Cantonese (native)

Contractual, Company & Commercial

Poon Chi Fai v Poon Chi Hung, William and ors [2024] HKCFI 3097

  • Acted for the 1st and 2nd defendants to oppose the plaintiff’s application to invalidate a shareholders’ resolution.  The plaintiff’s application was dismissed.

 

Tactic Ally ltd. v Li Fai Wai [2023] HKCFI 1469

  • Act for the defendant in the trial concerning a dispute in a breach of contract and agency law.

 

Lam Ka Lee v Ma Tsz Kin and another & Lam Yiu Fai v Ma Tsz Kin and another [2022] HKDC 1256

  • Acted for the defendants in both actions as trial counsel in respect of contractual disputes.

 

HCMP 2407/2023

  • Acted for the 1st and 2nd Defendants to oppose the Plaintiff’s application for obtaining financial documents pursuant to sections 375, 620 and 740 of the Companies Ordinance, Cap. 622.

 

Land and Trust

Sam Yu Lik Eric v. Chao Chiung Yo (趙祟岳), the sole executor of the estate of Leung Hing Shan (梁慶珊),deceased [2024] HKCFI 1377

  • Acted for the Defendant in substantial hearing in respect of a breach of a provisional sale and purchase agreement.  In particular, the issue of  liquidated damages clause was argued substantially.

 

Re GT Capital Limited [2024] HKCFI 1007

  • Acted for the applicant, being a securities broker, in its ex-parte application under sections 56 and 62 of the Trustee Ordinance for payment of unclaimed monies and securities into Court.  The application was allowed.

 

The Incorporated Owners of Cheong Fat Factory Building (Flats A, B, E & F) and another v. Wong Yuet Han(黃月嫻) trading as Man Lee Hong(民利行), being the occupier of a structure erected under the escape staircase leading to no. 265 Un Chau Street on ground floor and others [2024] HKDC 1484

  • Represented the 1st and 5th defendants in a trial in respect of adverse possession.

 

HCMP 1636/2024

  • Acted for the Plaintiff (the mortgagee) for an application under Order 88 of the Rules of the High Court to obtain the Order for possession of the mortgaged property.  The application was allowed.

 

HCMP 1773/2024

  • Acted for the Plaintiff (the mortgagee) for an application under Order 88 of the Rules of the High Court to obtain the Order for possession of the mortgaged property.  The application was allowed.

 

Injunction

Shum Chun Tung v To Ying Lam Alieen and another [2024] HKDC 795

  • Acted for the plaintiff for an interlocutory injunction in respect of an action of nuisance.

 

IQ Solutions Inc v WKJ Limited, HCA 1791/2023

  • Appeared for the plaintiff to obtain a proprietary injunction together with a Mareva injunction in respect of an internet fraud.

 

Probate

Lee Sui Hong Jerome as Administrator of the estate of Kan Hak Ming v Ye Jinxiang and others [2022] HKCFI 3580

  • Appeared on behalf of the 1st and 2nd defendants (being the opposing beneficiaries) to oppose the plaintiff’s (being the administrator) application for relief under order 85 of the RHC and discovery.

 

Re Estate of KHM [2022] HKCFI 1681

  • Acted for the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs for an application for a retrospective Beddoe order.

 

HCAG 7669/2022

  • Advised the applicant and prepared an ex-parte application that a will be deemed to be executed under section 5(2) of the Wills ordinance.  The application was allowed.

 

HCCA 1626/2021

  • Appeared on behalf of the person warning in an application to remove a caveat. the court ordered that the caveat be removed.

 

Other General Civil

Ding You v Citibank (Hong Kong) Ltd. [2024] HKDC 2025

  • Acted for the plaintiff to seek a Norwich Pharmacal Order against the defendant bank.  The application was allowed.

 

George YC Mok & Co. (a firm) v New Land Properties Development Limited and another [2023] HKCFI 2055

  • Appeared for the 1st and 2nd defendants in respect of an application to set aside an consent order.

 

Man’s (Asia) Development Limited v Secretary for Justice [2022] HKCFI 3757

  • Acted for the Plaintiff in an application for leave to appeal against a Judgment below in respect of the enforcement of a Tomlin Order.

 

Wong, Alieen v Diasqua International Ltd. [2023] HKDC 1661

  • Acted for the Defendant in an application to vary and revoke an Order concerning directions on expert evidence.

 

DCCJ 4653/2021

  • Appeared for the plaintiff in an application for a stay of proceedings in favour of arbitration.

 

International Arbitration

LCIA nos. 246404 & 246405 in London Court of International Arbitration

  • Acted for the claimant in a contractual dispute concerning non-delivery under two sale and purchase agreements of commodities.  The main disputes include breach of contract and agency law.

 

HKIAC/A23148 in Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre

  • Acted for the claimant in a contractual dispute relating to a breach of a licence agreement.

 

Family

WKC v KHC [2025] HKFC 20

  • Acted for the plaintiff (with Mr. Eugene Yim) in the trial of ancillary relief.

 

關 訴 陳及其他 [2023] HKFC 74

  • Represented the interveners in an application for leave to appeal and adducing new evidence.

 

  陳及其他 [2022] HKFC 222

  • Acted for the 4th intervener in preliminary issue and an application under section 17 of Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance, Cap. 192.

 

FCJA 1711/2018

  • Act for the 1st applicant to resist an application to vary a Child Order made by the 2nd applicant.  The case was settled in the CDR.

 

FCMC 4612/2021

  • Represented the respondent in an application for interm access to a child.  The application was allowed.

 

FCMP 255/2021

  • Acted for the applicant for an Order under section 6(1) of the Parent and Child Ordinance, Cap. 429.  The application was allowed.

 

FCMP 21/2022

  • Represented the applicant for a consent to be given by the court for his marriage under Section 18A of the Marriage Ordinance, cap. 181. the application was allowed.

 

Probate

Lee Sui Hong Jerome as Administrator of the estate of Kan Hak Ming v Ye Jinxiang and others [2022] HKCFI 3580

  • Appeared on behalf of the 1st and 2nd defendants (being the opposing beneficiaries) to oppose the plaintiff’s (being the administrator) application for relief under order 85 of the RHC and discovery.

 

Re Estate of KHM [2022] HKCFI 1681

  • Acted for the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs for an application for a retrospective Beddoe order.

 

HCAG 7669/2022

  • Advised the applicant and prepared an ex-parte application that a will be deemed to be executed under section 5(2) of the Wills ordinance.  The application was allowed.

 

HCCA 1626/2021

  • Appeared on behalf of the person warning in an application to remove a caveat. the court ordered that the caveat be removed.

 

Intellectual Property

Megahong Pharmaceutical Company (a firm) v 醫藥易有限公司 [2023] HKCFI 930

  • Act for the respondent in respect of an appeal by the appellant against part of the decision made by the Trade Mark Registry in respect of a trade mark registration by the respondent.

 

反對商標申請編號304805190 (金佛水)

  • Appeared on behalf of the applicant for registration of the trademark 金佛水 in the hearing for opposition against the registration of a trademark before the IP department. The IP department rejected the opposition to the registration of the trademark for certain services under class 35.

 

Enforcement

Sky Power Construction Engineering Ltd v Iraero Airlines JSC [2023] HKCFI 1558

  • Represented the respondent in an application to set aside an arbitral award.

 

DCCJ 4878/2016

  • Act for the Plaintiff in its application for examination of the judgment debtor and for an Order for imprisonment of the judgment debtor

 

Criminal

HKSAR v Lin Chi Man and another [2024] HKCA 418

  • Acted for the 2nd defendant (with Mr. Philip Ross) in his appeal against conviction and sentence in respect of his conviction on conspiracy to traffic in a dangerous drug.

 

香港特別行政區  李嘉俊 [2024] HKDC 2112

  • Appeared for the defendant (with Ms. Sharon Ng) in a trial in respect of indecent assault, unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16, indecent conduct towards a child under 16 and inciting a child under 16 to commit an act of gross indecency.

 

DCCC 378/2014

  • Appeared on behalf of the 1st defendant (led by Mr. Wong Man Kit S.C. and with Mr. Jon Wong) to resist an application for a confiscation order made by the prosecution.

 

WKS 7003/2021 & KTCC 783/2023

  • Appeared for the defendant for mitigation in respect of an offence of using a motor vehicle without a third party insurance.  the mitigation submissions were to persuade the court that there exist a “special reason” such that a disqualification order should not be imposed.

 

TMS 8961/2022

  • Acted for the defendant as trial counsel in respect of careless driving.  the defendant was acquitted.

 

ESS29371-29372/2021 & ESS29374-29375/2021

  • Appeared on behalf of the defendants in the trial for offences relating to failing to pay wages on due dates. the defendants were acquitted.

 

KCS 515288/2020

  • Represented the defendant (with Mr. Jon Wong) in a trial in respect of careless driving. the defendant was acquitted.

 

Legal Advice/ Opinion

Advised on an investment by a subsidiary of a listed company in HKEX concerning chapter 14 of the listing rules.

 

Advised on illegality in contract law concerning a contract involving illegal activities in a foreign jurisdiction.

 

Issued a Hong Kong legal opinion in respect of return of deposit and forum non-conveniens to the PRC court in PRC proceedings.