On 21 January 2016, our Senior Consultant Mr. Angus Forsyth, Partner Ms. Lai Lam and Senior Associate Mr. Samson Wong attended the 2015 AllBright Intellectual Property Committee Annual Meeting and Symposium in Shanghai, where Mr. Angus Forsyth delivered an extensive and informative PowerPoint presentation on the operations of Uber HK which was very well received by the attendees, including Yang Jun of the United Assets and Equity Exchange, Rui Wenbiao, the Deputy Director General of Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration and all the legal practitioners who attended the symposium.

At the symposium, the attendees explored and shared their views on the recent developments in the intellectual property field. Mr. Chen Naiwei also took the opoprtunity to introduce the new Committee members as well as reporting on the Committee’s work in 2015 and devising its future plan for 2016.

Please contact our Mr. Forsyth, Ms. Lam or Mr. Wong for any enquiries or further information about this event.

On 15 January 2016, our partners Mr. Eric Lui, Ms. Heidi Chui, associate Ms. Karman Fung and trainee solicitor Mr. Jensen Chang delivered a seminar on the Competition Ordinance (Cap. 619) at the Hong Kong branch of China Everbright Bank. Our team explained how the Ordinance, which came into force on 14 December 2015, may impact the banking industry.

In relation to the First Conduct Rule which covers agreements and concerted practices between undertakings, our speakers explained to the participants that common banking practices which were lawful in the past may now violate the law, in particular the exchange of strategic business information with other banks. In light of the suspension by the Hong Kong Association of Banks of certain sections of the Code of Banking Practice, our team analysed why they may potentially be caught by the First Conduct Rule as well as the possible effect of the suspension on the concerned banking services.

The application of the Second Conduct Rule to the banking industry was also addressed. Examples of the enforcement dimension of the Ordinance, including dawn raids, the leniency policy and actions bankers should take in order to avoid violation of competition law were given.

During the seminar, participants raised questions and engaged in enthusiastic discussions regarding exchange of information with competitors and powers of the Competition Commission.

Photograph of Mr. Lui (second from left), Ms. Chui (second from right), Ms. Fung (on the right), Mr. Chang (on the left), and Mr. Zachary Xin (in the middle), Head of Legal and Director, Hong Kong branch of China Everbright Bank

Contact persons: Mr. Eric Lui, Ms. Heidi Chui

Our partners Mr. Eric Lui and Ms. Heidi Chui have been appointed by the Ministry of Justice P.R.C. (the “MOJ”) as part of the 11th batch of China Appointed Attesting Officers and attended the awards ceremony organized by the MOJ held at Zhuhai Holiday Resort Hotel on 7 January 2016.

Newly appointed Attesting Officers were greeted by Mr. Zhao Dacheng, Vice Minister of the MOJ, as well as other representatives from relevant departments and were presented with their certificates of appointment.

Mr. Lui and Ms. Chui with their certificates of appointment

Following the ceremony, the newly appointed Attesting Officers attended a gala luncheon organized by the MOJ.

On 23 December 2015, our partner Mr. Eric Lui attended a legal forum in Jinan which focused on corporate finance matters. More than 70 corporate lawyers from the Shangdong province attended the forum.

Mr. Lui delivered a presentation titled “The key points for overseas IPOs and Merger and Acquisitions transactions”. The presentation covered the basic requirements for listing in Hong Kong, reorganisation of red-chip companies and stamp duty implications for M&A deals.

Please contact our Mr. Eric Lui for any enquiries or further information about this event.

On 9 December 2015, SW Head of Business Development (China) Ms. Connie Yeung was invited to be a guest speaker at the Legal Services Sharing Seminar on the topic of Offshore Trusts and Family Assets, Protection and Succession. A number of professionals, including lawyers and experts from the financial sector coming from Beijing and Shanghai attended this event. Connie gave a detailed explanation on this interesting topic. The audience commented that they found the session very useful and informative.

On 8 December 2015, our partners Mr Eric Lui, Ms Heidi Chui, Mr Stephen Wong, associate Ms Katy Lai, Head of Business Development (China) Ms Connie Yeung and Business Development Manager (China) Ms Zita Huang attended the Commercial Litigation Forum on Settlement of International Disputes co-organised with AllBright Law Offices and Thomson Reuters held at the Ritz-Carlton Shanghai.

Photograph of Mr Eric Lui (second from right), Ms Heidi Chui (in the middle), Mr Stephen Wong (second from left), Ms Katy Lai (on the left), and Ms Connie Yeung (on the right)

Our team, together with other top-notch professionals in corporate law, explored issues related to international dispute resolution and explained the importance of seizing the initiative during disputes. In particular, Ms Chui provided tips to participants at the Forum on how to triumph in cross-border arbitrations including, how to avoid pathological arbitration clauses, preservation of assets and evidence prior to arbitration, the role of anti-suit injunctions during arbitration and recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards.

In addition, speakers conducted an in-depth analysis on the “Shanghai Bund Land Case” and ways to successfully settle international disputes.

Mr Eric Lui (on the right), Mr Guo Rui (second from right) and Mr Lawrence Zhu (second from left), partners of AllBright Law Offices, and Ms Li Shangjing, ALB China Journalist conducting an analysis on the “Shanghai Bund Land Case”

Please contact our Mr Eric Lui or Ms Heidi Chui for any enquiries or further information about this event.