One of Hong Kong’s premier litigation firms, Deacons maintains its coveted dominance in the city’s dispute resolution community, a position it has held for decades. The firm continues in the top tier in almost all categories, including commercial disputes, IP, insolvency and private client. It retains a long-established client base across a wide range of industries including blue-chip businesses, governments, banks and tech giants. The firm’s growing family law practice team is experienced in handling a wide range of family-related matters including financial disputes and children matters, maintenance, and financial provisions for special needs children and cohabitees.
Key players include commercial litigators Joseph Kwan and Peter So alongside IP disputes star Charmaine Koo and labour specialist Elsie Chan.
In the realm of commercial transactions, the firm is currently representing a shareholder of China Shanshui Investment in a series of complex High Court actions in Hong Kong. This extensive shareholders' dispute involves multiple court proceedings and involves a range of legal issues, such as injunctions, conspiracy to injure, abuse of civil process, malicious prosecution, obtaining injunctions by fraud, wrongful interference with share sale, causing loss by unlawful means, various misappropriation claims, breach of fiduciary duties, and contempt of court. These actions encompass the application of Hong Kong, China and Cayman Islands law, and various high-powered law firms are involved in representing the respective parties. The firm is currently awaiting judgment in one of the actions to be delivered.
Some of the firm’s esteemed litigation clients are Analogue Holdings and ATAL Building Services Engineering, DP World Djibouti FZCO and Fook Lee Holdings.
Client feedback
“The seminar content is useful to our corporation.” – Construction
"Exhibits a very quick turnaround time. Demonstrates a deep understanding of the legal position and familiarity with market practices." – Labour and employment
Elsie Chan
“Elsie is an employment law expert and she has very strong commercial sense. She always suggests good tactics, and wins cases for us. She is a very strong negotiator and we always have the upper hand in our negotiations. Very approachable. Good value for money.”
“Elsie is easy to work with and gives direct and practical advice. This is particularly important for dealing with labour issues. She has very good knowledge on labour law and understands market practice. She is a very strong negotiator. She knows how to make good use of facts and has won all the cases for us.”
Kwok Kit (KK) Cheung
"Good service. Prompt in his dealings. I appreciate his quick responses and advice, which provide clear answers and conclusions. I have encountered members of other firms who give advice by presenting possible outcomes without offering a clear conclusion on what to do. This can result in a mixing of comments and advice, whereas clients require actionable advice rather than mere comments."
“KK is good at providing practical advice and he is efficient too.”
Joseph Kwan
"Excellent in every respect. A top-quality lawyer who is extremely hard-working, proactive, and talented. Goes the extra mile and more for his clients. Possesses a warm and popular personality."
