Profile
Profile
A graduate of Diocesan Boys’ School, Martin received tertiary education from the University of Hong Kong and the University of Oxford.
At the University of Hong Kong, Martin graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree with First Class Honours, ranking second in class. He next completed his Postgraduate Certificate of Laws with Distinction, with the highest average mark in all litigation subjects in his year.
Martin then continued his postgraduate studies at Pembroke College, Oxford. He graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Law, with individual subject distinctions in all subjects taken, as well as an overall distinction for his degree.
Martin was called to the bar in 2019. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal, the Court of First Instance, the District Court and the Lands Tribunal. He has conducted civil trials and interlocutory applications as sole advocate.
Civil Litigation
- Remedy Asia v. Patrick Tong Hing Chi & Ors [2020] HKCFI 398; [2021] 2 HKC 190 – Claims in respect of breaches of fiduciary duties against former directors of an insolvent company (led by Charles Manzoni SC, with Norman Nip (now Norman Nip SC)
- Chu Kong & Ors v. Lau Wing Yan & Ors [2021] HKCFI 181; [2021] HKCFI 273; [2021] HKCFI 1244; [2021] HKCA 1251 – Substantive applications to discharge asset-freezing and proprietary injunctive reliefs in the context of a large-scale business dispute (sole advocate)
- Tang Gang & Ors v. Wong Sai Chung [2024] 1 HKLRD 528 – Appeal concerning the proper approach towards reviewing the enforceability of foreign judgments (with Patrick Chong)
- Asiam Holdings v. Shin Kai Lok & Anor [2024] 3 HKC 140 – Application to strike out proceedings where the defendants had failed to evince any intention to take further part in the proceedings (sole advocate)
- Jiu Rong Holdings & Anor v. Siu Chi Ming [2024] HKCFI 1671 – Substantive hearing for continuation of asset-freezing reliefs in support of claims for breaches of fiduciary duties against a former director (with Kwan Ping Kan)
- Mengiwa Property Investment Ltd v. Lifestyle Restaurant Ltd [2023] 1 HKC 457 – Application for interim payment pending assessment of damages (with Alexander Tang)
Winding Up & Bankruptcy
- Re Lau Mei Sze Cinderella [2023] HKCFI 2435 – Proceedings for annulment of a bankruptcy order (sole advocate)
- Re Jiayuan International Group Limited [2023] HKCFI 1254 – Winding up proceedings against a property developer listed in Hong Kong (led by Anson Wong SC)
- Re MAT Limited [2021] HKCFI 3144 – Proceedings for declaration of beneficial ownership over shares and rectification of register of shareholders (sole advocate)
Property Law
- Kwan Ngai Kuen Maggie v. Wong Ching Man [2024] HKLdT 46 – Trial of a tenancy dispute involving arguments concerning the true ownership of the property and the principle of tenancy by estoppel (sole advocate)
- Kong Colin Chung Ping v. Kong Chun Ip [2023] HKCFI 2495 – Proceedings to resist an application to vary an agreed sale price of a commercial building (with John Hui)
- Ho Kwok Ming v Wong Hung Ho & Ors [2022] HKDC 370 – Proceedings for interlocutory injunctive relief in support of a claim of easement by prescription (with Alan Kwong, now His Honour Judge Alan Kwong)
Arbitration
- W v. AW [2022] HKCFI 1397 – Application to set aside an arbitral award (led by William Wong SC, with Adrian Lai)
- An Arbitration conducted under the 2014 HKIAC Domestic Arbitration Rules (2024) – Contested interlocutory proceedings for application for trial of preliminary issue and further and better particulars in the context of a construction dispute (led by John Scott SC)
- An Ad Hoc Arbitration (2022) – Substantive proceedings concerning the validity of a disclaimer of an insurance policy (with Kevin Lau)
- An Arbitration conducted under the 2018 HKIAC Rules (2021) – Substantive proceedings with respect to dispute under a shareholders’ agreement (with Adrian Lai)
- Middle Temple Advocacy Scholarship (2019)
- Pembroke College Prize (2018)
- Minvie Leung Prize for Property Litigation (2017)
- Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot First Runner Up (2017)
- Sweet & Maxwell Edlyn Yap Prize for Litigation (2017)
- Deacons Prize in Law (2016)
- Dean’s Honours List (2016; 2014; 2013)
- Joint University Mooting Competition Champion (2016)
- Professor Dafydd Evans Memorial Scholarship (2016)
- HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund Reaching Out Award (2015)
- Betty Ho Prize in Law (2013)
- Freshfields Prize in Legal Skills (2013)
- Ho Fook Prize (2013)
- Linklaters Prize for Overall Excellence in Law: Year I (2013)
- HKU Foundation Scholarship for Outstanding Students (2012)
- Contributing Editor to Hong Kong Company Law Cases (2008 – 2019) – published in 2020 by DVC in collaboration with Kluwer
- Martin Lau, “Time Extended, Discretion Expanded: Astro v First Media” (2018) 47(3) Common Law World Review 208
