Karen Chan
Of Counsel
Hong Kong
Karen Chan
Of Counsel
Hong Kong
Contact Details
Karen’s practice focuses on financial regulatory investigations, bankruptcy and insolvency litigation and commercial disputes of significant financial or reputational risk for corporations, financial institutions and high net worth individuals.
She has extensive experience in handling cross-border regulatory investigations in relation to market misconduct, commercial fraud, bribery and corruption and FCPA issues resulting in criminal prosecutions or regulatory enforcement actions brought by the Securities and Futures Commission, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption and regulators in Mainland China, US, UK and other European countries. She handles disputes arising from bankruptcy and insolvency, debt and asset recovery, cyber-crimes and disputes relating to financial products and mis-selling.
Her experience also includes secondments to the Litigation and Regulatory team of a European bank and the Legal team of a cryptocurrency derivatives platform.
Karen is qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong and is fluent in Cantonese, English and Mandarin.
Qualifications
Professional
Academic
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), London School of Economics and Political Science, 2010
PCLL (Distinction), City University of Hong Kong, 2011
Related articles
Publications: 17 October 2022
A guide to Hong Kong’s cybersecurity laws and practices
The past decade has seen a huge increase in the incidence of cyber crime in Hong Kong. This has been exacerbated by the global pandemic, which has forced criminals online, with the number of cases in…
Publications: 28 February 2022
Greater China Risk Insight: Looking ahead in the Year of the Tiger
Publications: 22 April 2021
Podcast: Hong Kong’s approach to cross-border and insolvency recognition
Publications: 09 November 2020
Experience highlights
An international bank in insolvency proceedings its capacity as bond trustee in connection with the default of bonds guaranteed by a Hong Kong subsidiary of a Chinese conglomerate.
A Chinese securities brokerage company in successfully resisting an application from the debtor for setting aside our client’s Statutory Demand and in the contested bankruptcy petition of the debtor.
An international bank on litigation before the High Court of Hong Kong concerning claims resulting from fraud committed by a senior bank staff.
An international bank to investigate, and manage the consequences of, an internal fraud on the bank committed by a senior bank staff and the related regulatory investigations.
Qualifications
Professional
Academic
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), London School of Economics and Political Science, 2010
PCLL (Distinction), City University of Hong Kong, 2011
Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
- An international bank on investigations by regulators in multiple jurisdictions, concerning the hiring of individuals who have connections with persons of political and economic influence in the Asia Pacific.
- A crypto-currency derivatives trading platform in connection with a U.S. Government investigation into suspected breaches of sanctions and anti-money laundering laws.
- A global financial institution in defending criminal and civil fraud proceedings in Taiwan against the client and its employees, over losses from currency derivatives transactions, resulting in full vindication of the client.
- A Chinese corporate on litigation before the High Court of Hong Kong concerning a commercial contract dispute.
- A Japanese bank on customer complaints regarding mis-selling of structured products and related SFC investigation concerning potential misconduct and its sales process and suitability framework.
- A European bank on investigations by regulators in multiple jurisdictions concerning alleged rate fixing manipulation.
- A natural resources company in an ICC arbitration arising out of an engineering, procurement and construction contract.
Pro-bono experience
- Co-authored “The Recognition and Treatment of Relationships under Hong Kong law”, a report by Allen & Overy commissioned by the Equal Opportunities Commission, which is an analysis of legislation and certain government policies in Hong Kong to identify where an individual's relationship impacts their legal rights and obligations.
