Erskine Chambers

Call: 020 7242 5532

Email: clerks@erskinechambers.com

Photo of Look Chan Ho (Door Tenant)

Look Chan Ho (Door Tenant)

Call: Hong Kong: 2018 Solicitor: Hong Kong: 2017-2018, England and Wales: 2002, Attorney at Law (New York): 2002

Look is based at Des Voeux Chambers in Hong Kong. https://dvc.hk/en/members-of-chambers/juniors/look-chan-ho/

Look specialises in corporate insolvency and restructuring, with a particular emphasis on cross-border matters. He is internationally well-known for his high level of legal expertise and frequently advises on transactions involving novel and complex legal issues. He often works on prominent and precedent-setting cases.

In addition to insolvency matters, Look also has extensive experience in company and commercial disputes and advisory work.

Before joining the Hong Kong Bar, Look practised for more than 15 years as a solicitor in London and Hong Kong at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and was the Asia head of restructuring and insolvency.

Look has published extensively on insolvency matters and his publications are widely cited internationally, including with approval by the Hong Kong High Court, UK Supreme Court, English Court of Appeal, English High Court, US Bankruptcy Court, Singapore Court of Appeal, Singapore High Court, Australia Federal Court, New Zealand High Court, and Isle of Man High Court.

Look speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese

Contact

Call:
020 7242 5532

Emailclerks@erskinechambers.com

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Restructuring & Insolvency

  • Contentious insolvency
  • Cross-border issues
  • Winding-up
  • Restructuring
  • Receivership
  • Personal bankruptcy

Significant cases include:

Peking University Founder Group’s keepwell bond default – the first ever instance of interaction between the Hong Kong court’s determination of keepwell arrangements and recognition of Mainland reorganisation proceedings

CEFC Shanghai International Group’s cross-border insolvency assistance in Hong Kong – the first ever instance of Hong Kong/Mainland cross-border insolvency cooperation

Shenzhen Everich Supply Chain’s cross-border insolvency assistance in Hong Kong – the second instance of Hong Kong/Mainland cross-border insolvency cooperation

HNA Group’s cross-border insolvency assistance in Hong Kong – the third instance of Hong Kong/Mainland cross-border insolvency cooperation, and the first ever instance of Hong Kong recognition of Mainland reorganisation proceedings

Samson Paper Co Ltd’s cross-border insolvency assistance in the Mainland – the first ever instance of a Hong Kong letter of request to the Shenzhen Bankruptcy Court for cross-border insolvency cooperation

China Lumena New Materials Corp’s scheme of arrangement – the first ever reported instance of a Hong Kong scheme compromising debts governed by Mainland law

China Huiyuan Juice Group Limited’s bond default – the first ever instance of an in-depth consideration of how the Hong Kong winding-up jurisdiction applies to an offshore entity listed in Hong Kong

China Ocean Industry Group Ltd’s bond default – the first ever Hong Kong decision correcting the practice of validation order in respect of the issue of new shares and convertible bonds

China Greenfresh Group Co Ltd’s bond default – the first ever Hong Kong decision explaining the practice in respect of multiple winding-up petitions

Shanghai Huaxin Group (Hong Kong)’s receivership and liquidation

China Singyes Solar Technologies Holdings’ scheme of arrangement

The Hong Kong Building and Loan Agency’s scheme of arrangement

Provisional liquidation of UA Cinemas

Provisional liquidation of Asia Today

Provisional liquidation of Burwill Holdings

Provisional liquidation of Youyuan International Holdings

Provisional liquidation of Gold-Finance Holdings

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Corporate

  • Solvent reorganisation
  • Privatisation
  • Scheme of arrangement
  • Reduction of capital
  • Shareholders’ rights and disputes

Significant corporate transactions and cases include:

Allied Properties (H.K.) Ltd’s privatisation scheme of arrangement – the first ever instance of the Hong Kong Court of Appeal sanctioning a scheme of arrangement

Cosmos Machinery Enterprises Ltd’s privatisation scheme of arrangement

Chungshan Commercial Association Hong Kong – application for just and equitable winding-up

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Memberships & Publications

Publications:

Authored Books

Cross-Border Insolvency: Principles and Practice (Sweet & Maxwell, 2016) (sole author)

Principles of Corporate Finance Law (2nd edn Oxford University Press, 2014) (with co-author Professor Eilis Ferran)

Key Authorities in Corporate Insolvency (Nova Law and Finance, 2012) (sole author)

Butterworths Guide to the Insolvency Rules (LexisNexis, 2010) (with co-author Helen Smithson)

Edited Books

Cross-Border Insolvency: A Commentary on the UNCITRAL Model Law (4th edn Globe Law and Business, 2017) (general editor and author of two chapters)

Debt Restructuring (Oxford University Press, 2011) (with co-editor Nick Segal)

Book Chapters

‘Set-Off’ in Peter Totty, Gabriel Moss and Nick Segal (eds), Insolvency (Sweet & Maxwell), ch H-6

‘Equity and Insolvency’ in P G Turner (ed), Equity and Administration (Cambridge University Press, 2016) ch 6

‘The EC Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings’ n Lightman & Moss: Law of Administrators and Receivers of Companies (5th end Sweet & Maxwell, 2011), ch 31 (with co-authors Nick Segal, Ian Fletcher and Daniel Bayfield)

‘International Developments’ in Rosa Lastra (ed), Cross-Border Bank Insolvency (Oxford University Press, 2011) ch 9 (with co-author Rosa Lastra)

‘Bank Insolvency Law in the United Kingdom’ in Rosa Lastra (ed), Cross-Border Bank Insolvency (Oxford University Press, 2011) ch 14

‘The practitioner’s perspective: the Financial Collateral Directive in England’ in Dan Prentice and Arad Reisberg (eds), Corporate Finance Law in the UK and EU (Oxford University Press, 2011), ch 12

Editorship

Hong Kong Company Law Cases –  published by DVC in collaboration with Wolters Kluwer – Co-Editor

Global Restructuring Review (Law Business Research) – Editorial Board Member

 

Memberships

International Insolvency Institute – Co-Chair of the Asia Regional Committee,

Company and Insolvency Law Society (COINS) – Co-Founder

INSOL International – Asia Advisory Council Member

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Education and Awards

               MA, BCL (Oxon), LLM (Cantab), LLM (NYU)

               British High Commission Chevening Scholarship

               Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship Education

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Recognition

The only barrister in Hong Kong listed as Global Leader in Who’s Who Legal: Restructuring & Insolvency in 2019, 2022, 2021 and 2022

The only barrister in Hong Kong listed as National Leader in Who’s Who Legal: Mainland China & Hong Kong SAR – Restructuring & Insolvency 2021

Ranked in Chambers and Partners Greater China Region 2022

“stands out for his close focus on insolvency issues, and in-depth expertise concerning them, a field to which he brings both the technical knowledge of a published authority on the subject and the practical insights derived from having practised as a solicitor in the area for over 15 years.”

“definitely the guru for corporate insolvency, especially in cross-border cases”

“an absolute brain who definitely has the ear of the companies court”

“If I have a cross-border case which tests the boundaries of the law, I’m likely to get Look to do it for me.”

 

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