Tim Chu is a Senior Associate of Karas So LLP. As a qualified Hong Kong Solicitor and an Attorney of the State of New York, he has a wealth of experience in complex litigation, arbitration, and contentious regulatory matters, often with a Mainland Chinese nexus.
Tim is bilingual in Mandarin and English, and speaks conversational Cantonese. His unique linguistic fluency and cultural affinities empower him to confidently represent international and Chinese clients. Tim also has extensive experience in conducting cross-border litigation, recently having been involved in the high-profile 1MDB litigation. He applies his strategic mindset when coordinating claims across different jurisdictions to drive a favourable outcome for those he represents.
Tim has worked with diverse clientele, including liquidators, professional service firms, listed companies, industry conglomerates, banks, shareholders, and private equity funds. His ability to tailor legal strategies to each client’s unique needs sets him apart.
Key Experience
1Malaysia Development Berhad and subsidiaries
Representing a subsidiary of 1MDB against a Swiss private bank in on-going Hong Kong proceedings for breach of banker’s duty by permitting fraudulent transfers of funds.
Representing 1MDB and its subsidiaries in other global recovery efforts in relation to the notorious “1MDB Fraud”, which involves looting of Malaysian state funds and has been described by US Attorney-General as “kleptocracy at its worst”.
China Forestry
Representing the liquidators in on-going Hong Kong proceedings against the company’s former CEO and director for breach of fiduciary duties and misappropriations.
Audit negligence
- Representing liquidators of a company formerly listed on the HKEx against its former auditors for audit negligence in connection with misappropriations and overstated cash and bank balances
- Representing liquidators of a company formerly listed on the HKEx against its former auditors for audit negligence in connection with a fraudulent “teeming and lading” trade scheme and intercompany balance fraud
- Advising auditors in a regulatory investigation regarding allegations of audit negligence.
Insolvency
- Advising liquidators on potential claims against third parties.
Commercial arbitration and litigation
- Representing minority shareholders of a software business in a HKIAC arbitration against a leading PRC internet company and a founder of the software business in connection with a M&A dispute arising from the internet company’s acquisition of the software business.
- Representing a PRC real estate developer in parallel HKIAC and CIETAC arbitration proceedings against a U.S. private equity fund in relation to a dispute arising from their joint venture investment in Dalian, Mainland China.
- Representing a PRC-headquartered global commodity conglomerate in an HKIAC arbitration proceedings regarding a dispute arising from its investments in the U.S. and the U.K.
- Representing a PRC-headquartered global commodity conglomerate in an ICC arbitration (seated in Paris) regarding a dispute arising from its mining project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Representing a leading Taiwan-headquartered food and beverage corporation in an ICC arbitration (seated in Hong Kong) regarding an executive compensation dispute.
- Representing a PRC real estate developer in an HKIAC arbitration against its former business partner in connection with an investment dispute (proceedings conducted entirely in Mandarin Chinese).
- Representing two PRC financial firms in an HKIAC arbitration arising from a dispute in relation to their investments in a semiconductor company. The arbitration involves the unique element of PRC criminal law.Representing various institutional investors on various loan default matters and related cross-border debt recovery strategies.
- Representing an investment firm in Hong Kong court proceedings against a Mainland high-net-worth businessman arising from the failure of two investment funds to repay capital and fixed return.
Contentious regulatory matters
- Representing a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company in parallel investigations by the Securities and Futures Commission and the Enforcement Department of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in relation to possible misconduct and breaches of Listing Rules.
- Representing a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company in an investigation by Securities and Futures Commission triggered by an anonymous complaint regarding possible disclosure of false or misleading information inducing transactions.
- Representing a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company in its trading resumption application under section 8 of the Securities and Futures (Stock Market) Rules, and the related High Court petition brought by the Securities and Futures Commission.
- Representing a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company and its subsidiary (also a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company), and several of their respective directors, in an investigation by the Enforcement Department of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in relation to alleged breach of Listing Rules and directors’ undertaking.
Corporate corruption investigation
- Conducting various internal anti-corruption investigations on behalf of a global pharmaceutical corporation in relation to its business in Mainland China, Taiwan and South-east Asia.
- Conducting an internal investigation on behalf of a global asset manager in relation to allegation of bribery of local politicians in Taiwan concerning its local investment.
Career History
- Senior Associate, Karas So LLP (2024)
- Associate, Karas So LLP (2023)
- Associate. Herbert Smith Freehills (2021 – 2023)
- Trainee Solicitor and Associate, Sidley Austin (2017 – 2021)
- University of Hong Kong, PCLL (2017)
- University of Hong Kong, LLB (2016)
Admissions
- Hong Kong, 2019
- New York, 2020