Thomas Leung is an Associate of Karas So LLP. He specialises in international commercial litigation and arbitration, with a focus on corporate insolvency and fraud-related matters.
Thomas has regularly acted for liquidators in investigation and litigation arising out of complex corporate collapses, including bringing claims against directors, auditors, bankers and IPO sponsors. He has also represented sovereign wealth funds, private equity funds, multinational corporations and banks in cross-border litigation and arbitration, encompassing contractual dispute, asset recovery and emergency injunctive reliefs.
From 2022 to 2023, Thomas was appointed Judicial Assistant of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, where he assisted judges in substantive appeals and leave applications concerning a wide array of subject matters including shareholder disputes, conflict of laws and setting aside of arbitral awards. He also served as a Marshall to Mr Justice G Lam of the Court of First Instance (as G Lam JA then was) in 2016.
Prior to joining Karas So LLP, Thomas obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Hong Kong where he was an undergraduate research fellow. He went on to complete his Master of Law from the University of Cambridge with First Class Honours. His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Hong Kong Law Journal, Law Quarterly Review and Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly.
Thomas is dual-qualified in Hong Kong and England and Wales. He is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Key Experience
China Metal
Representing the liquidators of a former Hong Kong-listed metal recycling company, in a claim against a global financial institution for sponsor misconduct relating to the company’s initial public offering.
1Malaysia Development Berhad and subsidiaries
Representing 1MDB and its subsidiaries in 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”.
Audit negligence and insolvency
- Advising and representing liquidators of companies formerly listed on the HKEX and SGX against former directors, auditors, banks and other third parties. The businesses include metal recycling, tea production and water treatment.
- Representing a debtor in petitioning for the winding up of a PRC conglomerate in Hong Kong.
Commercial arbitration and litigation
- Representing an investment fund in parallel HKIAC and court proceedings against the business founders in relation to a shareholders’ dispute after a failed IPO. The matter involved obtaining an ancillary worldwide freezing injunction against the business founders and their associates.
- Advising an investment company in the enforcement of a CIETAC award against a PRC state-owned enterprise in a share purchase dispute.
- Representing parties in commodities and international trade disputes in HKIAC arbitrations (both UNCITRAL and HKIAC rules) and court proceedings.
- Representing cargo interests and charterers in LMAA arbitrations.
Career History
- Associate, Karas So LLP (2023)
- Judicial Assistant, Court of Final Appeal (2022)
- Part-time Lecturer (Non-Clinical), Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong (2022)
- Trainee Solicitor, Reed Smith Richards Butler (2019)
- Master of Law, Jesus College, University of Cambridge (2022)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, University of Hong Kong (2019)
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Hong Kong (2018)
Admissions
- Hong Kong, 2022
- England and Wales, 2022
Articles and Publications