Andy Lau is a Partner of Karas So LLP and a Solicitor Advocate. He specialises in the investigation, litigation and resolution of corporate insolvency disputes - often related to corporate mismanagement and professional misconduct. With expertise in identifying and investigating the root causes of corporate collapses, Andy is a pragmatic problem solver and highly skilled in asset recovery strategies.
Andy advises and works closely with insolvency practitioners, third-party funders and insurers. His practice spans across disputes involving fraud, dishonest assistance, conspiracy, breach of trust and fiduciary duties, shareholder disputes, defamation and reputation management. He is well-versed in both the prosecution and defence of claims in Court and in arbitration. He has also acted for governmental bodies and is experienced in regulatory investigations involving the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Securities and Futures Commission and the Independent Commission against Corruption.
Andy was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 2014 obtained Higher Rights of Audience as a Solicitor Advocate in 2023. He is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Key Experience
- Advising and acting for the liquidators in high profile collapses of listed companies. The businesses include dairy production, food and beverage, fashion design and retail, paper products, financial investments and money lending, luxury goods trading, automotives, water purification machines, sanitary ware, fibre optic and wireless communications.
- Ongoing claims against former professional advisers and directors include Tenwow, Samson Paper, China Fiber Optic Network System Group, Centron Telecom, Blockchain Group, Ozner Water International, Hansom Finance.
- Pacific Andes Group – Represented the directors of a Hong Kong and Singapore-listed fish trading group in defending claims of fraud and other misconduct of almost US$1 billion.
- Sino Forest – Representing the trustee of a litigation trust created following the collapse and reorganisation of a former Canadian-listed company that purported to own forest assets in Mainland China, resulting in litigation in various jurisdictions against former directors, auditors and valuers.
- New Royal Adelaide Hospital – Represented the South Australia State Government in arbitration proceedings concerning defaults, delays and disputes arising out of the AU$2.5 billion public-private partnership arrangements.
Career History
- Partner, Karas So LLP, 2024
- Special Counsel, Karas So LLP, 2022
- Senior Associate, Karas So LLP, 2021
- Senior Associate, Lipman Karas Hong Kong, 2019
- Associate, Lipman Karas Hong Kong, 2018
- Associate, Deacons, 2014
- Trainee Solicitor, Deacons, 2012
- University of Hong Kong, Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, 2012
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University of New South Wales, Bachelor of Laws (Honours) , 2010, Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Major) , 2010
Admissions
- Solicitor Advocate, Hong Kong, 2023
- High Court of Hong Kong , 2014
Articles and Publications
- Winding-up, exclusive jurisdiction clauses and return of Lasmos” (September 2022)
- “The insolvency and arbitration intersection – a review of recent regional approaches to the question of arbitrability”, The Arbitrator & Mediator Journal (Resolution Institute), Volume 40 Issue No. 1 (June 2021)
- “Updates on the Cooperation Mechanism with the Mainland on mutual recognition and assistance of insolvency proceedings” (2021)
- INSOL World Bank Hong Kong Chapter and Updates “Global Guide: Measures Adopted to Support Distressed Businesses through Covid-19 – Finance Related Interventions” (April 2020 and updates thereafter)
- “Petitioning to wind-up in the presence of a binding arbitration agreement – is the protection worth the risk?” (2020)
- “Case Management in Virtual Hearings” (2020)
- Life-cycle of the arbitration process published by the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (2020)
- “Trust but verify: Foreign trustee’s liability under English Agreement limited by foreign law” (2018)