Ian Childs
Partner - Head of Litigation, Greater China
An effective dispute resolution specialist with particular focus and interest in complicated civil litigation, regulatory criminal litigation and all employment matters.
Partner - Head of Litigation, Greater China
An effective dispute resolution specialist with particular focus and interest in complicated civil litigation, regulatory criminal litigation and all employment matters.
Language - English
Jurisdiction - Hong Kong, England & Wales
After careers as senior officer in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force, Republic of Singapore Police Force and in security/investigations/AML at the investment bank, JP Morgan (in Hong Kong and Singapore), Ian joined Stephenson Harwood in Hong Kong in 2002.
Focusing on the financial sector, Ian frequently advises on contentious regulatory issues and spends a lot of his time involved with investigating allegations of wrongdoing and defending those subject to investigation, disciplinary action and/or prosecution by their regulators. Ian is involved in many high profile and complex matters.
Clients like the fact that Ian is legally and evidentially very astute and that he is from a law enforcement background and the obvious tactical advantages this brings them.
Aside of the above Ian has been a commercial litigator for over 21 years handling many types of disputes, including contentious employment issues. He has risen through the ranks to become the Practice Group Header of the Hong Kong disputes team.
Regulatory Litigation
Advising the General Counsel of a licensed intermediary who was investigated by the SFC for breaches of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance. The investigation was completed without disciplinary or criminal after establishing the General Counsel had complied with her regulatory client on-boarding and account monitoring duties.
Regulatory Litigation
Representing a large construction joint venture dawn raided and investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption for suspected bribery offences related to the 3rd recovery system at Hong Kong’s international airport. No further action was taken.
Regulatory Litigation
Assisting an Indonesian bank’s CEO to successfully defend herself at a criminal trial of multiple charges of breaching the Immigration Ordinance and employing illegal workers in Hong Kong.
Regulatory Litigation
Advising the former General Manager of a PRC state owned entity with respect to her trial for fraud, bribery and corruption. Assisting the client to successfully defend all bribery charge at trial. Currently involved in appealing the fraud conviction (and prison sentence) in the Court of Appeal.
Fraud and Asset Recovery
Advising an Eastern European sanitary products entrepreneur in his investigation of fraud in his Hong Kong businesses by way of Norwich Pharmacal (disclosure) applications. Having located over Euro 4 million sums defrauded and the employees involved, assisting with the recovery action by obtaining Mareva and Proprietary Injunctions and thereafter by way of favourable settlements, recovering most of the sums lost.
Employment
Successfully advising an eyewear company head quartered in Hong Kong with respect to the matters following the termination of its ex-CEO who was also both a shareholder and director the client in a highly contentious employment law and company law dispute.
Employment
Advising an international financial and consulting company about the summary dismissal of a senior compliance officer in Hong Kong. Defending the ex-employee’s defamation and wrongful dismissal claims. The matter settled before trial to the favour of our client.
Commercial Litigation
Successfully representing a large PRC headquartered retail bank in long running High Court civil litigation to enforce various mortgages and guarantees to recover its borrower’s indebtedness and defend counter-claims made by a guarantor for mis-selling of financial products, in-particular RMB forward contracts, and enforcement of mortgagee rights.
Commercial Litigation
Advising a UK surgical supply company with its fraud and asset recovery litigation in Hong Kong concerning a US$ 27 million PPE fraud. Successfully assisting the client to obtain a civil fraud victory at trial and to make recoveries of US$20 million to date of its monies paid all around the world.
