Restructuring and Insolvency Law

• Introduction
• Our experience ⬜
• Our work ⬜
• Testimonials ⬜

Tanner De Witt is ranked as a Tier 1 / Band 2 law firm in the field of restructuring and insolvency in Hong Kong by leading industry publications including Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Our lawyers specialise in a wide spectrum of insolvency administrations, complex restructurings and bankruptcies involving global assets, with a particular emphasis on contentious and court-related issues.

While Tanner De Witt is an independent Hong Kong law firm, our Restructuring and Insolvency lawyers act for many international clients involved in multi-jurisdictional and high profile matters. We provide legal advice and representation to insolvency practitioners, creditors, directors, shareholders, private and listed companies, bondholders, and individuals facing cash flow difficulties and have experience with a wide range of specialist tribunals and professional associations.

• Introduction ⬜
• Our experience
• Our work ⬜
• Testimonials ⬜

Tanner De Witt Solicitors provides Restructuring and Insolvency legal solutions to clients involved in a diverse range of industries in Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China and throughout the Asia Pacific Region.

We advise and act on:

• Corporate rescue in Hong Kong
• Company restructurings and reorganisations, formal and informal
• European, North American and Asian insolvency cases
• Contentious and non-contentious matters within  insolvency administrations
• Insolvency procedures in Hong Kong and cross border jurisdictional issues
• Solvent restructurings
• Corporate rescue including schemes of arrangements
• Winding-up, provisional liquidators, liquidation and appointment holders
• Court approved receivers and receiverships
• Bankruptcy, individual voluntary arrangements and trustees in bankruptcy
• Directors duties
• Litigation, asset tracing and recovery and the enforcement of security
• Debt collection
• Defaulting loans, notes and bonds and distressed debts

• Introduction ⬜
• Our experience ⬜
• Our work
• Testimonials ⬜

Examples of our lawyers’ wide experience include:

• Lead counsel on the complex restructuring of Kaisa Group‘s offshore debt amounting to over $2.5bn.
• Acted for KPMG as the liquidators of the Hong Kong arm of OW Bunker Group, advising on numerous issues associated with its insolvency proceedings.
• Advised KPMG as the liquidators of MF Global, which includes representation at hearings on issues such as the ad valorem duty payable by provisional liquidators and the treatment of costs incurred by liquidators.
• The firm played a pivotal role in connection with the appointment of provisional liquidators to Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, and was instructed by the provisional liquidators in all aspects of this multi-faceted administration, which has presented some unique challenges given the international scope of the Oasis business and the high-profile nature of the collapse.
• Successfully acting in what is now the leading case of an unfair preference action in a “non-associate” case where the firm acted for the liquidators against a receiver holding the proceeds of certain assets that were “preferred” to the company’s bankers.
• Advising the receivers appointed in respect of an online trading company selling CDs and DVDs following a much-publicised judgment against the company in the UK for some £40 million. Notwithstanding the UK judgment, the receivers successfully concluded a sale of the company’s assets following a period of trading under receivership, a rare event in Hong Kong.
• Assisting receivers appointed by the Jersey Court over a Jersey trust in taking legal action in Hong Kong to secure control over entities within the trust structure in an effort to enable court-ordered payments of several million pounds to be made to a disenfranchised beneficiary of the trust, in connection with a long-running and high-profile matrimonial matter in Hong Kong concerning a jewellery trading family.
• Advising a US-based manufacturer of retail electronic products in connection with difficulties arising with its Hong Kong and PRC partners, concerning indebtedness of in excess of US$70 million.

Restructuring and Insolvency – Our International Network

As a top Hong Kong law firm, Tanner De Witt Solicitors has established relationships with overseas professional services providers, including offshore law firms and major international liquidators. This international network of experts is easily accessible by our lawyers ensuring clients receive fully integrated advice concerning their often multi-jurisdictional and complex matters.

Restructuring and Insolvency – Our Hong Kong Lawyers

The Restructuring and Insolvency practice at Tanner De Witt Solicitors is co-led by Ian De Witt and Robin Darton, both of whom are ranked as top lawyers in the field by various publications including Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

• Introduction ⬜
• Our experience ⬜
• Our work ⬜
• Testimonials

Chambers and Partners 2023

“Tanners De Witt is a big team and able to deploy team members in larger situations.”
“Excellent problem solvers.”

Legal 500 2023

‘Tanner De Witt is a leading restructuring and insolvency law firm in Hong Kong. Their partners are trustworthy and always consider issues from different perspectives.’
‘Independent HK law firm with incredible depth of experience and packing a punch if not leading the pack amongst the international firms in the same area.’
‘Very knowledgeable about the insolvency landscape in Hong Kong. One of the most sure-footed insolvency firms in Hong Kong.’
‘An independent local practise focused on insolvency/restructuring situations. Whilst being a local practise, the size and spectrum of its team should rank ahead of many international firms.’
‘When it comes to insolvency, TDW is really the best in town. They have probably forgotten more about insolvency than most know. Truly excellent in terms of knowledge, approach and service to clients. Could not recommend them more highly.’

Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021

Regularly referred work by international law firms and also benefiting from deeply entrenched relationships with local IPs and officeholders, independent domestic firm Tanner De Witt regularly advises creditors and debtors on purely Hong Kong-related matters, as well as on the local law issues associated with regional/international restructurings/insolvency. Co-headed by the ‘user-friendly and cost-conscious’ Ian De Witt and Robin Darton, although the firm is also active in consensual out-of-court restructuring matters (including an increasing amount of restructuring work relating to Hong Kong-listed companies), it is undoubtedly best-known for its contentious insolvency advice, including work relating to fraud and asset tracing, and claims against auditors. Sunny Hathiramani is also recommended.

Chambers and Partners Asia 2021

What the team is known for Well-established independent Hong Kong firm with a strong reputation, particularly in relation to high-stakes contentious insolvency cases. Regularly handles complex domestic litigations. Clients include distressed companies and liquidators. Also able to handle cross-border Hong Kong–Mainland China restructurings, as well as non-contentious matters.

Strengths One source considers the team a “good outfit that works well to get deals done,” while a second notes that the team is “very active in the market.”

Work highlights Advised KPMG as the liquidators of the collapsed China City Construction International.

Ian De Witt is widely respected as a market leader with “a really good reputation” for complex insolvency matters. His deep expertise spans both the advisory and contentious aspects of restructuring and insolvency-related work.

Robin Darton is a highly regarded authority on international insolvency and liquidation matters. One market source describes him as “a good guy who is well respected,” while a second commentator calls him “a really highly regarded insolvency practitioner.”