Lawrence Lau

Senior Associate

+852 2151 5205

+852 5198 4522

lawrencelau@tongshang.com


Lawrence Lau is a Dispute Resolution senior associate of Eric Chow & Co. in Association with Commerce and Finance Law Offices.

Lawrence is a litigation and arbitration expert, with a focus in the sectors of banks, financial institutions and construction infrastructure and engineering companies.  He is regularly engaged by reputable clients worldwide, in the PRC and Hong Kong.

Lawrence handles a wide spectrum of disputes including jurisdictional challenges, Mareva injunctions, asset tracing, shareholders disputes, joint venture disputes, public inquiry, restructuring and insolvency, disciplinary proceedings, construction, employment, discrimination, shipping, etc.

Prior to joining Eric Chow & Co. in Association with Commerce & Finance Law Offices, Lawrence worked in the Dispute Resolution departments of two reputable international firms in Hong Kong – King & Wood Mallesons and MinterEllison LLP.

Lawrence has been recognised as a 40 under 40 Lawyer by LexisNexis© in 2024, earning high praise from clients for his exceptional work ethic and quality: “Lawrence has great communication skills. He can explain in simple language as what to expect at each step of the way. His drafting is to the point, succinct and accurate.”; “He works hard to deliver well-thought legal solutions during each stage of our company’s litigation. He can handle pressure from the client, maintain the quality of his work even under tight timelines.

  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Admissions and Qualifications
  • Languages

Banking, Commercial and Debt Recovery

  • A top tier Taiwanese bank in a legal action against the largest PRC bank to recover over RMB 60 million pursuant to non-compliance of a letter of credit, which involves a complex jurisdictional challenge in the High Court of Hong Kong.
  • A Luxembourg bank in a Hong Kong winding up proceedings as opposing creditor claiming a debt of millions of USD.
  • A PRC-based multinational power generation and electrical equipment manufacturing company in recovering over 10 million of USD investment funds from a PRC investment company within 2 months.
  • PRC and Taiwanese high net worth individuals in misstatement claims of millions of USD against investment companies.

Arbitration and Award Recognition

  • Recognition of HKIAC Award in the High Court of Hong Kong.
  • Two PRC based private equity companies in HKIAC arbitrations concerning multiple breaches of the Value-Adjustment Mechanism Agreement by the investee companies.
  • A PRC telecommunications company in an HKIAC arbitration concerning multiple breaches of the service agreement by the service provider of the software to be used at a 5G network base station.
  • A PRC pharmaceutical company in an SIAC arbitration concerning multiple breaches of the joint venture agreement by its Korean listed joint venture partner.
  • A PRC food additives manufacturer in an HKIAC arbitration concerning multiple breaches of the joint venture agreement by its UK listed joint venture partner.

Construction, Infrastructure and Engineering

  • A PRC contractor in a Hong Kong arbitration claiming over RMB 160 million, in relation to multiple claims of delay, variation, disruption against the employer in a Cambodian construction project.
  • A PRC contractor in a Singaporean arbitration in relation to enforcement of performance bonds, multiple claims of delay, variation, disruption made by its subcontractor in a Saudi Arabian residential construction and fitting out project.
  • A Hong Kong contractor in a Hong Kong arbitration in relation to multiple claims of delay, variation, disruption made by its piling subcontractor in a residential construction project.
  • A Hong Kong sub-contractor in a High Court action in relation to multiple claims of delay, variation, prolongation, disruption, time at large made against a Hong Kong developer’s subsidiary in a residential construction project.
  • A Hong Kong contractor in a High Court action applying for preliminary determination pursuant to a settlement agreement with its sub-contractor in an infrastructure construction project.
  • A Hong Kong contractor in an arbitration in relation to re-measurement quantum issues against its subcontractor in a Macanese hotel extra low voltage installation project.

Employment and Discrimination

  • A reputable multi-national construction company in defending allegations by former employee of termination on race discrimination grounds, obtaining favourable judgment and landmark decision on costs.
  • A senior officer employed in a Hong Kong listed company in defending allegations made and avoiding injunction application by its former employer in relation to his non-compete obligations.
  • A senior officer employed in a leading multi-national innovation company in an internal investigation pending potential summary dismissal.

Injunctive and other Interim Relief

  • A Taiwan-based market-leading shipping company in a Hong Kong winding up petition against a wholly-owned subsidiary of a PRC state-owned enterprise on a debt, and a worldwide freezing order in aid of an arbitration in London for a related claim in millions of US dollars.
  • A director and shareholder of a clothing manufacturer in a High Court derivative action on issues of breach of fiduciary duties, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt, and a proprietary injunction against five defendants for the diversion of accounts receivables in millions of US dollars.
  • Various PRC, Hong Kong and international companies in High Court actions recovering funds paid pursuant to investment agreements, obtaining Mareva injunction and bank disclosure orders.

Investigations, Disciplinary and Criminal

  • The audit committee of PRC based Hong Kong listed company in a compliance investigation regarding misappropriation of funds in billions of RMB and connected transactions, resulting in a successful resumption of trading of its shares after a long period of suspension.
  • Senior officers of PRC based Hong Kong listed companies in Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission investigations regarding insider dealing.
  • A registered structural engineer of a multi-national infrastructure consulting firm in a Buildings Department disciplinary hearing concerning a structural defect of a footbridge.
  • A construction regulatory body in criminal prosecutions against various contractors for violations of legislations.

Public Inquiry

  • Shatin-Central Link Commission of Inquiry, representing and advising a government measurement and verification consultant which was a party in such public inquiry.

Restructuring and Insolvency

  • The largest PRC property developer in its insolvency and restructuring process.
City University of Hong Kong, 2013, LLB
City University of Hong Kong, 2014, PCLL
Solicitor, Hong Kong SAR
English, Mandarin, Cantonese