Following the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, Hong Kong found itself in a precarious situation. In both a political and economic sense, there arose a dire need for direction from any who were willing to provide it. Enter Anthony Siu & Co., a Hong Kong-based legal firm that has been helping to reshape the region’s legal sphere since 2004. Now, as it approaches its 20th year of delivering solution-based legal services, Anthony Siu & Co. stands as a testament to its founder’s determination to inspire change. Below, we venture into its successes, and how each one has contributed towards its status as the Civil Litigation Firm of the Year 2023 – Hong Kong.
Centered around the notion that no client interaction is complete without a positive outcome, Anthony Siu & Co. is a civil litigation firm that has revolved its practises around delivering exceptional services in a highly professional manner. Specialising in disputes, commercial matters, corporate finance, trust planning and arrangement, data privacy, and employment law, Anthony Siu & Co. embodies an unrelenting dedication to ensuring a successful, solution-oriented approach. This is primarily accomplished through the commitment that it upholds when partnering with its clients – by tending to clients in a personal and attentive manner, Anthony Siu & Co. is able to go the extra mile to secure the perfect levels of care, and it has done so, without fault, for almost 20 years running.
However, it’s Anthony Siu & Co.’s team of cross-border dispute resolution lawyers that invite a sense of true individuality to the firm. Whilst most would expect a law firm to be comprised of individuals who are only able to handle cases within the region, Anthony Siu & Co. has long since defied this expectation. With licences to practise law across England, Wales, New York, and the PRC, Anthony Siu & Co. has gone out of its way to establish cohesive partnerships with some of the world’s leading lawyers. In addition, it has also instructed the UK’s King’s Counsel on multiple occasions – a feat that simply proves that Anthony Siu & Co. is more than capable of handling even the most complex international and cross-border legal issues.
Combined with an exceptional knack for consistently performing to an outstanding degree, Anthony Siu & Co. has made a name for itself across a multitude of countries. Every area is imbued with its desire to offer unapologetic brilliance, and nowhere does this manifest clearer than through its accomplishments. Spearheaded by the avid passion of its founding partner, Mr. Anthony Siu, Anthony Siu & Co. has managed to rise above its competitors throughout the years, and it now stands atop a tower of legal triumphs. However, to truly understand the extent of Anthony Siu & Co.’s astounding dedication to its craft, we believe it is necessary to guide our readers through one very specific, and equally crucial, case. This case, of course, is the long-running dispute between Xiamen Xinjingdi and Eton Properties Limited and Others – one that resulted in the Hong Kong Court granting an anti-arbitration injunction to protect the enforcement of a prior award.
To provide context for this particular case, Xiamen Xinjingdi entered into an agreement to develop land within Mainland China – one that was governed by PRC law, and possessed an arbitration clause that provided for CIETAC arbitration in the Mainland. The intention was for Xiamen Xinjingdi to build and sell apartment blocks on land purchased from Eton Properties Limited and Others, and owned by one of EP’s subsidiaries. Once complete, Eton Properties Limited and Others would transfer their shareholding in the subsidiary to Xiamen Xinjingdi. And yet, just before the shareholding was transferred, Eton Properties Limited and Others allegedly terminated the agreement, and instead had its subsidiary develop the land itself.
In response, Xiamen Xinjingdi commenced arbitration, and eventually gained its ‘First Award’ – one that decreed that Eton Properties Limited and Others were to perform their obligations under the agreement. Namely, it was to completely transfer the shareholding to Xiamen Xinjingdi. However, it soon came to light that Eton Properties Limited and Others had restructured, which it had claimed was what was preventing it from effecting the transfer. As such, arbitration was commenced from Eton Properties Limited and Others’ side in the hopes that the agreement could not be performed, and that both parties should be exempt from performing it. The tribunal denied this, in turn declaring that it was not satisfied that the agreement couldn’t be carried out.
During this time, Xiamen Xinjingdi was seeking damages for the breach of the implied promise that the First Award would be honoured. Unfortunately, the CFI dismissed this claim, and a new approach needed to be made in order for Xiamen Xinjingdi to make an appeal. So, it turned to the Court of Appeal and the Court of Final Appeal, through which the case was appealed, and ruled in favour of Xiamen Xinjingdi. Following this, the Common Law Enforcement Action was returned to the CFI in the hopes of determining the damages. As an exceptionally high-profile case, one that has been publicly available since its resolution by the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal in 2020, this matter went on to define Anthony Siu & Co. as a firm. It was this very case that served to truly outline its cross-border capabilities, granting it a standing within Hong Kong that has yet to be contested.
Though this instance was arguably one of Anthony Siu & Co.’s most defining cases, there is another that we would love to touch on. This being its involvement in a dispute between Barco Investments Limited and Wong Han and Others. Having taken place just this year, this case was one that would demonstrate the sheer extent of the firm’s international and cross-border capabilities. Involving a variety of offshore companies, each having participated in fraud schemes, Anthony Siu & Co. went above and beyond to procure foreign advice on the company’s international standing. Through this case, Anthony Siu & Co. managed to successfully obtain interim injunctions and summary judgment involving millions of USD against investment fraudsters. As such, its success was made abundantly clear to an international clientele – success that would actively contribute towards its global reputation.
By now, it’s no secret that Anthony Siu & Co. has a comprehensive and detailed list of successful case outcomes. As expected, this demonstrates its excellence on a far greater scale than any of its competitors – these cases, whilst deeply complex, have ultimately resulted in the desired outcome, and it’s all due to Anthony Siu & Co.’s diligence in the field. Its track record is irrefutably strong, which ultimately grants it the chance to consistently promise only the best of the best for each of its individual clients. No matter the depth of a case, nor the amount of time that it occupies, Anthony Siu & Co. is determined to consistently deliver on its overarching ethos – to pursue success, no matter how difficult the road may be to reach it.
Of course, assisting clients in such complicated cases isn’t an easy feat to accomplish. Thankfully, Anthony Siu & Co. has coalesced a cohesive team, led by a collaborative leadership style that’s wholly focused on fostering brilliance at every turn. Upon founding Anthony Siu & Co., Anthony recognised that the only way to encourage his team to thrive is to promote their differences, and avidly support them in their creative ventures throughout their work. As such, he looked to bring together both diverse and seasoned experts from a variety of areas, each equipped with a strong sense of camaraderie that would serve the firm well when it comes to operating as a cohesive unit.
Now, Anthony Siu & Co. boasts a workforce that has been nurtured to be the very best version of itself. This is, in part, due to the additional input of the leadership team. In addition to the individual members’ innate excellence, the guidance of the firm’s management has led to repeated success throughout a myriad of regions. Of course, Anthony is no exception – despite being the principal and founding partner, Anthony doesn’t leverage his position to insert himself as being atop a hierarchy. On the contrary, he actively engages with his team, utilising his involvement in the legal sphere since 1995 to empower the individuals that he’s surrounded himself with. He isn’t just a founder, but a teacher and mentor to those within the firm, allowing the team to rise to all new heights of greatness.
Introducing Anthony Siu & Co., a team of highly skilled legal professionals ready to serve cross-border clients. With a team comprising two dual-qualified lawyers (in Hong Kong and PRC), five China-Appointed Attesting Officers, three Notary Public, and eight solicitors who have successfully passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination (GBA Exam), they possess the expertise to handle a wide range of legal matters.
To strengthen their capabilities in serving clients with cross-border needs, the firm has recently entered into collaborations with various prestigious PRC law firms. This includes forming an Association with Duan & Duan, a firm headquartered in Shanghai. Additionally, they have established an association office with China Commercial Law Firm, Huashang-Anthony Siu (Haikou) Association Law Office, located in Hainan Province, Mainland China.
With a deep understanding of the complexities involved in cross-border transactions and legal matters, the team at Anthony Siu & Co. is dedicated to providing exceptional service and tailored solutions. Backed by an extensive network of collaborators and their comprehensive knowledge of both Hong Kong and PRC laws, they are well-equipped to meet the specific needs of their clients.
Though Anthony Siu & Co. has come exceptionally far since its inception, it seems as though there isn’t anything slowing it in its pursuit of spreading its reach further across the globe. At the forefront of legal innovation, it has already started working towards pushing the boundaries of legal development, with its focus resolutely falling upon cross-border recognition and enforcement actions. Having won this award due to its diligence, Anthony Siu & Co. is determined to continuously demonstrate an unapologetic desire to keep learning at each turn. Only then does it believe it’ll be able to expand.
As we step into the future of the legal industry, it’s becoming increasingly evident that firms must remain on top of emerging changes and challenges if they wish to uphold their position. Thankfully, Anthony Siu & Co. is far ahead of the curve already, and has its sights set on leveraging its already fantastic cross-border standing to optimise its services to the fullest. Though it’s already doing everything it can for each client that it comes into contact with, it seems as though Anthony Siu & Co. is a firm believer that you can never be too perfect for those who are relying on you to make a difference in their lives. So, whilst its services and interactions with clients are already second to none, Anthony Siu & Co. is still avidly working to enhance the experiences of its clients.
Combined, all of these factors amount to one overarching goal that is constantly helping Anthony Siu & Co. move forward with its practises. This goal is, of course, to be recognised as a leader in cross-border dispute resolution services within its industry, all whilst maintaining its commitment to the highest standards of service excellence. Anthony Siu & Co. is a fascinating entity unlike any other. Despite having a wealth of success in its grasp, it still believes that there is much work to be done. Cross-border disputes are becoming increasingly difficult to resolve, and yet it has dedicated everything to ensuring that it can be a dependable firm that any client can turn to in their time of need. This is the exact reason why it has earned itself an award-winning industry standing.
We’re so very pleased to become a part of Anthony Siu & Co.’s journey towards being the go-to cross-border firm that it has always been destined to become. It’s magnificent to see such a successful collective aspire to be even more than it already is, and it’s thanks to this drive that we have confidently presented Anthony Siu & Co. with the prestigious title of Civil Litigation Firm of the Year 2023 – Hong Kong. We wish Anthony Siu & Co. the very best in its pursuit of
further excellence.
Contact: Anthony Siu
Company: Anthony Siu & Co.
Web Address: https://www.anthonysiu.com/eng/index.html
