Yolanda Lau
Senior Associate Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment
Languages
English, Cantonese, Mandarin
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
With over a decade of litigation experience in Hong Kong and a strong business acumen, Yolanda is trusted for her ability to identify and pursue practical and real-world solutions to complex commercial disputes. She is passionate about her work, thorough and easy to work with.
Yolanda has been involved in a number of major pieces of multi-jurisdictional litigation involving court proceedings, arbitration, and mediation. Her experience spans across a range of specialist subjects involving company and commercial law including cross-border insolvency and restructuring, receiverships, professional negligence and fraud, shareholder disputes, and breach of directors' duties. Her representative experience includes involvement in the landmark case of Yung Kee, a substantial Hong Kong restaurant business (HK$2 billion), acting in relation to a dispute between the shareholders. In addition, she has also represented or advised clients in numerous other high profile family and shareholder disputes, many involving complex corporate structures and substantive business operations located in Hong Kong, the PRC and overseas.
With a strong commercial awareness and very sensitive to numbers (having trained in accounting as well as law), Yolanda has developed a keen interest in defending accountants/financial advisors facing allegations involving professional negligence and fraud. She is well-versed in handling investigations and dealing with regulators in Hong Kong including the HKMA, the SFC and the ICAC. She also regularly coordinates with the Hong Kong Police including the JFIU in relation to cyber fraud cases and matters involving white collar crime and misappropriation of company assets.
Yolanda is very experienced on the use of technology and innovation in dispute resolution. She is particularly skilled at project management involving multiple jurisdictions and regularly incorporates technology and alternative tools making litigation more cost-effective for clients.
Representative experience
Acting for the Hong Kong Court-appointed Receivers of a Cayman Islands-registered PE fund including in respect of substantial cross-border proceedings and investigations in multiple jurisdictions.
Acting for the Receivers appointed over a first-hand residential development in Hong Kong, assisting them in taking control over the relevant companies, the sale process, defending creditors' claims.
Acting for and advising a major bank in Hong Kong in bringing a winding up petition against a foreign company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in respect of a significant overdraft facility.
Acting for and advising the Chapter 11 Trustee of a substantial debtor in the United States in respect of tracing and recovering assets of the debtor in Hong Kong.
Acting for and advising a substantial Chinese bank and asset management company in respect of a series of outstanding loans of significant value arising from a PRC reorganization.
Acting for and advising a major Chinese property investment company in respect of enforcement of an CIETAC arbitration award in Hong Kong and asset tracing.
Advising the security agent on strategic and Hong Kong law issues in defending a claim brought by the Joint Administrators of a company involved in mineral exploration for an undervalue sale.
Acting for a US based international distributor of electronic appliances, in respect of a complex IP / trademark dispute relating to inventory / stock in transit of a value of over US$16 million.
Advising the Joint Executors of the Estate of a Hong Kong tycoon, on the legal composition of the estate, executors’ duties and the protection of the beneficiaries’ interests.
Acting for the majority shareholder in the landmark case of Yung Kee Holdings, a Hong Kong restaurant business (HK$2 billion), in relation to a dispute between the shareholders.*
Acting for Keywise, a substantial PE fund, in a claim against the controlling shareholder to buy back shares; successfully recovered funds in satisfaction of a judgment in excess of US$45 million.*
Acting for TCT Mobile, the Hong Kong mobile phone business of TCL, in relation to a substantial claim by Nokia relating to a patent licensing agreement and the production of mobile devices.
Advising the Hong Kong branch of an international bank in respect of an investigation conducted by a Hong Kong financial regulator regarding the discharge of their duties as sponsor in an IPO.
Acting for companies and financial institutions in cyber fraud cases, obtaining mareva injunctions and disclosure orders, and successfully bringing tracing claims for monies wrongfully transferred.
*Matter handled prior to joining Hogan Lovells.
Credentials
- Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014
- Bachelor of Laws, Australian National University, 2011
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Australian National University, 2011
- Hong Kong
- Australia
- Greater Bay Area
- Communications Co-Chair, International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation Hong Kong