Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments

Topic

Admission of foreign/overseas counsel

Legal area

Court

28 Mar 2013

RE MR JOHN BERESFORD WILLIAM MCDONNELL QC

Citation

RE MR JOHN BERESFORD WILLIAM MCDONNELL QC
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCMP503/2013

Application refused because the applicant failed to demonstrate recent and relevant criminal jury-trial expertise necessary to lead the defence in a complex 60-day forgery trial; equality of arms did not outweigh the absence of required experience and the existence or approachability of local senior counsel, and the applicant failed to discharge the burden of proof for admission.
21 Jan 2011

RE MS CLARE MONTGOMERY, QC

Citation

RE MS CLARE MONTGOMERY, QC<br>
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCMP2516/2010

The application was granted because the court concluded that the interest of justice required admission of overseas leading counsel who was not personally acquainted with the client and could therefore provide an objective view; this was compounded by the practical handicap that the applicant (a widely known local barrister) had limited local options, and substantial local involvement would remain through experienced junior counsel.
25 May 1995

In re Robin Potts Q.C.

Citation

In re Robin Potts Q.C.
Court

Court of First Instance
Case number

HCMP1102/1995

Admission refused because the only international element had ceased to exist, the petition was not of unusual difficulty or complexity, there was no evidence that no local counsel of appropriate skill was available, and public interest did not warrant admission of the overseas counsel.

Hong Kong Case Law

RE MR JOHN BERESFORD WILLIAM MCDONNELL QC

RE MS CLARE MONTGOMERY, QC

In re Robin Potts Q.C.