Barrister
Edwin Choy, S.C.
Email
edwin@lokchambers.com
Phone
2526 0068

Edwin Choy, S.C.

Barrister
Edwin was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2000 and started his practice as a tenant at our set of chambers.

His practice encompasses 4 principal areas: (1) commercial fraud and corruption; (2) criminal appellate matters; (3) financial market regulatory and misconduct cases; and (4) professional disciplinary matters. He regularly appears in all levels of court in Hong Kong.

Edwin has represented and advised clients ranging from senior government officials, chairmen/ directors/ senior executives of listed companies, banks, investment banks and trading companies, as well as lawyers and members of regulated professions, in criminal and other regulatory proceedings. Edwin regularly advises clients subjected to SFC and/ or SEHK investigations or inquiries, and represents them in the relevant tribunals.

Edwin has acted in many cases before the Insider Dealing Tribunal, both as counsel for implicated parties and for the Tribunal. He has conducted cases as the Presenting Officer in the Market Misconduct Tribunal, and has also defended specified persons against allegations of market misconduct.

Edwin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Classics from Georgetown University, a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of London and a Master of Business Administration degree (with a focus on Investment and Finance) from the University of Hull.

Edwin served as a Deputy Magistrate in 2008 and as a Deputy District Judge in 2014.

He took silk in 2018.

 

Notable Cases
Fraud/Corruption trials:

The Shanghai Land CaseHKSAR v Habibullah Abdul Rahman & ors: Edwin was led by the late Mr. Edmund Lawson Q.C. and the late Mr. Alexander King S.C. to represent a senior solicitor of a major law firm in Hong Kong alleged to have assisted in a fraudulent scheme involving M&A and subsequent asset injections. On appeal, Edwin was led by Mr. Ian Winter Q.C. 

The Grand Field Case – HKSAR v Wayland Tsang & ors: Edwin represented the Chairman and an executive director of a listed company in a case involving the acquisition of a business in mainland China.

The Moulin Case – HKSAR v Ma Bo Kee & ors: Edwin represented the financial controller of a listed company in a High Court Commercial Crime trial relating to multiple banking fraud and misrepresentations in publicly disclosed documents. The client, a professional accountant, was acquitted on all charges after a High Court jury trial.

The Tungda CaseHKSAR v Chu Chien Tung & ors: Along with Mr. Bernard Ryan and Ms. Annie Lai, Edwin prosecuted this listing fraud case in the High Court of Hong Kong. Three principal defendants were all convicted after a trial before a jury. Prior to the retrial of one of the remaining defendants, the defendant changed her plea to a guilty plea.

The Brian Kan CaseHKSAR v Kan Ping Chee Brian: Edwin prosecuted this election corruption case. The defendant was a former chairman of a rural council and a reputable race-horse trainer. The Defendant was convicted after trial.

The Sun Hung Kai CaseHKSAR v Rafael Hui Jr. and ors: Edwin defended the former Chief Secretary in this 100+ day case in 2014. Edwin also handled the appeal for Rafael Hui at the Court of Final Appeal.

The Days Impex / Days International CaseHKSAR v Dayaram and ors: Edwin successfully prosecuted the bosses of a trading group for defrauding banks with import and export loans to the tune of several hundred million dollars. Edwin also represented the prosecution at the Court of Appeal, as well as the Appeals Committee of the the Court of Final Appeal.

 

Fraud/Corruption appeals:

The Carrian / Wardley CaseHKSAR v Ewan Launder: Edwin was part of the defence team before both the Court of Appeal and the Court of Final Appeal representing the former chief of a leading Hong Kong merchant bank, accused of accepting bribes from George Tan of the Carrian Group. The Appeal was allowed by the Court of Final Appeal and the defendant’s conviction was quashed.

The Allied CaseHKSAR v Lee Ming Tee: Edwin was part of the defence team before the Court of Final Appeal in relation to the prosecution’s appeal against the Court of First Instance’s grant of a permanent stay.

The Gold Wo CaseHKSAR v Fu Chu Kan & ors: Together with Mr. Phillip Chan, Edwin conducted the appeal for one of the defendants in this listing fraud case.

The Shanghai Land CaseHKSAR v Abdullah Rahman & ors: On appeal, Edwin was led by Mr. Ian Winter Q.C. The appeal was won on appeal to the Court of Final Appeal.

The Ocean Grand CaseHKSAR v Yip Kim Po & ors: Edwin successfully represented the sixth defendant in her appeal against conviction.

The China Mining Resources Group CaseHKSAR v Luk Kin Peter Joseph & anor: Edwin represented the appellant in the Court of Final Appeal to argue two points of law concerning the construction of Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.

 

Financial Market Regulatory and Misconduct cases:

The HKCB Insider Dealing Case – Led by Mr. Lawrence Lok S.C., Edwin defended the Chairman of a listed group against allegations of insider dealing. The case was conducted at the Insider Dealing Tribunal. The client was found not to have committed any insider dealing.

The Easy Concept Insider Dealing Case – Edwin defended 2 relatives of a CFO of a listed group against allegations of insider dealing. The case was conducted at the Insider Dealing Tribunal.

The Tingyi Insider Dealing Case – Together with the late Mr. Peter Ip, Edwin acted as counsel for the Tribunal in this insider dealing case concerning allegations against a fund manager, an analyst and a corporate relations manager of a listed company. The case was conducted at the Insider Dealing Tribunal.

The Vanda Insider Dealing Case – Led by Mr. M.K. Wong S.C., Edwin defended an investor accused of having purchased securities on insider’s information. The case was conducted at the Insider Dealing Tribunal.

The Mobicon Market Misconduct Case – Led by Mr. Andrew Bruce S.C., Edwin acted as a Presenting Officer in this market misconduct case, in which the Chairman and the CFO of a listed company were alleged to have created a false market. The case was conducted at the Market Misconduct Tribunal.

The Mirabell Insider Dealing Case – Edwin acted as the Presenting Officer in this insider dealing case, where a trainee solicitor of a “Magic Circle” law firm was alleged to have supplied insider’s information she obtained from working on a corporate transaction to her boyfriend, who purchased securities as a result. The case was conducted at the Market Misconduct Tribunal.

The Chaoda Insider Dealing Case – Led by Mr. Lawrence Lok S.C., Edwin defended the Chief Financial Officer of a listed agricultural company against allegations that he committed insider dealing with the Chairman of the company and a Fidelity fund manager. Both the Chairman and Edwin’s client were found not to have committed insider dealing.

The Egana Jewellery Insider Dealing CaseHKSAR v Ma Hon Yeung & ors: Edwin defended an investment banker accused of passing insider’s information on a deal to relatives. The case was conducted in the District Court.

The Macquarie Covered Warrants CaseHKSAR v Fu Kor Kuen Patrick: Led by Mr. Peter Duncan S.C., Edwin defended an investor in a market manipulation case. The defendants were accused of creating a false market in their attempt to earn commission rebates offered by Macquarie and their brokers. The defendants’ convictions were quashed on appeal by the Court of Final Appeal.

 

Other cases of interest:

The 7-Police Officers CaseHKSAR v Wong Cho Shing & ors: Edwin defended one of the seven police officers accused of assaulting a protester during the occupied Central period.

The Civic Square Unlawful Assembly CaseHKSAR v Wong Chi Fung Joshua & ors: Edwin, along with Joe Chan, defended Alex Chow, who was accused of participating in an unlawful assembly. Edwin succeeded in convincing the Court of Final Appeal to reverse the Court of Appeal’s decision to impose a sentence of imprisonment.

The Mong Kok Riot CaseHKSAR v Leung Tin Kei & ors: Edwin defended Edward Leung, who was accused of inciting riot and participating in the Mong Kok riots in the Court of First Instance.

Areas of Expertise
Commercial Fraud
Corruption
Serious Crime
Regulatory & Disciplinary
Financial Market Crimes