Hong Kong SAR China
KC Tai
Partner Emailkc.tai@dlapiper.com
Call+852 6086 1079
About
With more than 16 years’ experience in field of dispute resolution, KC’s practice covers a wide range of commercial litigation, white collar crimes and financial regulatory matters. He has strong business acumen which enables him to offer practical solutions to clients. He is often commended for his solution-driven approach and unique insight and perspective.
KC is repeatedly named as a key lawyer in Legal 500 since 2020, according to which, “[his] legal skills, his ability to handle complex litigation matters, and his commitment to client satisfaction make him a highly recommended professional for any company seeking top-tier legal services.” The matters that KC handled were also awarded Deal of the Year by China Business Law Journal on various occasions.
Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong
EXPERIENCE
- Acting for a reputable financial institution in a debt recovery action involving a sum of over USD100 million. Successfully defended an application for an anti-suit injunction brought by the guarantor which sought to restrain the lender from presenting a winding-up petition in the Cayman in favor of arbitration. The judgment regarding the anti-suit injunction was groundbreaking, marking the first of its kind to address the interplay between arbitration clauses and offshore winding-up proceedings.
- Acting for certain founders of a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO), a community-governed DeFi ecosystem headquartered in HK, in a fintech dispute concerning the ownership and governance of the DAO. This matter resulted in a pioneering court judgment that addressed HK’s approach to several novel and untested legal concepts unique to the virtual world.
- Acting for a reputable financial institution in its recovery action against the sole shareholder of a Hong Kong insurance company for default of bond-linked notes (BLN) for a sum of over USD200 million. Managed to reach settlement with the respondent after successfully obtaining a winding-up order against the company. Assisted the client in rescinding the winding-up in order to facilitate the settlement while preserving the value of the insurance company.
- Acting for a Hong Kong listed company operating agri-products exchange in the PRC in its 23-day-trial at High Court and succeeded in the claim against several PRC entities for a sum of over RMB510 million regarding a contractual dispute over the acquisition of the interest in a PRC company involving fraud. The case has involved a number of cross-border issues between Hong Kong and the PRC which was appealed to the Supreme People’s Court in the PRC.
- Acting for a “Top 20 PRC Real Estate Developer” listed company with assets of over RMB250 billion in defending a winding-up petition presented by a bondholder against the company. Apart from dealing with the winding-up proceedings, also assisted client and the family office of the controlling shareholder in dealing with various regulatory issues and advised the client throughout the restructuring exercise.
- Acting for a Hong Kong company in relation to the ownership of the largest wind energy company in Thailand which was worth more than USD700 million. Successfully defended the receivership application taken out by the original owner and discharged the ex parte injunction obtained by the original owner against client under s.21M of the High Court Ordinance (HCO) in aid of arbitration and on the basis of Chabra jurisdiction. The case has involved complicated cross-border issues involving litigation and arbitration in various jurisdiction including Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, BVI and Belize.
- Acting for a Hong Kong listed company in defending two sets of related legal proceedings and advising client on regulatory matters arising out of the same subject matter. The case concerns a number of Hong Kong listed companies identified by David Webb as the “Enigma Network” which were allegedly controlled by Mr. Roy Cho, a seasoned player in the capital market. This case can be said to be one of the largest civil litigation in recent years in terms of the scale of litigation, regulators’ investigation and legal teams involved.
- Acting for a high-net-worth client in defending various prosecutions brought against him for alleged breach of s.298 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO) for disclosing false or misleading information inducing transactions, conspiracy to perverting the course of justice and blackmail. Secured acquittal in all those criminal prosecution.
- Advising the audit committee of a Hong Kong listed company carrying on metal recycling business for a forensic investigation carried out pursuant to the direction of SEHK regarding certain adverse allegations raised by a short-seller against the company and the unprecedented winding-up petition presented by SFC against a listed company pursuant to s.212 of SFO.
Languages
- English
- Chinese (Cantonese)
- Chinese (Mandarin)
Awards
- KC is named as a lawyer to note in Legal 500 (2020, 2021 and 2023 Edition), according to which, “KC is very responsive and very easy to work with. Always give clear answers and sensible solutions to problems.”
Education
- The University of Hong Kong, LLB
- The University of Hong Kong, P.C.LL
Publications
- Recognition of Foreign Restructuring Proceedings in Hong Kong: Re USUM Investment Group Ltd. [2026] HKCFI 1320 (March 2026)
- Court Of Appeal Determines On Principles Governing Interim Anti-Suit Injunctions Against Foreign Winding Up in Support of Arbitration in Hong Kong (November 2025)
- Limitation of use of PRC Enforceable Notarisation in Hong Kong (November 2025)
- Hong Kong Courts Back Swift Enforcement of Rent Arrears Judgments (October 2025)
- First case in Hong Kong: Court refused to grant anti-suit injunction prohibiting winding up a Cayman company in the Cayman Islands (August 2025)
- Understanding the Memorandum of Understanding between SFC and AFRC (November 2023)
- The importance of pursuing an appeal diligently and lodging applications timely in bankruptcy proceedings (September 2023)
- Charges over Securities in Margin Accounts: Fixed or Floating? (July 2023)
- DLA Piper helps CAPE win High Court claim for seller misrepresentation (February 2021)
- Another Reminder for Principles of “Reflective Loss” and Abuse of Process, Hong Kong Lawyer (July 2020)
- Grant of Interim Relief by Court Against Non-Parties to Arbitration; Hong Kong Lawyer (July 2019)
- Court of Appeal Clarified the Operation of RHC O.59 r.14(3); Hong Kong Lawyer (December 2018)
