Desmond Ang

DESMOND ANG is co-head of the Litigation group in Hong Kong and a member of the firm’s Global Arbitration, Trade and Advocacy practice. He handles international commercial litigation and arbitration, with an emphasis on high-stakes disputes involving business relationships and investments with companies in Asia. Desmond also has an established restructuring and insolvency practice involving the representation of debtors and creditors in dispute matters associated with complex cross-border debt restructurings, insolvency, and distressed scenarios. In addition to his practice, Desmond serves in the Firm’s Office of General Counsel.

Desmond has represented clients in proceedings conducted under ICC, HKIAC, SIAC, CIETAC, JCAA, ICDR, and UNCITRAL arbitration rules, as well as before the Hong Kong courts. He has significant experience in disputes involving M&A, joint ventures, and private equity investments, in both arbitration (seated in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, California, and Switzerland) and litigation proceedings in Hong Kong .

Desmond develops practical dispute resolution strategies underpinned by a thorough analysis of the relevant facts. He crafts these strategies to fit into the overall commercial goals of his clients with the ultimate objective of providing high-quality, responsive, and cost-effective legal representation. He has counseled individuals and businesses in a wide spectrum of industries, including retail (luxury and mass market), private equity, asset management, pharmaceuticals, real estate, oil and gas, technology and telecommunications, natural resources and mining, and sports.

Desmond also serves as arbitrator under ICC, HKIAC, and SIAC arbitration rules in Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Shanghai, and Geneva.

Desmond has received numerous independent recognitions. He has recently been listed in the inaugural Hong Kong edition of the Legal 500 Private Practice Powerlist List – Arbitration and is recommended by Chambers Greater China. Desmond is also recommended by Legal 500 Asia Pacific in Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration as well as Restructuring and Insolvency. In Chambers Greater China Region 2025,  clients commented that Desmond “has an Asia practice, but his tentacles spread internationally.” Another client described him as “consistently demonstrating an exceptional level of client service and professionalism. His strategic approach and ability to navigate intricate legal issues reflect the depth of his experience.” In Chambers Greater China Region 2024, praise from clients included that Desmond is “a determined advocate who misses nothing” and “very practical, technically strong, commercial and a safe pair of hands". Another client added that “Desmond is extremely impressive with written submissions.” In Chambers Greater China Region 2023, clients highlighted that Desmond “is an excellent lawyer in the field of international arbitration. He pays attention to every detail, controls the overall situation, and provides strategies. He is good at making full use of the dominant position from the perspective of legal knowledge, procedure, and practice, promoting the disadvantages and expanding the advantages.” He is also “very thoughtful and responsive to requests. He is very hands-on and is willing to go into details of the case. His Chinese is perfect, and he is good at taking care of PRC-related matters.” Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 praised that Desmond “is serious and knowledgeable” and “stands out for contentious insolvency and has been the leading practitioner in this area during the China property downturn.” Desmond was recognized as a “Litigation Star” in Insolvency and International Arbitration categories by Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific 2025. Desmond was also selected as one of the world’s leading arbitration practitioners in the Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders Global Elite 2024 and recommended in Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2024 and ranked as one of the most highly regarded Future Leader based in APAC in its Arbitration 2023 edition, citing praise for his “energetic, brilliant and sensible approach” to international arbitration proceedings. 

Desmond is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Cantonese.

Examples of Desmond’s recent experience include:

Litigation

• Representing Ting Chuan (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp in litigation proceedings in the Cayman Islands. The issue related to whether a winding-up petition brought by the opposing side should be stayed in favour of arbitration. The proceedings were appealed all the way up to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which ruled in favour of the client’s position in Ting Chuan (Cayman Islands) Holding Corp v FamilyMart China Holding Co Ltd (JCPC 2020/0055). The judgment represents one of the most legally significant developments in the areas of arbitration and insolvency in recent years and will have a wide-ranging impact throughout the common-law world.
• Representing Leading Holdings Group Limited in striking out a winding-up petition on the grounds that the petitioner, an investor of a publicly issued U.S.-dollar-denominated notes issued by a Hong Kong listed and held on a “global notes structure,” lacked standing to present the Petition.  The decision has far-reaching implications. This is the first occasion a Hong Kong court has had to decide the issue of standing of an investor of a global note to present a winding-up petition as a contingent creditor.
• Representing an investment firm in Hong Kong High Court proceedings to pursue claims over HK$1.4 billion against a high-net-worth businessman in the P.R.C. arising from a failure of two investment funds to repay capital and fixed return.
• Representing a high-net-worth individual before the Hong Kong High Court to defend claims for knowing receipt and knowing assistance pursued by liquidators of a NASDAQ-listed company in connection with a fraud perpetrated by the former directors of the company.
• Representing a real estate operation company and its founder in defending winding-up proceedings and related Hong Kong High Court proceedings in respect of a claim of around USD125 million.

International Arbitration

• Representing a private equity owned German manufacturer of optical lenses and spectacle frames in 3 consolidated HKIAC arbitration proceedings against a Chinese businessman and his corporate vehicles. The consolidated arbitration involved complicated jurisdictional questions regarding consolidation of arbitrations commenced under 3 different agreements (i.e. the sale and purchase agreement, distribution agreement and IP right license agreement) entered into by different parties.
• Representing a global life sciences MNC on potential arbitration proceedings in Singapore in connection with an M&A dispute with sellers in Vietnam, in respect of indemnification claims and breaches of representations and warranties. 
• Representing a major private equity fund in a HKIAC arbitration governed by Hong Kong law against a Chinese tech group in relation to redemption claims.
• Representing a leading pharmaceutical group based in the PRC in a HKIAC arbitration relating to the termination of its distribution and licensing agreement with a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Canada. The dispute was governed by New York law, with PRC laws, regulation and practice relating to the pharmaceutical and drug industry also relevant to the arbitration.
• Representing a Taiwanese conglomerate in a US$1.1 billion HKIAC arbitration against a Japanese trading house. The parties’ dispute arose out of a series of sale and purchase agreements, which required the transfer of (i) certain shares in a Cayman corporation from the Japanese party to our client and (ii) shares in a landmark real estate project in Taiwan from our client to the Japanese party.
• Representing a Taiwanese conglomerate in an ICC arbitration seated in Beijing and related litigation proceedings in the Cayman Islands against a Japanese group. The parties’ dispute arose out of a joint venture arrangement in the PRC. 
• Representing the subsidiaries and affiliates of a group headquartered in the Netherlands in the family education entertainment industry against a group of companies with its parent listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in an ICC arbitration seated in Hong Kong in relation to the termination of a joint venture.
• Representing a PRC real estate developer and its related Singapore SPV in an approximately US$100 million HKIAC arbitration concerning a Sino-foreign joint venture dispute with its U.S. private equity fund partner.
• Representing a global private equity fund in a third-party intervention application before the Hong Kong High Court to amend/discharge an interim injunction in support of an arbitration commenced by a Chinese investor against the founder in respect of ownership over the fund, whose portfolio companies were valued at over US$800 million. The application before the Hong Kong High Court was one of several contentious proceedings between the parties across multiple jurisdictions.
• Representing a Cayman subsidiary of a Hong Kong listed company in a multi-million-dollar executive compensation dispute in an ICC arbitration seated in Hong Kong following the acquisition and subsequent restructuring of the PRC-based franchise business of a Fortune 500 company.
• Advising a Japanese blue-chip corporation listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in respect of matters relating to its SIAC arbitration against its PRC joint venture partner concerning the renewable energy sector. The arbitration involved the proposed termination of the joint venture following the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Representing two Mongolian companies in a JCAA arbitration in Tokyo arising out of sales agreements allegedly entered into with a Japanese trading house for the purchase of mining equipment in excess of US$100 million; Japanese law governs.

Restructuring

• Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. on the approximately US$12.3 billion offshore debt restructuring through the dual parallel schemes of arrangement at two different entities in their relevant jurisdictions. This is the largest offshore debt restructuring of a Chinese real estate company that has been sanctioned to date. This deal was named “Restructuring and Insolvency Matter of the Year” at Law.com International’s Asia Legal Awards 2025 and “Deal of the Year” by China Business Law Journal in 2024.
• Shimao Group Holdings Limited on the restructuring of its US$11.5 billion in offshore debt. The restructuring was conducted in parallel with bilateral restructurings of certain other offshore debts outside of the scope of the scheme totaling US$2 billion. This deal is one of the largest China real estate restructurings. The deal was named “Deal of the Year” by China Business Law Journal 2024 and recognized as “Best Property Deal: China Offshore” by FinanceAsia Achievement Awards in 2025.
• Sino-Ocean Group Holding Limited on the successful restructuring of its approximately US$6 billion offshore debt. This is the first-ever “Cram across” in which Hong Kong-governed debt was used to cram down English law-governed debt through a twin Part 26A Restructuring Plan and Hong Kong scheme of arrangement, and the first time that a Chinese real estate company has used an English Restructuring Plan. The deal has won the “Pioneering Spirit Award” at the 2025 Global Restructuring Review Awards.
• Sunac China Holdings Limited (Sunac) in the restructuring of its US$10.2 billion offshore debt. It is the largest offshore restructuring transaction completed by a Chinese property group and it achieved both the highest supporting rate and the highest deleveraging ratio of recent offshore schemes in this sector. The deal was recognized as the “Restructuring Deal of the Year” by IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2024. The deal also won the “Asia-Pacific Restructuring” award at International Financing Review’s IFR Awards 2023 and the “Turnaround Deal” award at the IFR Asia Awards 2023.
• Zhongliang Holdings Group Company Limited on the successful restructuring of its approximately US$1.2 billion of offshore debt. The complex transaction was implemented through a scheme of arrangement in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong judgment sanctioning the scheme of arrangement is reported as [2024] HKCFI 808.
• Modern Land (China) Co., Limited on the restructuring of its US$1.34 billion in offshore dollar-denominated notes. Through the restructuring, the existing New York law-governed notes were replaced by a combination of cash and new notes with extended maturity. This is one of the first successful restructuring deals completed by Chinese real estate companies under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. The Chapter 15 recognition is of wider significance because it not only recognizes the scheme of arrangement in a foreign jurisdiction, but also explicitly confirms that the Chapter 15 recognition is effective and binds in discharging New York law-governed debt. Modern Land is a real estate developer focusing on the development of green, energy-saving, and eco-friendly residences in the People’s Republic of China. The deal was named as “Deal of the Year” by China Business Law Journal in 2022.
• RiseSun Real Estate Development Co., Limited and its subsidiaries in connection with the restructuring of the group’s offshore dollar-denominated notes through a BVI scheme of arrangement. As a result of the restructuring, the existing New York law-governed notes (US$780 million in principal and interest) issued by RongXingDa Development (BVI) Limited were exchanged for a cash payment and the issuance of two series of new notes with extended maturities. Both series of new notes are governed by New York law, with high yield covenants and are listed on the Singapore Exchange. It is the first Chinese real estate company to complete an offshore restructuring of its indebtedness since 2016. The deal was named as “Deal of the Year” by China Business Law Journal in 2022.

• Co-Chair, IBA’s Asia Pacific Regional Forum
• eBRAM Panel of Arbitrators
• HKIAC’s List of Arbitrators
• LCIA Young International Arbitration Group
• JCAA Panel of Arbitrators
• Hong Kong Law Society
• Law Society of England and Wales
• Singapore Academy of Law