Peter specialises in litigation and dispute resolution and has experience in a broad range of litigation matters, including contentious regulatory, financial services litigation, investigations by the SFC, HKMA, ICAC and Hong Kong Competition Commission, injunctions and commercial disputes.
Peter regularly advises financial institutions, banks and licensed persons on contentious regulatory and securities law related issues, including insider dealing, market misconduct, mis-selling, disclosure of interests, sponsors’ liabilities, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption and unlicensed regulated activities. In particular, Peter has extensive experience in advising banks on mis-selling of financial products and dealing with complex issues arising from regulatory / criminal investigations and civil proceedings.
Peter regularly conducts training and seminars for clients on insider dealing and the Hong Kong Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
Peter also advises clients on competition law related issues and handles investigations by the Hong Kong Competition Commission. He has provided training and seminars for clients on the Hong Kong Competition Ordinance.
Acted for securities brokerage companies in disciplinary proceedings relating to AML issues.
Acted for a major private bank in defending proceedings commenced by investors alleging mis-selling of structured products and claiming damages of millions of US dollars.
Acted for a bank in an investigation by the HKMA on regulatory issues which resulted in a Compliance Advice Letter and no action being taken.
Acted for licensed entities, licensed individuals and financial institutions in disciplinary proceedings which resulted in either no action being taken or reduced fines and sanctions.
Acted for foreign parties in discharging a s.21M injunction which went to the Court of Appeal.
Acted for a large European manufacturer of electronic products in proceedings against the factory for defective products and claiming substantial damages and achieving a settlement after mediation.
Regularly acting for and advising companies, banks, brokerage companies, financial institutions and individuals on SFC and HKMA investigations.
Memberships
Member, The Law Society of Hong Kong
Member, Hong Kong Notary Public
Court Admissions
Hong Kong (2005)
New South Wales, Australia (2001) (Non-practising)
England and Wales (2008) (Non-practising)
Education
BSc., LLB, University of New South Wales, 2001
PCLL, University of Hong Kong (Distinction), 2003
Accolades
Recognised as a future star in Commercial and Transactions by Benchmark Litigation in 2020
Recognised in the Regulatory section in Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2019) – “The firm also has a busy contentious regulatory practice … which includes … Peter So. Key areas of work, among others, are representing clients in anti-money laundering related investigations, insider dealing investigations and issues related to mis-selling of financial products.”
Recognised in Legal 500 (2018) – “… and newly promoted partner Peter So is ‘sensible, practical, and a sharp-shooter’”
Publications/Articles
Contributor to The Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571): Commentary and Annotations (Sweet & Maxwell), September 2015 (1st Ed.), October 2016 (2nd Ed.), 2017 (3rd Ed.)
Numerous in-house articles on insider dealing, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption and regulatory related issues which are also published online and read by a wide audience, including commentaries on the following cases:
“Mis-selling financial products”, South China Morning Post - Point of Law, 2 January 2013
“Beware, SFC Raid may Remain Confidential”, Hong Kong Lawyer, July 2012
Annotator of Butterworths Hong Kong Arbitration Law Handbook, Butterworths, June 2012
Contributor to Hong Kong White Book on High Court Suitors Funds Rules
“Final Appeal Criteria for Civil Appeals - Part II”, Hong Kong Lawyer, January 2010
“Is a Sanctioned Offer or Payment Useful Any Longer?”, Hong Kong Lawyer, September 2009
“Final Appeal Criteria for Civil Appeals involving Damages Claims”, Hong Kong Lawyer, July 2009