Peter So

Partner | Litigation and Dispute Resolution

peter.so@deacons.com
+852 2825 9247
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"'innovative and approachable’ Peter So who excels at advising financial institutions on contentious regulatory and securities law-related issues."

"Peter So is very clever, hard working, innovative and approachable."

"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."

"… and newly promoted partner Peter So is ‘sensible, practical, and a sharp-shooter’"

Peter specialises in litigation and dispute resolution and advises on a broad range of commercial disputes and contentious matters, including regulatory investigations by the SFC, HKMA, ICAC and Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC), financial institutions and banking litigation, arbitrations, shareholder disputes, disputes amongst members of high net worth families, injunctions and asset tracing.

Peter regularly advises financial institutions, banks and licensed persons and entities on contentious regulatory and securities law related issues, including insider dealing, market misconduct, mis-selling, disclosure of interests, sponsors’ liabilities, anti-money laundering (AML), 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, the Hong Kong Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and AML.

Peter also advises clients on competition law related issues and handles investigations by the HKCC and subsequent legal proceedings at the Hong Kong Competition Tribunal. He has provided training and seminars for clients on the Hong Kong Competition Ordinance and related compliance and best practices.

Highlights

Some of his recent experience includes:

  • acted for companies in an investigation by the HKCC and in defending proceedings commenced by the HKCC at the Competition Tribunal
  • acted for a financial institution in disciplinary proceedings relating to sponsors’ failures
  • acted for a foreign bank in successfully resisting a stay of application
  • acted for an oil company against a transportation company in recovering unpaid debt and obtained favourable awards which were subsequently registered as judgments
  • 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

More about Peter So

Legal 500 Asia Pacific

  • Dispute Resolution: Litigation (Hong Kong) – Recommended Individual (2023 – 2025)
  • Antitrust & Competition (Hong Kong) – Recommended Individual (2023 – 2025)

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific

  • Commercial and Transactions – Future Star (2020-2022); Litigation Star (2023 – 2024)

Doyle’s Guide Hong Kong

  • Leading White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyers – Hong Kong – Recommended Lawyer (2024)

 

  • Member, The Law Society of Hong Kong
  • Honorary Secretary, Executive Committee of Hong Kong Trustees’ Association (since May 2023)

  • BSc., LLB, University of New South Wales (2001)
  • PCLL, University of Hong Kong (2003)
  • Passed Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Qualification Examination (2021)

  • Contributor, The Securities and Future Ordinance (Cap. 571): Commentary and Annotations (Sweet & Maxwell) (September 2015)
  • Author, Mis-selling financial products, South China Morning Post – Point of Law (2 January 2013)
  • Author, Beware, SFC Raid may Remain Confidential, Hong Kong Lawyers (July 2012)
  • Annotator, Butterworths Hong Kong Arbitration Law Handbook, Butterworths (June 2012)
  • Contributor, Hong Kong White Book on High Court Suitors Funds Rules
  • Author, Final Appeal Criteria for Civil Appeals – Part II, Hong Kong Lawyer (January 2010)
  • Author, Is a Sanctioned Offer or Payment Useful Any Longer?, Hong Kong Lawyer (September 2009)
  • Author, Final Appeal Criteria for Civil Appeals involving Damages Claims, Hong Kong Lawyer (July 2009)

"'innovative and approachable’ Peter So who excels at advising financial institutions on contentious regulatory and securities law-related issues."

"Peter So is very clever, hard working, innovative and approachable."

"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."

"… and newly promoted partner Peter So is ‘sensible, practical, and a sharp-shooter’"

Languages

  • English
  • Cantonese
  • Mandarin

Jurisdictions

  • Solicitor, Hong Kong (2005)
  • Notary Public, Hong Kong (2020)
  • Greater Bay Area Lawyer (2023)
  • Solicitor, England and Wales (Non-practising) (2008)
  • Solicitor, New South Wales (Australia) (Non-practising) (2001)

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