Howse Williams

Dispute Resolution

As a prominent commercial litigator with more than 20 years solid experience, William with his team of fee earners specialize in the following: 

Commercial litigation

William's commercial practice ranges from companies’/shareholder's disputes, joint venture disputes, winding up/bankruptcy, restructuring and corporate risk management issues.  His clients would include prominent liquidators, corporates, listed companies, banks/lenders, investors, charitable organisations to private/corporate shareholders.  Notably, William and his team have recently been involved in a number of large winding up/re-restructuring matters.

William also acts for both trustees and beneficiaries on contentious trust and probate matters particularly on high net worth individuals on personal wealth matters.

William also handles general debt recovery matters and is known for his efficiency and costs effectiveness producing great results for clients. 

He has ample experience in acting for both Claimants and Recipients for funds internet fraud cases.

Insurance litigation

William acts for more than 10 large international insurers covering public liability, property, marine, travel, EC/PI insurance.  He is also a leading advisor in dealing with riot and COVID19 related claims for various insurers.

William regularly gives talks and seminars on insurance matters due to his high acclaim within the industry.  He leads a large team of dedicated lawyers specialising in insurance disputes covering public liability, property damage marine, yacht and EC/PI matters.

Transport litigation 

William acts for shipping companies, forwarders, international logistic companies, four of the largest container terminals in Hong Kong and leading warehouse operators along with their liability/property insurers.  He has unrivalled experience in handling a wide range of contentious matters on bills of lading/air waybills, cargo claims, forwarding, warehousing and logistics disputes.  Particularly he is a leading figure in advising container terminals on their emergency casualty, risks and property damage matters.  He has advised on transport related regulatory matters such as enforcement actions by Customs & Excise, Labour Department, Environmental Protection Department and ICAC. 

William is also on the Transport and Logistics Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong.

Pleasure crafts

William has vast experience on yacht matters including sale and purchase, collision, casualty, fire, PI and their related insurance and litigation matters.

Escrow agent / accounts

William frequently advises on escrow agent / account agreements and their litigation risks to facilitate sale and purchase of valuable yachts, club debentures offshore properties and antiques/ paintings etc.  In appropriate cases, our firm will act as escrow agent.

Accreditation

William has been consistently named as one of the leading lawyers in Hong Kong by various legal directories.  He is admitted to practice law in both Hong Kong and England & Wales.

William also holds a number of public posts with a view to rewarding the society.

2015 Howse Williams2009 Eversheds2001 DLA Piper2000 Stevenson Wong & Co1998 Hampton, Winter & Glynn

English, Cantonese, Mandarin

Since 2018 to present Transportation and Logistics Committee (Member) appointed by The Law Society of HKSAR (Co-option)Since 2017 to present The Transport Tribunals' Panel (Member) appointed by Secretary for Transport and HousingSince 2015 to present The Board of Review, Inland Revenue Department (Panel member)Since 2015 to present The Obscene Articles Tribunal (Member Adjudicator appointed by Chief Justice of HKSAR )Since 2013 to present Admiralty Court Users Committee appointed by Chief Justice of HKSAR (Member)

1997 PCLL, University of Hong Kong1993 LLB, University of Wales / Portobello College, Dublin, Ireland