Wilfred Ho
Biography
Overview
A partner in White & Case's dispute resolution practice based in Hong Kong, Wilfred Ho's expertise lies in the field of international arbitration and commercial litigation. He represents Asian corporates and private equity funds and they benefit from his deep understanding of the legal environment and business practices of Greater China. He has represented them in a variety of court and arbitration proceedings, including those conducted under the HKIAC, CIETAC, ICC and SIAC rules.
Wilfred has gained experience and expertise from supporting clients in a wide range of high-stakes and complex disputes arising out of commercial transactions and intellectual property issues. His commercial litigation experience involves representing clients in all manner of company law matters, particularly involving shareholder disputes and insolvency-related actions. Clients that have benefited from his knowledge and experience come primarily from the gaming, media, entertainment, hospitality, technology and energy sectors.
Prior to joining White & Case, Wilfred had spent time in an international law firm's Hong Kong and London offices. He also worked as a research associate in the Federal Court of Australia for the Hon. Justice Raymond Finkelstein and the Hon. Justice Michelle Gordon.
Wilfred's professionalism, integrity, and commitment to excellence have garnered him accolades and recognition from clients and within the legal industry.
Experience
International arbitration
- Acting for a Macau casino on its construction issues with its general contractor with a project value of US$ 3 billion; pursued an ICC arbitration for failure to obtain government approvals in 2020 against the contractor which settled in 2021 after a mediation.
- Defending a Chinese venture capital fund on an emergency arbitrator application and substantive CIETAC proceedings concerning an intellectual property dispute for the licence of fine-dining establishments, and high-end catering products in Mainland China.
- Acting for a Korean social media company on its post-M&A dispute (involving HKIAC arbitral proceedings and an insolvent winding-up) with a Hong Kong start-up. The dispute concerns the failure to complete an SPA, and the seller is now suing for specific performance. Obtained a favourable settlement.
- Obtaining a comprehensive victory for the largest travel company in the People's Republic of China and their consortium partner, a Chinese private equity fund, in preventing a chairman-led consortium from privatising a Nasdaq-listed company valued at US$1 billion in related proceedings in the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) and Hong Kong courts.
- Advising the Australian subsidiary of a Japanese company in a potential international arbitration in Singapore under Singapore International Arbitration Centre rules. The dispute concerned its joint venture with a European multinational company for the construction of one of the largest energy projects in the world, with a total project cost of approximately US$34 billion.
- Achieving a favourable settlement for the largest private media company in China in a high-profile HKIAC arbitration with respect to the highest rating reality programme in China, worth over US$1 billion in revenue.
- Successfully defending a major shareholder in a US$2 billion HKIAC arbitration fight for control over a leading Chinese gaming company that previously had been listed on Nasdaq. This matter also involved the successful representation of the client in Hong Kong court injunction proceedings (with the award of indemnity costs against the opposing party).
Commercial litigation
- Acting for a Hong Kong-based hedge fund in a just and equitable winding-up action in the Cayman Islands with respect to its investment in a NYSE-listed company. These proceedings included bringing 1782 actions in the United States in support of the Cayman proceedings, applying for provisional liquidators in the Cayman Islands, the appointment of independent directors in the Cayman and the PRC, and the commencement of a derivative action in the PRC against the Founder.
- Representing a major Taiwanese client in a multibillion-dollar trust dispute, one of the highest-value and most complex matters being litigated anywhere in the world, involving court proceedings in Hong Kong, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Taiwan and the US.
- Successfully obtaining the withdrawal of a winding-up petition in the Hong Kong High Court for a Chinese internet technology company, one of the largest internet and video game companies in the world. Due to pressing commercial requirements, an expedited withdrawal of the winding-up petition was obtained for the client via an urgent application to the companies judge in Hong Kong.
- Representing subsidiaries of a Hong Kong-listed company with respect to several insolvency related commercial actions commenced by liquidators in the Hong Kong High Court. In particular, defending the client in applications concerning the exercise of new powers by the liquidators arising from recent amendments to the legislation.
