Anthony Scrivener QC is no stranger to the territory. The former chairman of the English Bar gained fame representing such clients as the Moonies and Gerard Conlon, who was convicted of an IRA bombing and cleared on appeal.
His first case in the territory was defending corrupt former police chief superintendent Peter Godber, whose conviction for bribery helped lead to the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Later, Mr Scrivener, 60, appeared for two Price Waterhouse accountants in the original Carrian trial, during which he reportedly earned $20 million. Charges against his clients were dismissed.
In 1990, he appeared without charge for former senior Crown counsel Christopher Harris during an unsuccessful appeal against conviction and sentence for incitement to procure a woman under 21 for unlawful sexual intercourse.
Two years later he was counsel for tycoon Deacon Chiu Te-ken who was accused of multi-million dollar fraud. He successfully argued that Mr Chiu's mental health had so deteriorated he could not conduct a complex defence.
In Britain, he is regarded as a down-to-earth radical and champion of legal reform. But he is also an admirer of the Hong Kong legal system.
