Solicitors and consultant accused of breaking archaic champerty law

Two solicitors and a consultant who pocketed some HK$1.5 million in fees over six years after helping 26 clients claim compensation went on trial in the District Court yesterday.

Juliana Lo Yuen-ching, 49, Gary Yeung Yun-hong, 44, and Ip Hon-ming, 60 and a director of Quickway Professional Consultants, denied 26 counts of champerty - an old piece of common law which prohibits parties with no direct interest in a legal action from encouraging and supporting litigation in return for a share of the proceeds from successful lawsuits or settlements.

Prosecutor Neil Mitchell said champerty was no longer an offence in England. But in Hong Kong - where the legal framework is based on English common law - the Court of Final Appeal had ruled it remained a crime.

He said Yeung and Lo were a couple and had established a law firm together in 2002.

Lo's mother was also a director and shareholder in Ip's consultancy firm.

The 26 claimants suffered injuries in traffic or workplace accidents between 2000 and 2004, Mitchell said.

They were introduced to Ip by associates or were approached by Ip while they were recovering in hospital. Ip then asked Yeung and Lo to prepare the lawsuits, the court heard.