https://www.scmp.com/rss/522884/feed The latest news and top stories on Jose-Antonio Maurellet, a Senior Counsel. Known for his expertise in commercial law, particularly company and insolvency matters, he has a background in high-profile shareholder disputes and financial services litigation. He was called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2000 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2016. His work includes serving as a Deputy High Court Judge and Recorder of the Court of First Instance. He is also an accredited mediator and arbitrator, and has... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jose-Antonio Maurellet Jose-Antonio Maurellet The Hong Kong Bar Association was founded in 1949. To properly recognise barristers who have made a lasting and very significant contribution, members are able to nominate such giants for Life Membership. It is bestowed on those who “have rendered outstanding service to the Bar … or to the administration of justice in Hong Kong”. Over the years, only a handful of our members have been elected as Life Members. Nominees must be proposed by 20 members, including no fewer than 10 senior counsel, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346149/graham-harris-giant-hong-kong-bar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346149/graham-harris-giant-hong-kong-bar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Jose-Antonio Maurellet Jose-Antonio Maurellet On January 13, the British-born corporate governance activist David Webb, who had made Hong Kong his home for the past 35 years, died. Like many who have come from near and far after finding success, he did much to contribute to our society and its fabric. Many of our city’s landmarks bear the philanthropic imprint of such immigrants, from our universities to our hospitals. David was able to do some of the splendid work he did because of some of the characteristics of this city, which may not... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341593/late-corporate-governance-activist-david-webb-showed-why-transparency-benefits-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341593/late-corporate-governance-activist-david-webb-showed-why-transparency-benefits-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam The head of the Hong Kong Bar Association has called on the public not to apply “political lenses” to court rulings, following several high-profile national security cases that have put the spotlight on the city’s rule of law. Senior Counsel Jose-Antonio Maurellet, who was re-elected uncontested for a second term to helm the professional body on Thursday, also expressed full confidence in the city’s judicial independence. Maurellet said that amid heightened geopolitical tensions, national... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340893/hong-kong-bar-association-chief-warns-against-applying-political-lenses-court-rulings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340893/hong-kong-bar-association-chief-warns-against-applying-political-lenses-court-rulings?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:32:20 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s justice minister has refuted “unfounded” accusations against the judiciary regarding several highly charged national security cases, stating that none of the judges had failed to fulfil their duties and that their independence remains strong. In his address at a ceremony on Monday to mark the start of the legal year, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok also slammed the threat of sanctions against the city’s judges and “illegitimate pressures” placed on overseas judges to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340469/hong-kong-justice-minister-slams-accusations-sanctions-threat-against-judges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340469/hong-kong-justice-minister-slams-accusations-sanctions-threat-against-judges?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:07:59 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong lawyers should not think of competing head-on with mainland counterparts in the Greater Bay Area, but instead position themselves as common law specialists and collaborators in cross-border legal teams, Hong Kong Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet has said. His comments came during a fireside chat on the sidelines of the China Conference: Greater Bay Area event hosted by the South China Morning Post in Shenzhen on Thursday. Recent policy measures allow Hong Kong lawyers to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340061/hong-kong-lawyers-should-not-aim-just-compete-specialise-greater-bay-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340061/hong-kong-lawyers-should-not-aim-just-compete-specialise-greater-bay-area?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:11:20 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong should make bid-rigging a crime in the wake of the city’s deadliest fire in decades, a local think tank has urged, echoing a similar call from the city’s barristers. The proposal by the POD Research Institute came after the Hong Kong Bar Association formed a task force to review existing legislation following the deadly fire in Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court, which tore through seven of the eight blocks under maintenance in November. The blaze, which killed at least 161 people and displaced... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338957/hong-kong-think-tank-backs-call-make-bid-rigging-crime-after-fatal-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338957/hong-kong-think-tank-backs-call-make-bid-rigging-crime-after-fatal-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:02:25 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Jose-Antonio Maurellet is set to serve for another term as chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, with the current vice-chairpersons also to return. Senior Counsel Maurellet on Friday confirmed a circular stating that he had been nominated as chairman for the 2026-27 term. Martin Hui Siu-ting and Eva Sit Yat-wah, both senior counsel, would continue to serve as vice-chairpersons for the coming term, he added. But the association is set for a shift in administrative roles after Martin Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338574/jose-antonio-maurellet-set-return-hong-kong-bar-association-chairman?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338574/jose-antonio-maurellet-set-return-hong-kong-bar-association-chairman?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:01:27 +0000 Jose-Antonio Maurellet Jose-Antonio Maurellet “Justice is open to all – like the Ritz” is a quote often attributed to Sir James Mathew, a 19th-century Irish judge. This is another way of saying that while in theory justice and the courts are open to everyone, in practice only those who can afford to pay the hefty fees can get their day in court. The adversarial system, which is the model adopted in common law jurisdictions, has proved extremely popular in many countries and regions. In particular, cross-examination, which has sometimes been... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337643/free-all-or-fees-all-hong-kongs-legal-aid-levels-scales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3337643/free-all-or-fees-all-hong-kongs-legal-aid-levels-scales?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Dec 2025 01:30:16 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng The Hong Kong Bar Association will propose targeted legislation to criminalise bid-rigging and make key construction safety guidelines legally binding following the city’s deadliest fire in seven decades. The association formed a task force to review existing legislation after last month’s Tai Po blaze, with one of the preliminary goals being to criminalise bid-rigging, currently classified as “serious anti-competitive conduct” under the Competition Ordinance and punishable only by fines,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336948/bar-association-proposes-targeted-legislation-bid-rigging-after-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336948/bar-association-proposes-targeted-legislation-bid-rigging-after-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:12:00 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng The Hong Kong Bar Association’s head has called on the public and foreign governments to review the judgment against former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying before forming their opinions, saying such verdicts can spark controversy due to differing values. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet reaffirmed that Hong Kong’s judicial independence and the rule of law were “alive and strong”. “In many jurisdictions, whether near or far from Hong Kong, a lot of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336741/hong-kong-bar-chief-urges-critics-review-jimmy-lai-verdict-judging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336741/hong-kong-bar-chief-urges-critics-review-jimmy-lai-verdict-judging?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 07:06:32 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu The Hong Kong Bar Association will travel to Beijing next week to meet mainland Chinese officials, becoming the first delegation to visit the capital since the city’s deadliest fire in decades and its recent Legislative Council election. Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet told the Post on Wednesday that the delegation would be happy to discuss possible legal reforms brought by the deadly Tai Po fire with central government authorities, including the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO),... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335946/bar-association-first-hong-kong-delegation-beijing-after-fire-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335946/bar-association-first-hong-kong-delegation-beijing-after-fire-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:30:10 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung An independent review committee tasked with probing the deadly fire in Hong Kong that has so far claimed 159 lives has no legal power to compel and protect witnesses, but may yield faster results of comparable quality to a statutory commission, experts say. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday ordered a judge-led independent investigation into the blaze rather than a commission of inquiry used by his predecessors for the 2012 Lamma Island ferry collision and, before the 1997 handover, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335039/experts-odds-over-independent-inquiry-deadly-hong-kong-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335039/experts-odds-over-independent-inquiry-deadly-hong-kong-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:06:49 +0000 Jose-Antonio Maurellet Jose-Antonio Maurellet At the heart of any fair trial lies an independent court, which determines cases on the basis of only the law and the evidence, and is not swayed by the identity of the litigants before it. Whether a litigant is rich or poor, whether they are an ordinary citizen or the state, the law binds all in the same way. What is also of prime importance is the right to legal advice and representation. This is constitutionally guaranteed by the Basic Law under Article 35. As explained in a previous Legal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3331687/having-common-law-lawyers-here-and-elsewhere-hong-kongs-best-interest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3331687/having-common-law-lawyers-here-and-elsewhere-hong-kongs-best-interest?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 01:30:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The opening of the new legal year in London, like its equivalent in Hong Kong, features judges and lawyers dressed in traditional costumes. But the occasion, which has its origins in the Middle Ages, provides a valuable opportunity for the profession to reflect on today’s challenges. Participants from overseas are invited and this year there were around 100 from 40 jurisdictions, including Hong Kong’s Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet. The visit bore fruit, allowing interaction... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3329420/hong-kong-has-room-grow-global-hub-arbitration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3329420/hong-kong-has-room-grow-global-hub-arbitration?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 23:15:14 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Any law penalising storm-chasing should strike a balance between personal freedoms and safety, the head of the Hong Kong Bar Association has said, with the well-being of children also a factor. Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet, speaking in a televised interview on Sunday, said that the need for a law against such actions required societal consensus, and mens rea, or criminal intent, must be clearly defined. “I hope that no matter how the problem is dealt with, we need to consider... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328695/any-law-storm-chasing-must-balance-freedom-safety-hong-kong-bar-association-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328695/any-law-storm-chasing-must-balance-freedom-safety-hong-kong-bar-association-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:15:05 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu The United Kingdom has extended a welcome to Hong Kong’s barristers to register as arbitrators in its database because of their common law background and experience in handling Asian cases, the head of the city’s Bar Association has said. In an exclusive interview with the Post on Wednesday, Jose-Antonio Maurellet also expressed confidence that Hong Kong could some day beat London to become the world’s preferred seat for arbitration given Asia’s economic growth. The senior counsel was speaking... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3327551/uk-open-hong-kong-lawyers-registering-arbitrators-bar-association-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3327551/uk-open-hong-kong-lawyers-registering-arbitrators-bar-association-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:53:56 +0000 Jose-Antonio Maurellet Jose-Antonio Maurellet Regular readers of this column will have noticed that Eugene Yim and I are big fans of Hong Kong movies from the 1990s to early 2000s, in particular those featuring Andy Lau Tak-wah. One of my favourite movies of that period is undoubtedly the Lee Rock two-part movie series produced in 1991, which I have watched too many times to count. Without spoiling the plot, the two films trace the rise and fall of a very corrupt police officer from the 1960s until the establishment of the Independent... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323401/keeping-hong-kong-corruption-free-51-years-icac?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323401/keeping-hong-kong-corruption-free-51-years-icac?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 01:30:18 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s justice minister has underscored the importance of the rule of law in ensuring the city’s ingrained resistance to bribery, while a top judge has called attempts to sanction members of the judiciary “a form of reverse corruption”. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok and Andrew Colin Macrae, vice-president of the city’s Court of Appeal, made the remarks on Tuesday at a forum attended by about 100 lawyers and regulatory veterans to discuss anti-corruption practices and relevant... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3323246/rule-law-vital-hong-kongs-ingrained-resistance-bribery-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3323246/rule-law-vital-hong-kongs-ingrained-resistance-bribery-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:48:36 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Legal issues are often complex and controversial, especially when they arise as a result of rapid technological developments. Informed and authoritative perspectives are needed to help find solutions to problems that can have a significant impact on the community. Hong Kong’s Bar Association prides itself on speaking up when such issues arise. It is well-placed to make a valuable contribution. Bar Association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet recently gave his take on topical legal matters in an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321810/hong-kong-legal-bodies-right-speak-issues-significant-import?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321810/hong-kong-legal-bodies-right-speak-issues-significant-import?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities should be “very careful” before they resort to banning certain lawyers from meeting their clients in custody under revised prison rules, the head of the city’s Bar Association has said. In an interview with the Post, senior counsel Jose-Antonio Maurellet added that some members of the professional body had also expressed concerns over the revised prison rules, which will tighten visiting criteria for specific lawyers. At the centre of contention is an amendment which allows... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321279/hong-kong-must-be-very-careful-banning-lawyers-meeting-clients-jail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321279/hong-kong-must-be-very-careful-banning-lawyers-meeting-clients-jail?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Aug 2025 01:00:23 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Hong Kong should enact a “targeted law” to tackle the problem of AI-generated deepfake pornography instead of relying on legal tools designed to catch other mischief, the head of the city’s professional body for barristers has said. In an interview with the Post on Thursday, Senior Counsel Jose-Antonio Maurellet, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, also expressed confidence that such legislative efforts could be done “very quickly” if the government had the will to tackle the issue. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321257/hong-kong-needs-targeted-law-tackle-ai-deepfake-porn-bar-association-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3321257/hong-kong-needs-targeted-law-tackle-ai-deepfake-porn-bar-association-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Aug 2025 00:00:08 +0000 Jose-Antonio Maurellet Jose-Antonio Maurellet The Department of Justice, led by Secretary for Justice Paul Lam SC, hosted a seminar this month in Paris, titled “Hong Kong Legal Services – Gateway to China and Beyond”. The speakers included French lawyers living and working in Hong Kong, as well as French business leaders who have invested and managed part of their Asian operations from Hong Kong. Also participating were Hong Kong solicitors and barristers, including Eva Sit SC, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319334/how-trip-paris-showed-hong-kong-nothing-impossible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319334/how-trip-paris-showed-hong-kong-nothing-impossible?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 01:30:25 +0000 Jose-Antonio Maurellet Jose-Antonio Maurellet On July 3, the Hong Kong government outlined its plan to submit the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill to the Legislative Council. The bill provides for an alternative framework that sets out the registration procedure and the rights of same-sex couples. The bill was introduced to comply with a landmark ruling by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023. The court held that the government has a positive obligation under the Hong Kong Bill of Rights to establish an alternative legal framework... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3317448/recognising-same-sex-partnerships-vital-inclusive-diverse-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3317448/recognising-same-sex-partnerships-vital-inclusive-diverse-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:00:08 +0000