Wayne Walsh SC
Head of Chambers
Call 2006 (Hong Kong), 1986 (Commonwealth)
Silk 2015 (Hong Kong)
LANGUAGES
English
CONTACT
T: +852 2840 1130
M: +852 6892 8019
E: wwalsh@parksidechambers.com
Secretary: Ms. Juliana Chan
E: julianachan@parksidechambers.com”
“Wayne Walsh SC of Parkside Chambers draws on his experience as a former prosecutor to offer clients a uniquely informed perspective on a range of white-collar crime matters, in addition to having a broader criminal law practice.”
“Wayne is a hugely respected senior counsel who is very user-friendly for solicitors.”
“He’s a very competent counsel.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024, Band 1, White Collar Crime, Greater China
“Head of chambers Wayne Walsh SC frequently represents a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, financial institutions, and government departments, in financial crime prosecutions and regulatory compliance investigations” – Legal 500 2024
“Wayne is the leading expert on mutual legal assistance matters, as well as for white-collar crime more generally. He is very responsive, commercial, and user-friendly” – Legal 500 2023
“Global Leader (Recommended) – Business Crime Defence – Individuals” – Who’s Who Legal 2023
“Leading Criminal Law Silk, Hong Kong” – Doyle’s Guide 2023
Wayne has deep bench of knowledge in both his mixed criminal and civil law practices, with recognised expertise specializing in financial crime and compliance, civil fraud and asset recovery. He also has notable and extensive experience in public international law cases involving cross-border litigation.
Prior to commencing practice at the private Bar in 2018, Wayne spent a 25-year career with the Department of Justice, Hong Kong, where he prosecuted white-collar crime and corruption cases and oversaw all major criminal cases and certain civil cases involving cross-border litigation and international cooperation. Before this, he was a prosecutor with the Serious Fraud Office in New Zealand, a solicitor in commercial litigation and for 3 years an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.
Wayne has recognized expertise in the fields of Hong Kong extradition law, search warrants, mutual legal assistance, asset recovery and proceeds of crime. He has established an international and local profile in financial crime and regulatory compliance matters. He was a lead advisor to the Government on implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism standards for many years and for 2 years, he co-chaired a Working Group of the Financial Action Task Force in Paris which revised the current international standards for the FATF Recommendations.
Since moving to private practice, Wayne has been acting for a range of individuals and entities facing financial crime and regulatory compliance investigations including in cross-border context. Wayne has a prominent practice in administrative and public international law, and in civil proceedings in the High Court especially in asset recovery and insolvency cases involving allegations of fraudulent conduct, demonstrating a notable depth of expertise in these areas. He brings multi-disciplinary capabilities to his practice, making him a unique and distinctive asset at the Bar. His body of work/case history evidences his strong track record in these fields. Wayne is instructed in cases of extradition, mutual assistance and proceeds of crime, and in trials of white-collar crime, money laundering and serious predicate offences. He also continues to advise the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on financial crime compliance standards and is periodically engaged by foreign governments and the International Monetary Fund on country missions and advisory work pertaining to the most recent financial crime benchmarks and best practices.
Wayne is the author of the legal text ‘Cross-Border Crime in Hong Kong: Extradition, Mutual Assistance, Financial Sanctions’ (3rd Ed.) LexisNexis 2024 which surveys the Hong Kong offence of money laundering and procedures for extradition, mutual assistance, prisoner transfer, implementation of sanctions against financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Financing offences under the National Security Law and sanctions imposed by the United States on Hong Kong are also covered.
Practice Areas
General Criminal Litigation
General Civil Litigation
Administrative and Public Law
Commercial Law
Compliance, Securities and Banking
Insolvency Law
International Law
White-Collar Crime
Education
1991
LL.M. (Hons),
University of Auckland
1986
LL.B.,
University of Otago
1980
B.A. (Hons),
University of Otago
- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Widows and Orphans Pension Scheme 2011-2017
- Author, Cross-Border Crime in Hong Kong: Extradition, Mutual Assistance, Financial Sanctions (3rd ed.) 2024 LexisNexis
- Contributing Editor, Archbold Hong Kong
White-Collar Crime / Civil Fraud / Asset Recovery
- Secretary for Justice v Shin Dong Ki & Ors [2023] HKCA 1021: application for leave to appeal from [2022] CFI 929 granted on the ground that the funds in question did not represent proceeds of an indictable offence and the applicant could not have been convicted of the offence of money laundering (CA)
- Secretary for Justice v Shin Dong Ki & Ors [2022] HKCFI 929: foreign tax evasion, alleged money laundering, application to discharge freezing order over property in Hong Kong (CFI)
- Smart Edge Ltd v Lun Hau Mun & Ors [2020] HKCFI 1900: interlocutory injunction, enforcement of Securities Agreements, application by receivers to take control of company (CFI)
- Pacific Andes Enterprises (BVI) Ltd (In Liquidation) & Ors v Ng Joo Siang & Ors [2020] HKCFI 1242: alleged trade finance fraud, investigations by regulatory and law enforcement agencies in Singapore and Hong Kong, application for Mareva injunction (CFI)
- Secretary for Justice v Yip Kim Po & Ors (HCMP 2525/2007, 15 June 2020): conspiracy to defraud, variation of freezing order, release of funds to victim companies (in liquidation) by judgment order obtained in civil proceedings (CFI)
- HKSAR v Herry Jane Yusuph [2021] 1 HKC 458: correct approach to sentencing for trafficking in dangerous drugs, appeal against sentence and forfeiture order (CA)
- Re Kim Dotcom [2019] HKCA 885: freezing orders, abuse of process, dual criminality for criminal breach of copyright and money laundering, leave to appeal (CA)
- HKSAR v Chan Cheong Ming (HCCC 364/2018, July 2019): trafficking in dangerous drugs, dealing in the proceeds of an indictable offence, jury trial (CFI)
- Re Kim Dotcom [2019] 3 HKLRD 1: forfeiture orders, threatened breach of the Hong Kong Bills of Rights, United States fugitive disentitlement doctrine (CFI)
- Re Kim Dotcom [2014] HKCU 2396, [2016] HKCU 61; [2017] HKCU 2170: criminal copyright, money laundering; Mega movie – sharing business on the internet; freezing orders (CFI)
- Re Rafat Ali Rizvi & Ors [2014] HKCU 280: corruption, fraud, money laundering; collapse of Bank Century; registration of external confiscation order over Hong Kong property (CFI)
- Ortmann v Secretary for Justice [2015] 1 HKLRD 240: criminal copyright, money laundering; Mega movie – sharing business on the internet; appeal against order for variation of freezing order; interlocutory appeals (CA)
- Secretary for Justice v Zhenly Ye Gon & Anor [2012] 2 HKC 523: organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering; Mexican drug manufacturing and distribution plant; BOC and HSBC banking conduits; freezing order (CA)
- Cheung Kam Sing v HKSAR [2011] HKCU 2456: appeal against conviction and sentence by a Hong Kong certified public accountant for dealing in the proceeds of foreign crime (CA)
Administrative and Public International Law
Extradition
- Ramanjit Singh v Commissioner of Correctional Services & Anor [2023] HKCFI 1983: application for habeas corpus alleging prejudice on account of applicant’s Sikh religion and political support for an independent state of Khalistan denied (CFI)
- Government of Republic of India v Ramanjit Singh alias Romi [2021] HKCA 865: treaty interpretation and the Fugitive Offenders (India) Order (CA)
- Government of Republic of India v Ramanjit Singh alias Romi [2021] 1 HKLRD A2: case-stated appeal, offence of escape from lawful custody, treaty interpretation and the Fugitive Offenders (India) Order (CFI)
- Re Ramanjit Singh (2019 Eastern Magistracy): firearms, escape from prison, Sikh activist affiliated with the Khalistan Movement, risk of torture and prejudice on account of religion or political opinion, committal proceedings
- Ho Man Kong v Superintendent of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (2014) 17 (HKCFAR) 179: drug trafficking; habeas corpus, admission of foreign telephone intercept evidence; fundamental rights; led by Anderson Chow S.C. (CFA)
- Chan Hok Shek v Superintendent Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre [2010] 3 HKC 94: arms trafficking, smuggling, money laundering; habeas corpus; non – availability of witnesses for trial; duty of candour (CFI)
- Re Kenneth John Freeman (2007 Eastern Magistracy): rape, child pornography; America’s Most Wanted; committal proceedings
- Re Wong Sui Ching (2007 Eastern Magistracy): murder; contract killing of pregnant victim, hitman travelling to Northern Ireland; committal proceedings
- Huang Yuan Yuan Ian v Superintendent of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (2006) 9 HKCFAR 860: forgery, theft; habeas corpus; authentication of foreign supporting evidence (CFA)
- See Cherk Ching v Superintendent of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre [2005] 3 HKC 559: drug trafficking, firearms, forgery; habeas corpus; admissibility of witness evidence not made under oath or affirmation (CFI)
- Re Shah, Afridi, and Ali (2002 Eastern Magistracy): supply of weapons to terrorists; purchase of anti – aircraft missiles for Al Qaida in exchange for drugs; committal proceedings
- Chen Chui Ping v Superintendent Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre [2000] 3 HKC 777; Chen Chui Ping v Chief Executive of the HKSAR [2002] HKCU 1076: migrant smuggling, hostage – taking; ‘Sister Ping’ alien smuggling operation China to the United States; habeas corpus / judicial review; lapse of time for prosecution of the offences under foreign law (CA)
- Chong Bing Keung, Peter v Government of United States of America (No 2) [2000] 2 HKC 137: murder, dangerous drugs, arson, criminal intimidation; habeas corpus; adjudication by domestic courts of treaty obligations between HKSAR and a foreign country (CA)
- Alfred Gomez Tiongco v Government of the Republic of the Philippines [1998] 2 HKLRD 282: drug trafficking, firearms; habeas corpus; test for relevant offence (CFI)
- Chen Chong Gui v Senior Superintendent of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre [1998] 1 HKC 522: migrant smuggling, hostage – taking; habeas corpus; plea in bar of autrefois convict (CA)
Mutual Assistance / Search Warrants
- Chan Mei Yiu Paddy v Secretary for Justice [2013] HKCU 1554, 1884: fraud, corruption, money laundering; Silvio Berlusconi; judicial review of a direction to send material obtained under search warrant to a foreign jurisdiction (CA), (CFA)
- Chan Mei Yiu Paddy v Secretary for Justice [2012] 4 HKC 341: fraud, corruption, money laundering; Silvio Berlusconi; judicial review of a search warrant executed with assistance from foreign investigators; led by Clive Grossman S.C. (CA)
- Rmbsa Corporate Services Ltd v Secretary for Justice [2008] 2 HKC 81; Rmbsa Corporate Services Ltd v Secretary for Justice (No 2) [2010] 2 HKC 331: corruption; judicial review of a search warrant over premises occupied by a foreign registered law firm; legal privilege (CA), (CFI)
- Re Anson Garments Ltd [2006] 2 HKC 246: textile smuggling fraud; China to the United States; judicial review of a search warrant in a foreign revenue context (CFI)
Wayne holds degrees from New Zealand Universities and spent periods studying in the United States and the Soviet Union.
From 1981 to 1984, he served as an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force.
Wayne began his legal career in 1987 as a commercial litigator with the New Zealand law firm Russell McVeagh and then from 1990 – 1992 he was a prosecutor with the Serious Fraud Office.
He is a Lecturer in the Department of Law teaching the subject of Transnational Criminal Law (LLM / JD Programme) at the University of Hong Kong.
