Christina Ma

Recognised by Asian Legal Business as ALB Rising Stars Hong Kong 2023.

Recognised by Doyle’s Guide as Hong Kong Criminal Law Rising Star 2023.

Notable Cases:

• Criminal Defence
  • Assisted in a criminal appeal case at the Court of Appeal and the Court of Final Appeal concerning jurisdiction issue as to when an offer of bribery is made.
  • Assisted in a criminal appeal case at the Court of Appeal and the Court of Final Appeal concerning the meaning of “connected persons” and “connected transactions” under the Listing Rules of SEHK, followed by its two retrials at the Court of First Instance (60 days trial which involved numerous pre-trial arguments, stay application, discharge of jury application and costs application).
  • Defended 2 directors against allegations of utilising complex group structure to defraud several leading banks in Hong Kong and obtaining over HKD400 million trade loans in a 55 days High Court jury trial and its appeal at the Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal.
  • Successfully defended a client in a 70 days District Court money laundering trial, involving taking evidence from Chinese witnesses in the People’s Court of Shenzhen under a Letter of Request to the mainland Chinese authorities. The case also involved issues of extradition and abuse of process elements which various exclusion of evidence and stay application have been made.
  • Successfully defended two clients in a 86 days District Court trial involving 2 public doctors who were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Misconduct in Public Office.
  • Defended clients in a 37 days District Court trial who were alleged of money laundering over HKD1 billion. The case involved the usage of money exchangers and frequent transactions with the mainland.
  • Successfully defended a client in a 19 days District Court conspiracy to defraud trial, involving over HKD3 million trade loans.
  • Successfully defended a client in a highly contested 15-day trial in the District Court concerning one count of Conspiracy to Defraud and 3 counts of Money Laundering. The case involved the calling of two immunised prosecution witnesses and rebuttal evidence. 
  • Defended a client who is a member of the Medical Council and was alleged of Misconduct in Public Office. 
  • Various experiences in assisting in magistracy trials and mitigations, as well as applications for the admission of overseas counsel.
  • Various experiences in dealing with disclosure obligation under restraint order as well as making applications for variation of restraint orders.
• Regulatory & Competition Law
  • Preparing submissions to SEHK for disciplinary proceedings of a number of Hong Kong listed companies’ chairmen.
  • Replying to SFC production notices in relation to a Hong Kong listed company
  • Advising various Hong Kong listed companies’ chairmen, directors and non-executive directors for the attendance of SFC interviews.
  • Advising an international chain in the implications of the First Conduct Rule under the Competition Ordinance.
  • Advising corporate clients in case of dawn raids and office searches by SFC, Competition Commission, ICAC and/or the Police. 
  • Representing senior executives in Competition Commission investigations, including replying to Production Notices, attending investigation interviews and applications for leniency.

Publications:

• Mondaq “Hong Kong: Competition Litigation Comparative Guide”
• Five Major Trends in Competition Law – A Year in Review: 2020/2021
• Haldanes’ Practical Guide 2021 to Competition Commission investigations
• “Cartels and Leniency Review”– published by the Law Reviews, United Kingdom
• Doing Business in Hong Kong Guide 2014 – 2023 – published by LexisNexis, United Kingdom
• Money Laundering laws in Hong Kong: The latest interpretation