James Tennison

Counsel

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James Tennison is a Counsel in Conyers’ Dispute Resolution and Restructuring practice in Hong Kong.

James’ practice focuses on APAC-nexus dispute resolution across Bermuda, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. He has represented a range of companies, trustees, funds, investors, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals in complex cross-border matters such as:

Commercial disputes
Private wealth disputes, including trust litigation
Corporate disputes, including those concerning shareholders and other stakeholders, M&A, valuation, and joint ventures
Unfair prejudice claims, winding-up petitions and derivative claims
Enforcement, fraud and asset tracing
Crypto, web3 and digital assets
Insolvency and restructuring

His recent experience includes advising certain trustees in what is believed to be one of the largest private claims anywhere in the world, involving multiple proceedings in Bermuda, Hong Kong and the United States (and appeals before the Privy Council).

He also has extensive experience of mediation and arbitration proceedings subject to various institutional rules (including HKIAC, SIAC, CIETAC, ICC, LCIA and UNCITRAL), as well as enforcement proceedings. He was named by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific in its inaugural Arbitration Powerlist for Hong Kong.

James is recognised by the market as a “very meticulous” and “exceptionally talented lawyer”. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific has described James as a “star of the future” and noted his “solid reputation” advising on international and offshore litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has also been consistently listed as a “key lawyer” by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific in its litigation and international arbitration categories.

Prior to joining Conyers, James was Counsel in the International Litigation and Arbitration group at Skadden in Hong Kong, advising on commercial litigation, international arbitration and investigations. Offshore-nexus litigation and arbitration was a particular focus of his practice at Skadden.

Experience

Prior to joining Conyers, James:

Offshore and Cross-Border Litigation and Restructuring

Acted for five professional trustee companies in Winston Wong v Grand View PTC & others before the Bermuda Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, believed to be one of the largest private claims anywhere in the world and the largest claim ever in Bermuda, concerning trusts with assets of approximately US$20 billion. The case raised complex issues under the laws of Bermuda, the BVI and Taiwan, including statutory interpretation, the reception of laws, conflicts of law, mistake, mental capacity, undue influence, lack of authority and forgery. The case considers, among other issues, the operation of the non-charitable purpose trust regime in Bermuda and whether the English Statute of Frauds 1677 is a part of the law of the BVI.
Acted for the Company in Re E-House (China) Enterprise Holdings Limited in connection with parallel debt-to-equity creditors’ schemes of arrangement before the Cayman Grand Court and Hong Kong High Court. The schemes gave rise to novel and complex sanctions issues.
Acted for five professional trustee companies in Walter Wang v Grand View PTC & others before the Bermuda Supreme Court. The case is concerned with the removal of the trustees in question, as well as the future governance and administration of trusts holding assets of approximately US$20 billion.
Acted for a private trust company in Re Global Resource Trust before the Bermuda Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council. The case concerned the validity of the appointment of a new beneficiary and the distribution to that beneficiary of assets worth approximately US$500 million.
Advised a sovereign wealth fund in a just and equitable winding-up petition in the Cayman Islands and a related multimillion-dollar HKIAC arbitration, both arising from the imposition of US sanctions.
Acted for various companies and individuals in Wong v Hua Yang Investment (HK) Ltd & Ors before the Hong Kong High Court concerning the transfer of assets worth approximately US$300 million, involving a post-death transfer, lack of authority, breach of trust and breach of fiduciary duty.

Arbitration and Mediation

Acted for one of the world’s largest online travel companies and a mainland China-based private equity firm in expedited HKIAC arbitration proceedings and related Hong Kong court proceedings, successfully preventing the privatisation of a Nasdaq-listed US$1 billion company.
Acted for a US manufacturing group in a multimillion-dollar ICC arbitration seated in New York concerning alleged fraudulent inducement and breach of contract in the context of an M&A transaction.
Acted for a Korean technology company in a multimillion-dollar HKIAC arbitration relating to a post-M&A exit dispute following the failure to complete a share purchase agreement.
Acted for a US-listed hotel and casino developer in mediation and multiple ICC arbitrations relating to the defective construction and operation of two properties in APAC valued at several billion US dollars.
Acted for a PRC venture capital fund in emergency and substantive CIETAC Hong Kong arbitration proceedings relating to its licence to operate a high-profile global brand and related trademarks in mainland China.
Acted for a Philippine conglomerate in two potential SIAC arbitrations and related Philippine court proceedings concerning joint venture energy infrastructure projects.
Acted for a high-net-worth individual in a mediation achieving a global resolution in respect of personal assets located around the world that were the subject of court proceedings in England and Wales.

Expertise

Qualifications

Professional Background

Counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Hong Kong
Asia Pacific Counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Hong Kong
Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Hong Kong
Litigation Secondee, J.P. Morgan, Hong Kong
Trainee Solicitor, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Hong Kong

Education

BPP University, Legal Practice Course, 2016
University of Cambridge Judge Business School, Management Studies, 2015
University of Cambridge, Trinity College, M.A. (Cantab) Law, 2015

Bar Admissions

Hong Kong, Registered Foreign Lawyer, 2018 (not currently practicing)
England and Wales, Solicitor, 2018 (not currently practicing)

Awards & Accolades

Recognised as a “star of the future” by Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2021 and 2025
Named in the inaugural Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist: Hong Kong in 2024
Recognised as a “Key Lawyer” by Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2023 and 2024 (Litigation in China: Foreign Firms)
Recognised as a “Key Lawyer” by Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2021 – 2025 (International Arbitration in Hong Kong)
Recognised as a “Key Lawyer” by Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2021 – 2025 (Litigation in Hong Kong)