Adela M. Mao

International Arbitration
Corporate / Equity Investment

• Acted in a dispute arising from a share buy-back agreement with a claim of over RMB30m under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English

• Acted for a leading Nasdaq-listed Internet company in a dispute arising from a share subscription agreement for a claim worth US$30m under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (2013) with proceedings conducted in Chinese (Mandarin)

• Acted for a state-owned private equity fund in a dispute arising from a shareholder agreement for a claim of over US$20m under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in Chinese (Mandarin)

• Advised in two related arbitrations arising from an amended and restated limited partnership agreement and a subscription agreement for a claim of over US$400m under HKIAC Rules (2013) with proceedings conducted in English

Construction

• Acted for a state-owned construction consortium in a dispute involving an oversea energy project with claims and counterclaims exceeding US$120m under ICC Rules (2021) with proceedings conducted in English

• Acted for a Shenzhen-listed construction company in a dispute involving an oversea construction project with a claim of over US$64m under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English

General Commercial​

• Acted in a dispute arising from a settlement agreement with a claim of over RMB120m under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English

• Acted in a dispute arising from a financial advisor agreement under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English

• Acted in a dispute involving an exclusive financial advisor agreement against a Nasdaq-listed company under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in Chinese (Mandarin)

• Acted for a leading private equity fund in a dispute arising from a bridge loan agreement with a claim of over US$10m under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English

• Acted in a dispute arising from a real estate purchase and sale contract under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English and Chinese

• Acted in a dispute arising from a master agreement and a purchase with a claim of over US$13m under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English

• Acted in a dispute arising from a licence agreement under AAA Commercial Rules (2013) with proceedings conducted in English​​

Sale of Goods

• Acted in a dispute involving international sale of goods (asphalt) under HKIAC Rules (2018) with proceedings conducted in English

• Acted in a dispute arising from a purchase order together with social compliance guidelines in a jurisdictional challenge under HKIAC Rules (2013) with proceedings conducted in English

Court Litigation​

Arbitration-related applications​

• Acted in a setting aside application of an arbitral award on various grounds, including failure to state reason and public policy ground

• Advised in a number of matters of ex parte applications to enforce an arbitral award

Injunctive relief

• HCMP1206/2021 – acted for Applicant for an ex parte worldwide freezing injunction in aid of Hong Kong court proceedings against, inter alia, persons unknown

• HCMP 1576/2020 – acted for Applicant for an ex parte injunction in aid of arbitral proceedings

• HCMP 969/2019 – acted for Applicant for an ex parte injunction in aid of arbitral proceedings

• Advised in a number of matters of ex parte injunction applications and gagging order applications

Winding up​

• HCCW 82/2021 – acted for Petitioner

• HCCW 393/2019  – acted for Petitioner; obtained winding up order against listed company after a contested hearing

Bankruptcy

• HCB 7839 /2023 – acting for Petitioner

Companies

• HCA 471/2020 - acting for Plaintiff in an action to determine the validity of special notices / EGM notices

Enforcement of foreign / mainland judgment

• Advised in a number of matters of ex parte applications to enforce a civil judgment

White-collar crime

• CACC 172/2016 – conspiracy to defraud - led by Ms Clare Montgomery QC

Expert Evidence

• Hong Kong contract law (share purchase agreement) and company law (doctrine of reflective loss) in a multi-billion yuan dispute in arbitral proceedings at CIETAC-SH – analyzed and adopted by the tribunal

• Hong Kong contract law (deed of guarantee) in arbitral proceedings at SCIA

• Hong Kong court procedures (effect of civil judgments) in a series of related proceedings before various courts in Beijing, Guangdong and Shandong

• Hong Kong contract law (financial transaction master agreement, option contracts, and deed of guarantee) before Fujian Province Higher People's Court – analyzed and adopted by the court

• Hong Kong contract law (financial transaction master agreement, banking facilities agreement, and deed of guarantee) before Fujian Province Higher People's Court – analyzed and adopted by the court

• Hong Kong contract law (subscription agreement, deed of guarantee, share charge, and deed of assignment) before Fujian Province Quanzhou Intermediate People's Court – analyzed and adopted by the court

• Hong Kong company law (director's authority to bind the company, rules of attribution) before Guangdong Province Higher People's Court

• Hong Kong partnership law (partner's authority to bind the partnership) and civil procedures (effect of court order on third parties) before Guangdong Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court