The current litigation landscape for professionals in Hong Kong is relatively benign: but is this the lull before the storm?

Patrick Perry, a specialist in professional liability claims, explores the recent trends in claims against professionals in Hong Kong, and considers what the future may hold. Particular areas of concern for accountants, barristers, brokers, lawyers, surveyors, and construction professionals are considered.

Litigation Trends – High Court actions

Number of High Court Actions (HCA)

Accurate records are kept of all actions commenced in the Hong Kong High Court, which deals with claims of over HK$1 million. The graph above shows the number of claims begun by writ each year over the last 15 years. This data covers all claims, not just those against professionals, but gives an indication of the general litigation trends.

As can be seen, over the last 15 years, there has been a substantial decrease in the number of claims per year (of over 75%). Over the last 5 years, the number of claims has slowly increased, but remains well below historic levels.

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