Kareena Teh

 Admission

• Hong Kong
• New Zealand
• England and Wales (non-practising)

Experience and representative matters

Government and internal investigations

• Representing a former executive of a multinational financial services company in investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption into the company’s hiring practices
• Advising a multinational investment firm in investigations into allegations of market manipulation (arising from algorithmic and high-frequency trading), corruption, tax evasion and money laundering in the context of Mainland China’s stock market crash in mid-2015
• Advising an Indian private equity fund manager in relation to potential exposure under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and U.K. Bribery Act arising from a joint venture investment
• Advising a multinational pharmaceutical company in government and internal investigations relating to its marketing activities in Mainland China and assisting on labour claims arising therefrom
• Advising a publicity traded U.S. life science corporation based in Mainland China in U.S. Securities Exchange Commission investigations into alleged securities fraud and corruption
• Advising a multinational medical devices company on the application of Hong Kong’s anti-corruption and competition laws to its sales practices
• Advising a multinational life science company on its bonus policies and their compliance with relevant anti-corruption laws, regulations and pharmaceutical / healthcare industry guidelines
• Advising a multinational life science company on possible compliance issues in Mainland China relating to clinical trials
• Advising a publicity traded U.S. printing manufacturer based in Mainland China in investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into alleged securities fraud arising from its financial statements
• Representing a leading multinational safety equipment manufacturer in internal investigation into an alleged kick-back scheme between its Hong Kong and Mainland China supplier and its U.S.-based procurement team
• Advising a publicity traded U.S. oil and gas corporation based in Mainland China in investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into alleged securities fraud and corruption relating to its mining permits
• Advising a Chinese oil and gas company on potential exposure under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act arising from alleged corruption relating to the award of exploration rights in Africa
• Advising a leading international mining group in relation to investigations in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Mongolia relating to allegations of corruption, fraud, and insider dealing, and responding to inquiries from U.S. and Canadian regulators
• Advising a major multinational trading corporation in relation to investigations in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia into possible fraud, corruption, smuggling, and money laundering issues
• Representing a multinational supplier of fresh produce in internal investigations arising out of alleged customs violations in Mainland China, evaluating risks, and advising on governance issues and internal controls
• Advising and acting for multi-national corporations, financial institutions, fund managers, and lawyers on money laundering issues: liaising with government authorities in investigations and responding to search warrants and production orders; advising on disclosure obligations and preparing suspicious transaction reports; advising on information sharing and provision of assistance by local and overseas government authorities, including under the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance; advising on, setting up and implementing policies and procedures, including internal reporting procedures
• Conducting compliance due diligence advising on risks and appropriate measures to minimize liability in cross-border transactions and investments and conducting customised compliance training for senior management, legal counsel, compliance officers, operational staff and third parties of multinational clients with operations in Asia
• Acting (on secondment) as compliance officer to a major multinational trading group, advising on compliance issues, policies and procedures

Regulatory compliance and enforcement

• Representing a substantial licensed securities brokerage firm in Securities and Futures Commission investigations relating to its compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations
• Representing a trader in connection with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority investigations into alleged manipulation of foreign exchange benchmarks and collusion among foreign exchange traders
• Advising a Hong Kong licensed corporation in a Securities and Futures Commission investigation in relation to its algorithmic and high speed trading
• Advising publicly traded U.S. corporations in a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into alleged securities fraud and corruption
• Representing a former director of a Hong Kong-listed company in a Securities and Futures Commission investigation into alleged breaches of disclosure requirements, provision of false and misleading information, and insider dealing
• Representing the former director and CFO of a Hong Kong-listed company in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange investigation into alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and the listing rules
• Advising a Hong Kong corporation on disclosure of litigation risks in relation to a Hong Kong initial public offering
• Advising and acting for multi-national corporations, financial institutions, fund managers, and lawyers on cybersecurity and data privacy issues: advising on, setting up and implementing policies and procedures, including for third party engagements and outsourcing arrangements, monitoring and assessing risks, remediating issues and managing collection, processing and transfer of data in internal and government investigations
• Advising a UAE banking group in regulatory mapping of Hong Kong data protection laws against the GDPR
• Advising a multinational banking group on personal data privacy, banking secrecy and labour law issues
• Advising a multinational telecommunications equipment company in relation to compliance with cybersecurity related regulations and data privacy related laws and regulations.
• Advising a global online foreign exchange service provider on money service operator compliance issues, client identity verification issues and other issues under the Electronic Transactions Ordinance
• Advising a U.S.-based global provider of online trading services in relation to client account opening requirements in Hong Kong
• Advising U.S.-based global investment management firm on personal data protection and policies relating to its BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) program
• Advising a Fortune-100 financial services organisation on personal data protection and direct marketing laws and regulations relating to its global CRM system
• Advising a multinational commodities trading company on cross-border arbitrage trading, cybersecurity, data privacy and VPN licensing in the Mainland China
• Advising an international fund management company relating to cross-border data transfer of data residing in Mainland China
• Advising a Japanese telecommunications operator group on cloud service licensing, data protection and telecommunications licensing in Hong Kong
• Advising a multinational online auction platform on its personal data protection policies and its online auctions consignment agreement
• Advising a multinational publishing and education company on data privacy and security relating to the administration of its stock option plan

Complex commercial litigation / arbitration

• Representing a Hong Kong recycling company in defending claims in Hong Kong High Court proceedings arising from a restructuring of inter-company debts, which involved alleged unpaid shareholder loans, the validity of assignments of receivables and debts and set-offs, and contribution claims under a letter of indemnity
• Representing a Hong Kong listed metal recycling and environmental protection company in Hong Kong High Court proceedings regarding convertible bonds
• Representing a Hong Kong listed company in relation to a dispute arising out of a financing intermediary agreement regarding the legality and enforceability of the agreement
• Representing a renowned electronics multinational in Hong Kong and Mainland China proceedings regarding the ownership of important trademark registrations in Mainland China
• Representing a high net worth individual in various Hong Kong proceedings in connection with interests in substantial holdings of land in Mainland China, seeking specific performance and damages against third parties who knowingly assisted and/or received the claimed interests
• Advising a private equity fund in connection with claims against the former management of an investee company in Mainland China
• Advising a European alternative investment manager in relation to potential claims against the listed company, its directors and the IPO sponsors relating to alleged false or misleading statements in the IPO prospectus, and in complaints to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission
• Representing a leading multinational corporation in the automotive industry in resisting an inquiry into damages arising from the discharge of freezing orders, defending allegations of fraud and bribery
• Advising US and Hong Kong based brokerage firms in connection with claims against defaulting margin shortfall clients in Mainland China
• Advising a multinational company in relation to a global fraud involving the financing of shipments of metal products by multinational shipping companies; filing a complaint and liaising with governmental authorities; obtaining asset freezing orders and disclosure orders in support of LCIA arbitrations and U.S. court proceedings, tracing assets and pursuing recovery actions in Hong Kong; advising client on numerous disputes with multinational shipping companies, freight forwarders and shippers over title to the metal products and liability for costs and expenses associated with the shipping and storage of the metal products
• Representing a Mainland China-based U.S.-listed online game operator in HKIAC arbitrations arising from a joint venture agreement for the development and publication of online games
• Representing a consortium of investors in an HKIAC arbitration arising from a dispute with a South Korean listed company concerning the acquisition of an online business
• Representing a professional in an arbitration relating to rights and entitlements under a partnership agreement following its termination
• Representing a global technology leader and supplier to rail, mining and energy industries in enforcing a substantial HKIAC arbitral award against a BVI holding company, its subsidiaries and their officers in various jurisdictions; successfully setting aside fraudulent transactions in Hong Kong and obtaining an order and warrant for committal for contempt, damages and indemnity costs; recognising the award in Mainland China and pursuing enforcement and civil proceedings in respect of the fraudulent transactions, running novel claims based on alter-ego arguments
• Representing a U.S. based investment fund in proceedings in the U.S., Hong Kong and Singapore to enforce a judgment against a multi-national manufacturing conglomerate
• Representing the founding shareholder in a major Hong Kong corporate group valued at tens of billions of dollars in numerous commercial litigation, including an unfair prejudice petition concerning the control and management of a principal holding company within the group, a commercial action concerning the repayment of loans from the group treasury company which would have necessitated the unwinding of the group’s financial system, a writ action concerning the ownership of controlling shares in a substantial subsidiary, and a winding up petition on just and equitable grounds; successfully resisting the appointment of receivers and managers
• Representing minority shareholders of a BVI incorporated SPV involved in a joint venture to construct and operate an expressway in unfair prejudice claims against the majority shareholder for exclusion from management, excessive directors’ remuneration and breach of dividend policies
• Representing former directors of Japanese and Hong Kong privately held companies in successfully defending claims for misappropriation of company assets and corporate opportunities
• Representing a Hong Kong listed company (and its officers) acting as a white knight concerning allegations of breach of fiduciary duties in relation to the management of the affairs of the Hong Kong listed restructuring target resulting ultimately in Hong Kong’s largest insolvency (at that time) of a reputed deficit
• Representing various investment and asset management companies in defending an action brought by liquidators concerning the reorganisation of a corporate group with allegations that directors have breached their fiduciary duties, participated in self-dealing transactions and misappropriation corporate assets
• Advising offshore convertible bond holders on cross border recovery actions in the context of a Mainland China court led reorganization
• Acting for beneficiaries of trusts in claims for breach of trust in one of New Zealand’s most significant trusts disputes; these claims included access to trust documents, removal of trustees and settling aside resettlements
• Representing indemnifiers of a merchant bank in one of New Zealand’s longest-running and most significant corporate disputes relating to the provision of financial assistance in the purchase of shares in a listed company
• Advising a multinational company in claims against insurers for loss arising from a global fraud involving the financing of shipments of metal products by multinational shipping companies
• Representing solicitors, who are insured persons under professional negligence insurance policies, against claims for breach of fiduciary duties / professional negligence
• Representing an individual in a claim for indemnification under a policy for general insurance which was declined on the grounds of arson
• Representing insurers in defending claims for indemnification under policies for general insurance and policies for motor vehicle insurance

Includes matters handled prior to joining LC Lawyers LLP