Ian is a partner and head of our highly awarded Restructuring and Insolvency practice. He is recognised as a leading lawyer in major legal publications including Chambers Asia Pacific, Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Who’s Who Legal for decades. An experienced litigator, Ian advises officeholders, shareholders, large multinationals, high net worth individuals and listed companies on insolvency and litigation matters. He was selected by Asian Legal Business as one of the Top 50 Disputes Lawyers in the Asia-Pacific region. Ian and his team have been involved in most of the major restructurings and insolvencies in the region over the past few decades. Additionally, Ian advises on a wide range of commercial and contractual disputes, partnership and shareholder disputes, high value fraud matters involving debt recovery, asset tracing and the enforcement of judgments and pre-emptive actions.
Ian has been a member of the International Insolvency Institute for several years (and is a board member), sits on the Insolvency Committee for the Law Society, the Technical and Editorial Committee of the Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Official Receiver’s Office Services Advisory Committee, and is a director of the Company and Insolvency Law Society (COINS). Ian is also an accredited mediator of HKMAAL and Vice Chair, Restructuring and Workouts Subcommittee of the IBA.
Ian De Witt was born in Wales and obtained an honours degree in law in London. After qualifying as a solicitor in England & Wales, he joined and became a partner in a prominent London law firm where he worked for many years before coming to Hong Kong in 1996. Ian co-founded Tanner De Witt in 1999 with just one member of staff.
And he likes old British cars as well.
Chambers and Partners 2023 quotes clients of Ian saying, ‘He is commercial, approachable and a fountain of knowledge in Hong Kong law and procedure.’ Further, ‘Ian is an excellent problem solver.’ Who’s Who Legal recognises Ian as a Thought Leader in Asset Recovery (GIR) 2022 and remarks: ‘Ian De Witt is a star of the Hong Kong market. He is well versed in advising multi-nationals, shareholders and high-net worth individuals on a range of asset recovery, restructuring and insolvency issues.’ Additionally, ‘Ian De Witt earns recognition from market commentators as a deeply experienced practitioner who regularly acts for liquidators, receivers, creditors and financial institutions.’ Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 notes: Ian De Witt is widely respected as a market leader with ‘a really good reputation’ for complex insolvency matters. Asia Pacific Legal 500 2021 notes: Ian is one of the ‘top practitioners in insolvency and restructuring’, ‘user-friendly and cost-conscious’ and ‘easy to work with and very strategic.’ Ian is listed in the Hall of Fame of Restructuring and Insolvency lawyers in Hong Kong.
