Tom Chau is a corporate partner at Haiwen & Partners LLP, President of The Hong Kong Corporate Governance Institute and an independent non-executive director of four Hong Kong-listed companies.
As a solicitor qualified in Hong Kong and in England and Wales with more than 30 years’ experience, he specialises in capital markets and listed-company regulatory compliance, particularly investor protection, corporate forensic investigations, directors’ liability and regulatory enforcement.
His practice covers IPOs and post-IPO fundraisings, takeovers and privatisations, corporate restructurings, corporate governance, disclosure, internal controls, anti-money laundering and ESG. He advises boards on liability risk and guides clients through complex forensic and regulatory investigations. His investor protection work centres on safeguarding minority shareholders in takeovers and strengthening transparency, market integrity and accountability.
Tom joined Haiwen & Partners in 2023 after retiring as partner and Head of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer’s Beijing Office, where he had practised since 1997.
Tom is also a Fellow of CPA Australia, The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and The Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist. He sits on the Panel of Arbitrators of the Beijing Arbitration Commission/Beijing International Arbitration Court.