Isabel Tam, Vivien Leung and Chris Wong delivered a CPD session titled Assets Preservation in Matrimonial Proceedings – MPPO s.17 & Mareva Injunction
Mareva at 50 – On 11 September 2025, Isabel Tam, Vivien Leung and Chris Wong delivered a CPD session titled Assets Preservation in Matrimonial Proceedings – MPPO s.17 & Mareva Injunction, the last in our thematic series on 50 years since the Mareva injunction.
Isabel, Vivien and Chris explained the various bases of injunctive reliefs under section 17 and 29AK MPPO, Mareva injunction and injunctions in aid of foreign proceedings under sections 21M and 21L of the High Court Ordinance. They provided an analysis of the differences in evidential thresholds and jurisdiction between section 17 MPPO and the Mareva injunction and explored emerging concerns such as the dissipation of digital assets, including cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, and NFTs. The seminar was rounded off with a sharing of some practical strategies for matrimonial practitioners when dealing with an injunction application.
Members of Denis Chang’s Chambers are frequently instructed to advise on and handle matrimonial proceedings including advice on injunctive reliefs.
Isabel Tam
Recognised as Leading Junior in Legal 500 (2025, Administrative and Public Law), Isabel’s practice focuses on family law, public law, and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience in general matrimonial finance and preservation of assets, as well as particular expertise in complex legal issues arising out of LGBTQ/modern families and the dissolution of families with cross-border elements. She has acted as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal, Court of First Instance, District Court, Magistrates’ Courts, and the Court of Final Appeal.
Isabel has been involved in landmark family law cases concerning modern families and LGBTQ rights in Hong Kong. Notably, she represented the non-biological parent in AA v BB [2021] 2 HKLRD 1225, securing guardianship and joint custody for a same-sex couple. She was involved in NF v R [2023] 5 HKLRD 58, a case resulting in a novel type of relief, a declaration of “parentage at common law” for a same-sex parent. Her expertise in family law is augmented by her experience in other related areas including in particular tax (Koo Ming Kown & Anor v The Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] 3 HKLRD 642 on liability for additional tax), mental incapacitated persons, and trust claims.
She is a contributor to the current editions of Hong Kong Civil Procedure and Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s Hong Kong Precedents of Pleadings.
View Isabel’s profile for more details.
Vivien Leung
Vivien was acknowledged by Chambers and Partners (2025) as a “Band Spotlight” practitioner in Family/Matrimonial Law, and was also recognised by the Legal 500 (Asia-Pacific 2025) as a “Rising Star” in Family and Private Client practice areas.
Vivien advises on all aspects of matrimonial finance and children’s matters and has particular experience in handling divorce cases with a cross-border or international element.
Find out more from Vivien’s profile.
Chris Wong
Prior to joining Chambers in 2024, Chris served as a Judicial Assistant at the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, where he assisted the judges with substantive appeals, leave applications, and other works of the Court generally. Chris was called to the Bar in 2023, upon his completion of pupillage with Mr. Tony Li SC, Mr. Eric Leung, Mr. Robin D’Souza and Mr. Simon Wong.
During his legal studies, Chris competed in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, where he received honourable mentions both as an oralist and for the written memorandums.
Chris is developing a broad civil and criminal practice. He is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. He accepts instructions in all areas of work.
View Chris’s profile for more details.
This article was first published on 12 September 2025.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice and seeks to set out the general principles of the law. Detailed advice should therefore be sought from a legal professional relating to the individual merits and facts of a particular case. The photographs which appear in this article are included for decorative purposes only and should not be taken as a depiction of any matter to which the case is related. The views and opinions expressed in this article/material are solely those of the members authoring it and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Denis Chang’s Chambers, or of any other member or members of Denis Chang’s Chambers.