“The submissions she produces on her own are well researched and thoughtful, and they add value, which a lot of junior counsel don’t necessarily do.”
“She’s really familiar with the law and potential constitutional arguments.”
“She’s very articulate and is good at attention to detail. She gives us comprehensive advice that is very practical. I think she’s a good advocate.”
Chambers and Partners Greater China Region 2026
Administrative & Public Law: The Bar，Family/Matrimonial: The Bar

“her research and written work are first class, and on her feet, she’s careful and clear”
“She is able to cut through complex problems with measured and creative solutions”
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2026: Administrative and Public Law – Tier 1 Leading Junior

“Isabel’s exceptional expertise in matrimonial finance law is matched by her strategic acumen. Her courtroom presence is both commanding and composed”
“a formidable advocate in both litigation and advisory contexts”
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2026: Family and Private Client – Leading Junior

“strong in analysis and research”
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025: Administrative and Public Law – Leading Junior

Isabel Tam graduated with a first class LLB and with distinction in her LLM. She was awarded the Bar Scholarship in 2012. Her practice has an emphasis on public law and complex family law (and is recognised as Leading Junior in Legal 500 in both areas), as well as commercial matters.

She has appeared in all levels of court including the Magistrates’ Courts and the Court of Final Appeal.

Recent highlights of Isabel’s experience include: K v The Secretary for Justice [2025] 6 HKC 466 on the constitutionality of the authorities’ birth registration system for parentage in the context of same-sex couples; NH v TCAB [2024] 6 HKC 765 on the treatment of the principle of res judicata in administrative decision-making; NF v R [2023] 5 HKLRD 58, a breakthrough for same-sex parents, granting a declaration of “parentage at common law” in the context of parents in a same-sex relationship; and AA v BB [2021] 2 HKLRD 1225, which has been hailed as a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community, granting rights to a separated same-sex couple who had co-parented children during their relationship.

Isabel (led by Mr Denis Chang SC) represented the successful appellants (company directors charged with additional tax) before the Court of Appeal in Koo Ming Kown & Anor v The Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] 3 HKLRD 642. This is Hong Kong’s first ever case to deal with the third party’s liability for additional tax by reason of “incorrectness” in the company’s return.

She also has an MA in competition law with distinction in the examination component, and was seconded to the Competition Commission.

Isabel’s experience also includes:

Administrative and Public Law 

Judicial reviews and hearings relating to family arrangements concerning same-sex couples, the Small House Policy, the “Co-location Arrangement”, the 3rd airport runway, immigration decisions, disciplinary decisions, administrative tribunals.

Family Law

Family matters involving dissolution of same-sex relationships, children matters, ancillary relief, anti-suit injunction, harassment-related proceedings.

Regulatory and Tax Matters

In regulatory matters: representing the SFC in disciplinary proceedings and in trial, advising on competition law, advising on listing rules, representing respondent and complainant in professional misconduct cases, and more. In tax matters: advising on tax treatment of profit share incentive in the employment context, advising on stamp duty liability in property transactions, representing the successful appellant against the Inland Revenue Department in appeals regarding director’s liability for additional tax.

Land Law

Trials on adverse possession, trust claims over property, disputes over common parts, conveyancing disputes, unauthorized building works.

International Work

Her legal experience outside Hong Kong includes working on a state-to-state international arbitration, researching at the International Environmental Law Research Centre in Kenya and a summer judicial clerkship at U.S. federal court.

Pro Bono Work

She regularly undertakes pro bono work, including advising non-profit organizations and acting for litigants on a pro bono basis. She is also interested in environmental law, and has advised and published on the ivory trade and trade in endangered species.

• Barrister (Hong Kong) (2013)

• LLB (First class), University College London (2010)
• LLM (Distinction), Georgetown University (2011)
• PCLL, University of Hong Kong (2012)
• MA in EU Competition Law, King’s College London (2017)

• Bar Scholarship (2012)
• Charles Ching Memorial Scholarship (2012)
• Dean’s List (2011)
• Georgetown Global Teaching Fellowship (2011)
• Georgetown Law Center best paper in international criminal law (2011)
• International Bar Association Asian Regional Forum Scholarship (2014)
• Inter-Pacific Bar Association Scholarship (2017)

• Vice-chair (2019 – 2020), Standing Committee on Young Barristers, Hong Kong Bar Association
• Member (2022 – present), Committee on Constitutional Affairs & Human Rights
• Member (2018 – present), Standing Committee on Equality and Diversity, Hong Kong Bar Association
• Member (2020 – present), Standing Committee on International Practice, Hong Kong Bar Association
• Part-time Lecturer, School of Law, City University of Hong Kong (Academic Years of 2018/19, 2019/20; 2023/24)
• Part-time Judicial Associate (General) in the Judiciary (2021, 2022 & 2023)

• Hong Kong Civil Procedure (2015 – present), contributing editor
• Bullen & Leake & Jacob’s Hong Kong Precedents of Pleadings (2nd ed) (contributor, chapter on Competition Law)
• Halsbury’s Laws of Hong Kong (volume on Judicial Review), contributing author
• Hong Kong Construction Law (Issue 39), contributor
• Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, Cap 499 (Annotated Ordinances of Hong Kong) (2017), author
• Protection of Endangered Animals and Plants Ordinance, Cap 586 (Annotated Ordinances of Hong Kong) (2019), co-author
• Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap 132 (Annotated Ordinances of Hong Kong) (2019), co-author
• Water Pollution Control Ordinance, Cap 358 (Annotated Ordinances of Hong Kong) (2019), author
• The Trade In Live Reef Food Fish-Going, Going Gone (2017), co-author

Administrative and Public Law

K v The Secretary for Justice [2025] 6 HKC 466 on the constitutionality of the authorities’ birth registration system for parentage in the context of same-sex couples.

NH v TCAB  [2024] 6 HKC 765
Treatment of principle of res judicata in administrative decision-making.

NF v R [2023] 5 HKLRD 58
Grant of declaration of “parentage at common law” in the context of parents in a same-sex relationship.

Mutebi Roy Doreen v Torture Claim Appeal Board & Ors [2022] HKCA 294
Asylum seeker claiming affected by practice of “widow inheritance” (a form of forced marriage).  Appeal allowed, reversing refusal of leave to bring judicial review proceedings.

Kwok Cheuk Kin & Anor v Director of Lands & Ors (2021) 24 HKCFAR 349
Judicial review of the constitutionality of the Small House Policy.

Kwok Cheuk Kin & Anor v Director of Lands & Ors (2021) 24 HKCFAR 220
Whether allow waiver of security for costs (sought in the total amount of $ 4.8 million) of appeal to the Court of Final Appeal.

Kwok Cheuk Kin & Anor v Director of Lands & Ors [2021] 3 HKLRD 411
Whether Public Interest Litigation exception may be relied upon by an applicant against a non-government entity.

Chan Tsui Yan v Social Workers Registration Board & Ors [2019] HKCA 279
Representing the Social Workers Registration Board in a judicial review.

Kwok Cheuk Kin v Secretary for Justice [2021] 3 HKLRD 591
Application of the Public Interest Litigation exception where there are multiple proceedings at the appellate level.

Javid Kamran v Director of Immigration [2021] HKCFI 747
Representing Director of Immigration in judicial review on the meaning of “ordinarily resided”, and the effect of suspensions of deportation order.

Kwok Cheuk Kin v Secretary for Justice [2021] 3 HKLRD 140
Judicial review of the “Co-location Arrangement” of the high speed rail at the West Kowloon Station.

Family Law

K v The Secretary for Justice [2025] 6 HKC 466 on the constitutionality of the authorities’ birth registration system for parentage in the context of same-sex couples.

HMC v CWY [2024] 5 HKC  617
Applications for variation: (i) jurisdictional scope of the court under Cap 192 in relation to variation sought for agreement embodied in Consent Summons; and (ii) where variation is sought in respect of a court order, whether the Court, in considering change of circumstances, can take into account circumstances prior to the order sought to be varied.

Secretary for Justice (in his capacity as the Central Authority designated under the Child Abduction and Custody Ordinance, Cap. 512) v. C & Anor [2024] 5 HKLRD 658
Interpretation of factor of “grave risk of an intolerable situation” where a parent with child-caring duties may be unable to permanently reside in the country to which the child is to be returned to; and treatment of the child’s objection exception.

NF v R [2023] 5 HKLRD 58
A breakthrough for same-sex parents, obtained a declaration of “parent at common law” to a partner in a same-sex relationship.

AA v BB [2021] 2 HKLRD 1225
Grant of guardianship and joint custody to same-sex couple.

LWK v ZQJ [2018] HKFC 117
Anti-suit injunction and application of a forum challenge; impact of filing of a form indicating no intention to defend petition on the question of submission to forum.

Tax Law

Koo Ming Kown & Anor v The Commissioner of Inland Revenue [2021] 3 HKLRD 642
Appeal against decisions of the Inland Revenue Board of Review, successfully challenging a director’s liability to pay additional tax based on an incorrect tax return of the company.