• WYSL v FHCBA and Ors [2019] HKEC 2379 – a case involving a trust set up by the patriarch and about the wife’s needs went to the Court of Appeal and Rita helped the wife to successfully secure a higher lump sum award.
• W v H and Anor [2009] HKFLR 230 – a case involving a set aside order against a trust created by the Husband after he left the family. This particular case is one of the leading Hong Kong cases on the consideration of special contribution by a spouse. This is a pre DD v LKW case but the principle of equal sharing of family assets was explored.
• HJFG v KCY [2012] 1 HKLRD 95 – an extremely complicated and contentious divorce with substantial amount of assets, involving a sizeable fund and a trust. The litigation took place in Hong Kong and Cayman Islands and involved heavy negotiation with a third party for a final resolution. Rita had collaborated with legal experts in Hong Kong, UK and Cayman Islands and reputable accountants both in Hong Kong and UK to go through the legal battle for 9 years – one of the longest family litigations. This case remains the leading case on Maintenance Pending Suit in Hong Kong and is the highest interim maintenance award to date. This case also involved an extensive financial discovery against the Husband which later led to a set aside application for a Consent Order due to the Husband’s material non-disclosure.

• AWK v MLTH [2016] – Rita successfully defended the Husband’s position on the Wife’s unreasonable request for financial disclosure.

She helps not only the couples who are in family dispute, she also advises their family members who are unfortunately caught up in the dispute as a result of their financial supports to one of the spouses during the marriage. She is not afraid of joining third parties in dispute if it helps to pursue her client’s case.

• CWCC v YKOP (Maintenance Pending Suit and third parties) [2018] HKFLR 320 – an application for Maintenance Pending Suit which involved third party financial assistance.
• DX v LN & Ors (Anti suit injunction) [2015] HKFLR 525 – Rita acted for the husband’s father, the patriarch from a well-known PRC family, in respect of assets held in Hong Kong and the PRC, and successfully helped him to protect the family assets.

After the case of ML v YJ, Rita’s knowledge about jurisdictional issue is unparalleled​, particularly those involving the PRC:

• CL v ZRC (Jurisdiction; forum non-conveniens) [2015] HKFLR 125 – the husband was found to have a substantial connection with Hong Kong but the PRC was the more appropriate forum for the divorce. The divorce was concluded in the PRC, and the wife invoked the Part IIA application (the change after ML v YL) in Hong Kong after the PRC divorce.
• LN v SCCM [2013] HKFLR 358 – a controversial children removal case before the Court of Appeal involving the conflict of laws between Hong Kong and Singapore, which essentially prompted the judiciary to instigate the system of direct judicial communications which can now be found in Practice Direction SL7.
• CWYJ v LTYE (Prohibition Orders) [2020] HKCA 913 – Recently, Rita was in the Court of Appeal representing a husband who had moved to Singapore for work and was at the receiving end of a Prohibition Order from the lower court. She succeeded in lifting the order on the basis which violated his right to work and his right to movement and travel which was protected under Article 31 of the Basic Law.

Contentious Trust and Probate and Mental Health

Rita also has experience to deal with disputes concerning the wider family. These include issuing an application under Mental Health Ordinance for a well known philanthropist in Hong Kong. She helped an illegitimate minor to secure his rights over his father’s estate. She also issued Probate Proceedings to contest a Grant of Probate issued in favour of a Will.

Harassment and Intimidation

• X and another v Z [2020] HKCFI 826 – Rita has successfully helped a client to issue an injunction for non-molestation against her ex-boyfriend for continuing harassment and intimidation.