Dominic Geiser is Chair of the Litigation & Trial Department in Asia and a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham & Watkins.

Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience, Dominic’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration in Hong Kong and Asia, including contractual, financial, private and public company, investor, shareholder and joint venture disputes, frequently in a cross-border context and often featuring an associated regulatory or criminal angle. He has substantial experience representing clients in claims involving investment mis-selling, minority shareholder actions, breach of directors’ duties, fraud, misrepresentation, economic torts, as well as in cases requiring urgent injunctive or other interim relief. In addition, he advises on loan and security enforcement matters, liquidation and winding-up proceedings. 

Dominic has particular expertise advising financial institutions, private equity and venture capital firms, major corporates and high-net worth individuals throughout Asia, Europe and the USA, as well as clients in the fintech, technology, media, telecommunications and consumer sectors. He has acted in some of the most high-profile and landmark cases in the Hong Kong Court over recent years.

Dominic is widely acknowledged by legal directories as one of the leading litigators in Asia. Recent recognition includes being awarded Young Lawyer of the Year at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Hong Kong Law Awards in 2018, featuring in ALB’s “Asia’s 40 Under 40” list of the most accomplished young lawyers in 2018, and in ALB’s inaugural list of “Asia’s Top 15 Litigators” in 2021.

Among his other professional commitments, Dominic is a panel member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, a member of the Civil Litigation Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong, and a Contributing Editor of Hong Kong Civil Procedure published by Sweet & Maxwell.

Dominic is qualified to practice Hong Kong and English law, and is a Solicitor Advocate in Hong Kong.

Dominic’s experience includes advising:

Private Equity Disputes

  • A Cayman fund vehicle in multiple HKIAC arbitration proceedings involving disputes over related investment and loan agreements
  • A major Asian private equity firm in a joint venture dispute involving a Chinese listed pharmaceutical company
  • A leading North Asian private equity fund in a post-M&A dispute against a Hong Kong listed property developer
  • A major Asian private equity firm in arbitral, injunctive, and other strategic actions in Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, and the BVI in connection with a dispute arising out of a pre-IPO share purchase agreement worth over US$500 million*
  • A China-focused private equity firm in relation to pre-dispute and strategic advice on a shareholder dispute and share redemption process arising out of the portfolio company’s failure to enter a qualified IPO*

Banking, Financial Services, and Cryptocurrency Disputes

  • A leading cryptocurrency exchange in various strategic matters and Hong Kong litigation proceedings commenced by third party investors*
  • The founder of a leading cryptocurrency exchange in Hong Kong litigation and related arbitration proceedings commenced by a US venture capital firm*
  • Credit Suisse in defending litigation proceedings commenced by a former customer concerning an unauthorised trade*
  • UBS in Hong Kong civil and related criminal proceedings in relation to assets misappropriated by a former employee*
  • Standard Chartered Bank in defending claims of mis-selling and alleged failings in due diligence conducted on a hedge fund investment which later transpired to be a feeder fund for the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme - the first Madoff-related case to reach trial anywhere in the world*
  • CLSA in litigation proceedings against the former CEO of its regional forex business comprising various claims of breach of fiduciary duty, and involving an application for urgent injunctive relief to preserve relevant financial data*
  • A leading Swiss private bank on an internal investigation regarding a corporate account allegedly linked to the 1MDB fraud*

Shareholder and Joint Venture Disputes

  • eHi Car Services, a major Chinese car rental services provider listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and Enterprise Holdings, Inc in a significant shareholder dispute arising from competing take-private bids, involving injunctive, arbitral, and related court proceedings in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands*
  • New Cotai, Silver Point Capital, and Oaktree Capital Management in a complex dispute between the shareholders in a BVI and Macau joint venture established to develop and construct a US$2.4 billion integrated entertainment and hotel resort in Macau. The dispute involved three High Court actions, two unfair prejudice petition actions under section 168A of the Companies Ordinance, and a successful appeal in the Court of Appeal to uphold a strike-out order and jurisdictional challenge order made in the client’s favour*
  • A South-East Asian manufacturer in relation to the successful defence of Hong Kong Court proceedings by its joint venture partner to set aside an ICC arbitral award*
  • An Asian investment manager and a global technology-focused venture capital firm in relation to a shareholder dispute arising out of a fraud perpetrated by the founder of the portfolio company, involving winding up and receivership proceedings in the Cayman Islands*
  • A global technology-focused venture capital firm on dispute resolution strategy in relation to a potential shareholder dispute concerning the exercise of redemption rights in a fintech investment*

Fraud, Asset-Tracing, and Other Disputes 

  • An Asian hedge fund manager on a criminal enquiry and restraint order involving allegations of money laundering and stock manipulation of a Hong Kong listed company*
  • Essilor International in connection with a substantial US$210 million fraud, involving applications for disclosure orders against various banks, proprietary, and Mareva injunctions, complex asset-tracing and recovery actions in the Hong Kong Court, against 90 defendants - one of the largest and most complex fraud and civil recovery actions ever undertaken in the Hong Kong Court*
  • BYD Company in defending complex litigation proceedings involving claims of conspiracy, breach of duty of confidence, breach of fiduciary duty, and dishonest assistance by Foxconn in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, and the USA, relating to mobile phone development*
  • A Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund in seeking urgent disclosure from various banks, in support of asset-tracing efforts against the general partners of a fund investment accused of fraud and misappropriation of fund assets*
  • Tor Asia Credit Master Fund LP and FTI Consulting as lender and receiver in relation to the enforcement of security against a borrower holding lithium mining assets, involving urgent injunctive relief in Hong Kong litigation*
  • A European software company in claims against its former CEO of breach of fiduciary duty, diversion of corporate opportunity and misappropriation of company assets, consisting of parallel Hong Kong Court and arbitral proceedings*
  • A global construction company in English High Court litigation proceedings involving the payment of sums due under a memorandum of agreement with a subcontractor, together with a parallel internal investigation focusing on corruption allegations*
  • An ultra-high-net worth Chinese family in defending a significant claim of unlawful means conspiracy in Hong Kong litigation worth over US$60 million, and related proceedings in Singapore and South Africa*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)
  • Hong Kong (Solicitor Advocate)
  • Hong Kong (Solicitor)

Education

  • PCLL, University of Hong Kong, 2003
  • LLB, University of Durham, 2002