Colin Wright

Colin Wright is a practising barrister who acts as adviser and advocate in disputes before courts and arbitral tribunals. He has particular experience in cases involving the carriage of goods and international trade.  His clients include leading shipping companies, P&I Clubs, insurers and financial institutions.  He has appeared as an advocate at all levels of the Hong Kong civil courts and in numerous confidential commercial arbitrations.  He has extensive experience in applications for interlocutory injunctions and other pre-emptive remedies.

Before commencing in practice as a barrister, Colin Wright worked with two leading firms of maritime solicitors where he acquired extensive experience of handling cases relating to the carriage of goods by sea.

He is an elected member of the Hong Kong Bar Council, a member of the Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Maritime Law Association and a member of the Hong Kong Admiralty Court Users’ Committee.  He has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 1998. 

He is a member of the London Court of International Arbitration and a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators’ Association.

Cases of Interest

• The Owners of M.V. “Pontadamon” v The Owners of M.V. “He Da 98” (August 2011) - appeared on behalf of the Plaintiffs on trial of liability for collision at sea – liability apportioned 100:0 in the Plaintiffs’ favour.
• Birnam Ltd v The Owners of the Ship or Vessel “Hong Ming (August 2011) – appeared on behalf of the applications on successful application to set aside the arrest of a vessel.
• S-Net Freight (HK) Ltd v Namsung Shipping Co Ltd (August 2011) – Hong Kong Commercial Court – Application to set aside order granting leave to serve writ out of the jurisdiction.
• Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical Co Ltd v The Owners and/or Demise Charterers of M.V. “Decurion” – arrest of vessel, order for sale pendente lite and application for judgment.
• Yangtze Navigation (Hong Kong) Co Ltd v Sealink Ocean Shipping - Hong Kong Commercial Court – Application for Freezing Injunction
• Landsbanki v Ocean Airlines SPA – Hong Kong Commercial Court - Application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the removal of a Boeing 747 aircraft from Hong Kong.
• The New China Hong Kong Group Ltd v Century City International Holdings Ltd and Others – July 2011 - Court of Appeal – acted on behalf of Liquidators in one of Hong Kong’s largest insolvencies.
• Cogi Enterprises Ltd and Others v Incorporated Owners of Malahon Apartments June 2011 – Court of Appeal – application for mandatory injunction.
• Kam Hing Trading v The People’s Insurance Company of China (Hong Kong) Limited – Hong Kong Commercial Court – claim under a policy of marine insurance arising from total loss of a vessel at sea.
• Carewins Ltd v Bright Fortune Ltd – Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal – claim against a carrier for misdelivery of goods without production of the original bill of lading.
• Tradepower (Holdings) Ltd v Tradepower Ltd [2010] 1 HKC 380 – Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal – claim for transfer of property with an alleged intention to defraud creditors.
• Goldlion Properties Ltd v Regent National Enterprises Ltd – Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal – claim for specific performance of a contract for the sale of the Kimberley Hotel, Hong Kong.
• Dragon Point Holdings Ltd v Heath Lambert (Hong Kong) Ltd – Hong Kong High Court, Commercial List – claim arising from constructive total loss of vessel.
• Akai Holdings Limited & Others v Ho Wing On & Others – Hong Kong High Court, Commercial List – claim for an amount exceeding US$500 million for alleged breach of fiduciary duty arising from one of Hong Kong’s largest ever corporate collapses.
• Mau Wing Industrial Limited v Ensign Freight Pte Limited and Others - Hong Kong Commercial Court – claim against a carrier for misdelivery of goods without production of the original bills of lading.
• The New China Hong Kong Group Ltd v Ernst & Young (a firm) – Hong Kong Commercial Court - claim for damages in negligence against the auditors of an insolvent group of companies.
• Hill Cosmos International Ltd v Ocean Fishery Holding NV - Hong Kong High Court - claim for restitution of the sum of over €3.8 million arising from a proposed joint venture for exploitation of fishing licences.
• The “Liberty Container” – Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal - appeal on the question whether a third party funder of unsuccessful litigation is liable to pay the successful party’s costs.