Profile
Eric advises on all aspects of criminal law. With more than 20 years of criminal litigation experience, he guides clients through every stage of criminal proceedings.
Eric trained at a leading criminal law firm and was admitted to its partnership in 2008. In August 2014, he founded Morley Chow Seto with Christopher Morley and Anita Chow.
Eric has defended clients in a wide array of criminal offences ranging from relatively minor offences such as loitering to more serious offences such as rape. You will often see Eric appearing at various levels of courts in Hong Kong. In recent years, Eric's focus has been on complex white collar crime and securities cases. He has been selected by Who's Who Legal Business in their Business Crime Defence section for recognition of his work in white collar crime defence in Hong Kong. In addition, Eric has been recognised as a Preeminent Criminal Lawyer in Hong Kong by Doyle's 2019 Guide.
To further his legal career, Eric was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2018.
Qualifications & recognition
- Bachelor of Commerce in Information Management and Accounting, University of Western Australia
- Admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2018
- Selected by Who's Who Legal: Business Crime Defence for white-collar crime defence work in Hong Kong
- Recognised as a Preeminent Criminal Lawyer in Doyle's 2019 Guide
Selected experience
Criminal and SFC related regulatory matters.
Eric's work covers investigations, court proceedings and the financial consequences that can follow a criminal case.
ICAC investigations & prosecutions
Eric handles all stages of ICAC investigations and prosecutions involving public- and private-sector corruption. His experience includes lengthy District Court trials, applications concerning the surrender and return of passports under sections 17B and 17BA of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, and requests for information about property dealings under section 14.
SFC investigations & prosecutions
Eric represents clients during SFC investigations and attends interviews where section 184 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance requires an interviewee to answer an investigator's questions. His work covers the SFC's civil and criminal market-misconduct regime, including false trading and proceedings before the Court of Final Appeal.
Money laundering & asset restraint
Eric advises from the earliest stage of a money-laundering investigation, which may begin with a JFIU freeze, through trial and any later confiscation proceedings. He has assisted clients in removing account freezes, responding to court-issued restraint orders, defending money-laundering charges and submitting suspicious transaction reports where funds may have an unlawful origin.
Customs & anti-counterfeit work
In addition to defending Customs and Excise prosecutions, Eric assists clients in making complaints to the department. He has acted for a renowned mobile-phone manufacturer, coordinated a team of private investigators and worked with enforcement authorities on counterfeit activity in Hong Kong and mainland China, resulting in arrests in Hong Kong.
Mutual legal assistance
Eric advises on requests made under Hong Kong's mutual legal assistance arrangements with overseas jurisdictions. These requests may seek evidence or the restraint of assets located in Hong Kong even where the alleged offence occurred abroad. He has represented both international organisations and individuals whose Hong Kong assets were restrained.
Court proceedings & bind overs
Eric has defended allegations ranging from relatively minor offences such as loitering to serious offences including rape, and appears at different levels of the Hong Kong courts. He also regularly makes written representations to the Department of Justice seeking the withdrawal of criminal charges in exchange for a bind-over order.
Representative Cases
Case Examples
HKSAR v Tse Sui Luen and others (DCCC 350/2006)
Instructing solicitor in DCCC 350/2006, a high-profile ICAC prosecution lasting more than 90 trial days and involving evidence taken in courts in the United States.
HKSAR v Lee Kai Wai
Instructing solicitor in DCCC 1012/2007, where the District Court ruled that there was no case to answer on all charges brought against Eric's client.
HKSAR v Fu Kok Kin Patrick & Lee Shu Yuen Francis
Instructing solicitor in FACC 4/2011, a landmark false-trading case in which the Court of Final Appeal acquitted Eric's clients of all charges and awarded their legal costs.