民事訴訟

A commercial dispute can cripple a business. A defamatory statement can destroy a reputation built over decades. A debtor who refuses to pay can threaten your very livelihood. When negotiations fail, and alternative dispute resolution is exhausted, you need a litigation team that fights—strategically, relentlessly, and with an unwavering focus on results.

At Jal N. Karbhari, Solicitors & Notary, we are trial lawyers. We represent plaintiffs and defendants in a broad spectrum of civil disputes across all levels of the Hong Kong court system—from the Small Claims Tribunal to the High Court and the Court of Final Appeal. We handle complex commercial claims, debt recovery, tort actions, and enforcement proceedings with forensic precision and commercial pragmatism.

We understand that litigation is not an academic exercise. It is a battle for your money, your reputation, your business, and your peace of mind. We treat every case with the urgency and seriousness it deserves.

Businesses & Corporations

Resolving commercial contract disputes, supply chain conflicts, shareholder disagreements, and cross-border trading claims.

Financial Institutions & Lenders

Recovering debts, enforcing security, and pursuing bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings.

Individuals & Professionals

Defending or pursuing defamation claims, negligence actions, and personal disputes involving property or contractual rights.

Landlords & Property Owners

Enforcing lease obligations, recovering possession, and pursuing rent arrears.

Creditors & Judgment Holders

Enforcing existing judgments through garnishee orders, writs of execution, and bankruptcy petitions.

Cryptocurrency & Digital Asset Holders

Pursuing claims involving digital assets, tracing stolen crypto, and enforcing judgments against anonymous defendants.

1. General Civil Claims & Commercial Disputes

We act in a wide range of civil claims, from straightforward debt recovery to complex multi-party commercial litigation. Our work includes:

Breach of contract claims

Whether oral, written, or implied by conduct.

Shareholder and partnership disputes

Oppression claims, unfair prejudice, and breach of fiduciary duty.

Professional negligence claims

Against solicitors, accountants, architects, engineers, and other professionals.

Property and construction disputes

Building defects, delay claims, and enforcement of construction contracts.

Fraud and misrepresentation claims

Inducing contracts, fraudulent misstatement, and deceit.

Cryptocurrency and digital asset disputes

Tracing stolen assets, enforcing claims against exchanges, and recovering misappropriated funds.

We are commercial litigators. We understand that your business cannot afford to be tied up in court for years. We pursue aggressive timelines, push for early resolution where possible, and prepare for trial with meticulous attention to detail.

2. Contract Disputes & Breach of Contract

Contracts are the foundation of commerce. When one party fails to perform, the consequences can be catastrophic. We represent clients in disputes arising from:

Sale of goods and services

Non-delivery, defective products, and payment disputes.

Employment contracts

Restrictive covenants, wrongful termination, and bonus disputes.

Distribution and agency agreements

Termination disputes, territory conflicts, and commission claims.

Joint venture and partnership agreements

Deadlock, expulsion, and dissolution.

Loan agreements and guarantees

Enforcement of personal and corporate guarantees.

We pursue remedies including:

Damages

Compensatory, consequential, and (in some cases) exemplary.

Specific performance

Compelling the other party to perform their contractual obligations.

Injunctions

Preventing a party from breaching restrictive covenants or disclosing confidential information.

Declarations

Clarifying parties' rights and obligations under the contract.

3. Debt Recovery & Insolvency Proceedings

Unpaid debts do not resolve themselves. The longer you wait, the harder recovery becomes. We act swiftly and decisively to recover what you are owed, using the full range of enforcement mechanisms available under Hong Kong law:

Statutory Demands

The first step in many debt recovery actions, putting pressure on the debtor to pay or face insolvency proceedings.

Bankruptcy Petitions

For individuals who owe you $10,000 or more. We pursue the entire process, from the initial petition to the appointment of a trustee.

Winding-Up (Liquidation) Petitions

For companies that owe you $10,000 or more and are unable to pay their debts.

Garnishee Orders

Freezing funds held by a third party (such as a bank) and directing those funds to you.

Writ of Fieri Facias (FiFa)

A High Court order authorising the bailiff to seize and sell the debtor's goods to satisfy the judgment debt.

Charging Orders 

Securing a judgment debt against the debtor's property.

Mareva Injunctions

Freezing the debtor's assets worldwide to prevent dissipation before judgment.

Prohibition Orders

Preventing the debtor from dealing with specific assets.

We do not simply issue demands and hope for the best. We pursue every legal avenue to ensure you recover what is rightfully yours.

4. Enforcement of Judgments (Domestic & Cross-Border)

Winning a judgment is only half the battle. Enforcing it—especially against a reluctant debtor or a party with assets outside Hong Kong—requires strategic expertise.

We handle:

Enforcement of Hong Kong judgments through garnishee orders, writs of execution, bankruptcy, and winding-up proceedings.

Enforcement of foreign judgments under the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 319) and the Mainland Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 597).

Reciprocal enforcement with Mainland China, Macau, and other designated jurisdictions.

Anti-avoidance measures – Tracing assets that have been transferred to avoid enforcement.

Registration and recognition of foreign judgments in Hong Kong.

5. Common Torts

Tort claims arise when one party's wrongful conduct causes loss or harm to another. We have extensive experience in both prosecuting and defending tort claims, including:

Defamation

Libel (written defamation) and slander (spoken defamation). Hong Kong defamation law is complex, with strict time limits and significant damages awards. We advise on pre-publication risk assessment, defamation claims, and defences including justification, fair comment, and qualified privilege.

Negligence

Claims arising from a breach of duty of care causing foreseeable loss. We handle cases involving personal injury, property damage, pure economic loss, and professional negligence.

Nuisance

Private nuisance (interference with use and enjoyment of land) and public nuisance (interference with public rights).

Trespass

Trespass to land, trespass to goods, and trespass to the person (assault, battery, false imprisonment).

Misfeasance in Public Office

Claims against government officials for deliberate abuse of power.

Conversion & Detinue

Wrongful interference with goods and refusal to return them.

6. Pre-Litigation Strategy & Urgent Relief

Not every dispute should go to trial. We are as skilled at preventing litigation as we are at winning it. Before issuing proceedings, we advise on:

Without prejudice negotiations

Seeking a commercial settlement without admitting liability.

Pre-action protocols

Formal letters of demand, disclosure requests, and without prejudice save as to costs correspondence.

Urgent interim relief

Including Mareva injunctions (asset freezing), Anton Piller orders (search orders), and interlocutory injunctions to preserve the status quo while proceedings are pending.

We assess every case through a commercial lens: What is the cost of litigation? What is the risk of losing? What is the value of a settlement? We only recommend litigation when it is the most effective path to achieving your objectives.

Civil litigation is not a game. It is a serious, high-stakes battle for your money, your business, and your future. Whether you are pursuing a debt, defending a negligence claim, or enforcing a judgment against an elusive debtor, you need a litigation team with experience, tenacity, and commercial wisdom.

Contact Jal N. Karbhari, Solicitors & Notary today for a confidential, strategic assessment of your civil dispute.

Call us: +(852) 2367 7577

Email us: inquiries@karbharilaw.com

Visit us

Rooms 703-705, 7/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building, No. 25 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong