
“Mei Ling Lew always fights hard to achieve the best outcome for her clients and is dedicated to delivering high-quality work. She is extremely diligent and very meticulous, and is very good at handling large-scale complex disputes.”
“She is always hands-on and has a great eye for detail. She is very experienced and is able to efficiently handle large-scale complex disputes.”
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Clients turn to Mei Ling Lew for her experience in litigation, arbitration and mediation matters, specifically with disputes arising from building construction projects. Mei Ling also advises on environmental regulatory and compliance issues, and non-contentious construction matters, including preparation and drafting of tender and contract documentation. Clients also seek her counseling on public/administrative law cases.
Mei Ling is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Mediator on the General Panel of HKIAC Mediators, and an associate member of The Institute of Quarrying. Legal guides have recognised Mei Ling for her litigation skills.
Clients she has served include statutory bodies, blue-chip developers, hotels, quarry operator, universities, leading charitable organisation in Hong Kong, and SOE contractor.
Experience
Advised:
- A leading tertiary educational institution on highly complex procurement and tendering issues and other issues for a project which is designed as an iconic, state of the art and innovative development, which will be underpinned by and showcasing various innovative features, and with an estimated multi billion budget, against a backdrop of rising cost and time implications.
- A leading charitable organisation on the collapse of a heritage building including issues related to task force investigation, exposure, if any, to potential prosecution proceedings, potential claims against culpable parties, settlement with one of the parties, etc.
- As part of a multi-jurisdictional team an executor of an estate in Hong Kong in relation to environmental contamination proceedings brought by foreign authorities against the estate in the foreign jurisdiction.
- Public bodies, owners/developers etc. in relation to procurement arrangements including the preparation and review of tender documents and construction contracts for university, hotel, school, residential and office developments and a world class arts hub project.
Acted for:
- A blue chip developer in an arbitration with bifurcated hearings in respect of defective pipes and non-compliant concrete in a luxury development in Hong Kong. This arbitration is distinctive for various reasons, including being one of the first hybrid hearings held in Hong Kong-London in early 2020 when COVID-19 first emerged; the formulation and deployment of novel virtual hearing protocols and procedures to ensure a safe, flexible and effective hearing involving, inter alia, 16 expert witnesses giving evidence from various parts of the world in the second hybrid hearing in 2022 when flight bans, 14 days quarantine and washing out in another country were in place.
- A university in an arbitration commenced against a leading professional architectural consultant firm (“ACF”) in relation to defective cladding works of a flagship campus building and claims for rectification costs arising from such defects. It was subsequently agreed that this arbitration would be heard at the same time with another arbitration commenced by ACF against its sub-consultant, who was the registered structural engineer in the same project.
- A major transport provider in the Commission of Inquiry into the Construction Works at and near the Hung Hom Station Extension under the Shatin to Central Link Project respect to project management issues and worked closely with project management expert.
- A major PRC state-owned construction company in the Commission of Inquiry on excess lead found in drinking water in public rental housing developments in Hong Kong, including advising on various contractual issues and expert evidence input from various disciplines including health, water quality etc.
- A university on the collapse of a roof of a building in an arbitration involving novel technical issues which subsequently led to the issue of BD circulars. Also advised the public body in disciplinary proceedings commenced against the Authorised Person for the relevant works which led to the collapse.
- A leading Hong Kong charitable organisation in a dispute against a leading professional consultant firm in relation to defective design, negligent project management and supervision of a major site formation project in the PRC in mediation and arbitration proceedings.
- A quarry contractor in an arbitration related to its claims including loss and expense claims, disruption costs, a loss of profits claim etc. The claim also involved expert evidence input from various disciplines including delay analysis, quantum, geology/construction material/concrete and quarry management. Also advised the quarry contractor in relation to mediation following an agreed stay of the foregoing arbitration, which stay was lifted following the conclusion of the mediation.
- A specialist piling contractor in a successful High Court proceeding in relation to variation claims made against a main contractor in a Hong Kong Housing Authority project. The claim involved expert evidence input on piling design and quantum issues.
- A major developer and land owner in a judicial review with respect to Government’s lease policy governing a cruise terminal at a major shopping area in Tsim Sha Tsui.
- A major developer and land owner in Causeway Bay and Wanchai in judicial reviews with respect to various restrictions (including building height, development potential etc.) imposed in draft Outline Zoning Plans. These proceedings involved expert evidence input from various disciplines including environmental, planning, design/architecture and valuation.
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Recognition
- Top 100 Women in Litigation – Asia Pacific – Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Litigation Star – Construction, China, Hong Kong – Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- Leading Individual – Construction, Hong Kong – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- Leading Individual – Construction (International Firms), China – Chambers Greater China Region
- Listed in The Arbitration Powerlist: Hong Kong – The Legal 500
- Recommended – Leading Construction & Infrastructure Litigation Lawyers, Hong Kong – Doyle’s Guide
- Special Award – Recognition Scheme for Provision of Pro Bono Legal Services, Chief Secretary for Administration’s Office
- “Mei Ling Lew ‘is very good at handling large-scale complex disputes’ for Hong Kong-based public and private bodies” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
- “Mei Ling has a great eye for detail and possesses extensive knowledge of construction disputes. She is meticulous and provides well-considered, practical legal advice. Under her leadership, her team is highly efficient and delivers work of top quality. She is always hands-on and very reliable.” – Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific
- “Mei Ling is extremely dedicated and meticulous. Her advice is thorough and practical, and she always fights for the best interests of her clients.” and “Mei Ling provides useful advice and responds quickly.” – Chambers Greater China Region
- “Mei Ling demonstrated significant knowledge around her specialism and showed a high level of commitment. She was a pleasure to work with.” – Chambers Greater China Region
Qualifications
Education
- The Australian National University, LLB
Admissions
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
Languages
- English
- Cantonese
- Hakka
- Malay
Professional & community involvement
- Group Leader, The EMPOWER programme, The Amber Foundation
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- Associate Member, The Institute of Quarrying
- Mentor, The Women’s Foundation