Dominic James

DOMINIC JAMES is a partner in Sidley’s International Funds practice based in Hong Kong. He has extensive experience advising multinational private fund managers in contentious and non-contentious regulatory matters. His practice often involves helping clients across Asia, North America, Europe and offshore jurisdictions access to the Hong Kong financial markets and resolve complex cross-border challenges they encounter.

Dominic is recognized as a “Notable Practitioner” and a “key name” for contentious financial services by Chambers Greater China Region and Legal 500 Asia Pacific respectively. In the 2025 edition of the Legal 500 Asia Pacific Greater China, a client praised “the very approachable and responsive Dominic James looks at issues at different angles making sure all essential aspects are covered for the benefit and effective risk management of clients.” He has also been endorsed as a Leading Lawyer – ''Notable practitioner'' by IFLR1000 for financial services regulatory work in 2023. He is usually sought after by fund managers, banks and asset managers (Chambers Greater China Region 2025), with clients praising his advice as “always [having] withstood the regulator’s review” (Chambers Greater China Region 2022). Clients have described him as “an excellent source of legal support,” “very responsive” and having “demonstrated strong knowledge and expertise.” (Chambers Greater China Region 2025). Sources also commended his “sound practical advice on Hong Kong regulatory matters, as well as general anti-money laundering matters.” (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020), his “high calibre advice”  on contentious regulatory matters (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018) and his “professionalism, expertise and diligence” (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2017-2019). He “consistently demonstrates outstanding qualities” (Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018) and is “a genuine talent for complex regulatory work” (Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018).

Examples of Dominic’s significant experience include acting for:

• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in its acquisition of the treaty reinsurance brokerage operations of Willis Towers Watson for US$3.25 billion
• Various issuers of insurance-linked securities (ILS) in the sale and offering of Catastrophe bonds
• A U.S.-based brokerage in “first of its kind” criminal prosecution brought by the SFC for actively marketing in Hong Kong regulated activities carried on outside Hong Kong.
• A leading investment bank in connection with an investigation brought by the SFC into the alleged rigging of interest rates.
• A U.S.-based fund management company in proceedings brought by the SFC under Section 213 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance and before the Market Misconduct Tribunal for insider dealing.
• A Korean company in striking out (as an abuse of process) proceedings brought by the SFC for insider dealing.
• A major U.S. Fortune 500 company in connection with issues arising from its acquisition of a mainland Chinese entity, including an investigation into accounting fraud, preparations for litigation and responding to regulatory investigations.
• Listed corporations, licensed or registered persons and companies in domestic and cross-border regulatory investigations (including responding to search warrants and statutory notices) involving a wide spectrum of market conduct issues.
• A U.S.-listed company in cross-border insolvency proceedings and successfully obtained court approval in Hong Kong of interlinked schemes of arrangement with creditors to restructure more than US$700 million in offshore debt. Sidley was named as one of two “Standout” firms by the Financial Times in 2015 edition of the FT Innovative Lawyers report. 
• Responsible Officers and Relevant Individuals in SFC investigations and in subsequent regulatory action and litigation, both civil, criminal, disciplinary and disqualification proceedings brought by the SFC.