Attorney
direct: +44 (0)20 7842 1200
e: twong@twentyessex.com
DIRECTORIES 2021-2026
The Legal 500:
Recognised as a Leading Junior in Commercial Disputes at the Hong Kong Bar for six consecutive years (2021–2026), achieving Tier 2 ranking in 2025 and 2026.
2021 – Praised for his “sound legal knowledge and analytical powers, outstanding research skills” and ability to articulate arguments forcefully and clearly.
2022 – Described as “a junior who has litigation in his blood and is passionate about his work,” with particular praise for his thoroughness and clear, succinct arguments on complex issues.
2023 – Recognised for his enthusiasm for addressing legal issues and “creativity in solving problems.”
2024 – Described as “incredibly smart and hard working, and also incredibly responsive,” with excellent written and oral advocacy and an ability to grasp the essential features of a case quickly.
2025 – Ranked Tier 2 – Leading Junior in Hong Kong Bar – Commercial Disputes. Praised for his compelling advocacy, strategic thinking and ability to formulate pragmatic solutions to critical challenges. Also recognised as a Rising Star in The English Bar Offshore – Commercial Disputes.
2026 – Maintained his Tier 2 – Leading Junior ranking in Hong Kong Bar – Commercial Disputes and was recognised as a Rising Star in both The English Bar Offshore – Commercial Disputes and London Bar – International Arbitration: Counsel.
Experience
As a bilingual and tri-qualified Cayman Attorney (barrister in E&W and HK), Thomas advises and represents clients in their Company, ELP, Trusts, and Commercial disputes, particularly across multiple jurisdictions in the Cayman Islands, London and Hong Kong.
Thomas is based in Cayman, where he specialises in cases before the Financial Services Division, and in the higher courts. His Cayman work is done through The Sinclair Group.
With a combined 16 years’ post-qualification experience, Thomas is well accustomed to working either as sole advocate or as part of a multi-counsel legal team. Thomas is equally experienced in working alongside foreign counsel to ensure that all key aspects of a multi-jurisdictional dispute are covered.
Thomas also sits as an arbitrator (whether alone or in a panel), and has sat as a Deputy District Judge in Hong Kong (2023 – 2024; equivalent to a Circuit Judge in England & Wales).
Thomas is ranked in Legal 500 in all three jurisdictions (Offshore – Commercial Disputes; London Bar – International Arbitration: Counsel; and Hong Kong Bar – Commercial Disputes).
In addition to his work as counsel, Thomas accepts appointments as an arbitrator and served as a Deputy District Judge in Hong Kong from 2023 to 2024.
Education
Thomas obtained his Bachelor of Social Sciences (Government and Laws) with Honours in 2006 and Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 2007 from the University of Hong Kong, followed by his Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) in 2008.
He subsequently completed a Master of Laws (LLM) with Distinction at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2019, as well as a Certificate in Advanced EU Competition Law in 2021. In 2021, he also completed the Bar Transfer Test at BPP University in London.
Thomas is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (FHKIArb). He is also listed on the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s List of Arbitrators and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s Reserve Panel of Arbitrators.
Bar Admissions
Thomas was admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong in 2010 and subsequently called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2018. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2021 and was admitted as a generally admitted Attorney-at-Law in the Cayman Islands in 2026.
Thomas practises in the Cayman Islands through The Sinclair Group, where he advises and represents clients in complex commercial, company, insolvency and trust disputes, particularly those involving multiple jurisdictions. His practice draws on his experience across the Cayman Islands, England and Wales, and Hong Kong, and his fluency in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.