Following the enthusiastic response to the first session of “Equitable Remedies in the Supreme Court,” Des Voeux Chambers was once again honoured to host Dr. Jordan English from the University of Oxford, alongside DVC members Jenkin Suen SC and Duncan McCombe, for Part II of the discussion. This session centred on recent UK Supreme Court rulings concerning third-party liability, with particular emphasis on the implications of Stevens v Hotel Portfolio II UK Ltd (in liq) [2025] UKSC 28 and Hopcraft v Close Bros Ltd [2025] UKSC 33.
The speakers delivered a comprehensive analysis of these landmark decisions, addressing key issues such as the role of constructive trusts, the use of causation and counterfactual reasoning in equitable relief, and the continued validity of the principle that a dishonest third-party assistant is liable only for their own profits. The seminar also delved into the remedies available against a briber and bribee for the tort of bribery, which is intricately linked to breaches of fiduciary duty.
With over 70 attendees, including professors from the HKU Law Faculty and distinguished legal practitioners, the seminar sparked a lively and insightful discussion on these critical legal developments. We look forward to building stronger ties and encouraging more meaningful discussions on legal developments between the legal and academic communities going forward.
