John Crook
Partner
Hong Kong
John practises Cayman Islands and BVI commercial litigation and all forms of dispute resolution. John also advises on insolvency and corporate restructuring matters.
John has significant experience in shareholder / LP disputes and matters arising out of distressed investment vehicles, particularly hedge funds, from both fund and investor perspectives. He frequently advises on company law issues involving company restructures, corporate finance, unlawful dividend payments, directors’ and partners’ duties, and breach of trust situations.
John works on matters before the Grand Court's specialist Financial Services Division, the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal and the Commercial Court in BVI. He has also been involved in cases which have reached the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
John also has significant experience of commercial and investor-state arbitration, including under the auspices of the ICC, LCIA, HKIAC and SIAC, as well as ad hoc arbitral proceedings under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. John advises on all matters relating to arbitration in the Cayman Islands and BVI, including validity of arbitration agreements, procedural issues, interim measures, and enforcement of foreign and domestic arbitral awards.
John has a particular focus on questions of jurisdiction and other conflict of laws issues, as well as issues concerning the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards (including under the New York Convention), and issues involving state immunity.
John is a member of our Insolvency, Restructuring & Dispute Resolution Group.
Experience and recent work
John joined Walkers' Hong Kong office in September 2019. Prior to joining Walkers, John practised as a dispute resolution lawyer in an international law firm in London and Hong Kong. His practice included commercial litigation (including company law, cross-border insolvency law and public law), international arbitration and public international law. John was involved in a number of offshore litigations, instructed by other law firms together with Lord Goldsmith QC PC. He also gained experience acting as agent in proceedings before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Qualifications
Admitted in:
- Bermuda, Registered Associate
- British Virgin Islands
- England and Wales (not practising)
Education:
- Master of Laws, University College London
- Graduate Diploma of Law
- Master of Arts, University of Cambridge
2025 Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Next Generation Partner - "Seasoned litigator John Crook is also noted for his handling of contentious trust and shareholder disputes." "John Crook of Walkers is an excellent team leader with rich experience in handling complex offshore disputes and commercial arbitration cases. John Crook is very conscientious in his work. He is familiar with every detail of the case and is able to work skillfully with legal professionals from different backgrounds."
2024 Asia Legal Business Offshore Client Choice - Ranked Lawyer
2022 Asia Business Law Journal’s A-List of Top 50 Offshore Lawyers
Team Members
