Biography

Called to the Bar in 1999 Kennis has developed a broad range of trial and appellate work in both civil & criminal matters.

She has extensive experience in various areas of the criminal law discipline, including bribery and corruption, election-related offences, violence, organised and serious crimes, as well as sexual offences etc.

She is also noted for her handling of company & shareholders disputes. As a UK certified mediator, she handles mediation relating to general commercial and contractual disputes.

She has appeared in all levels of Courts throughout in Hong Kong as well as in various specialist tribunals.

SFC & Stock Exchange

Kennis regularly advises on listing and compliance matters and makes submissions to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).

Regulatory offences related to the HKEx and  SFC, and criminal matters of a ‘white collar’ nature (money laundering, fraud etc), form a significant part of her practice.

PRC/ Mainland legal service

In a reflection of HK’s increasing economic integration with the rest of the PRC/Mainland, Kennis has been engaged as an expert in respect of local (HK) corporate law in PRC/Mainland litigation, and has experience in handling registration and enforcement of PRC judgments of civil and commercial matters in Hong Kong. She passed the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination (2022) and is qualified to advise and appear in Mainland Courts on civil and commercial cases in 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area. In 2023, she was appointed as a special mediator and a Hong Kong Macao legal expert of the Yuexiu District, Guangzhou. In 2024, she was appointed as an arbitrator of the Zhanjiang Court of International Arbitration.

Tribunals – experience & chairmanship

In 2018, Kennis was appointed as the Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal Panel (Buildings) and in 2023, the Appeal Panel (Housing); and has also been appointed to various administrative and quasi-judicial boards and tribunals, including: the Board of Review (Inland Revenue Ordinance), Transport Tribunal’s Panel and the Torture Claims Appeal Board.

Previous Judicial Office

Kennis’ legal practice has included (earlier in her career) her sitting in the Magistrates Courts as a Deputy Magistrate hearing criminal trials and a variety of quasi criminal matters (SFC and various departmental summonses: customs, health, environment, construction etc) which provided her with a wealth of experience in handling and managing cases of various complexity from a judicial standpoint.

Other Service and Appointment

Kennis is nominated by the Hong Kong Bar Association as a Council Member of the Duty Lawyer Service Council. She is also a member of the Committee on Criminal Law and Procedure of the Bar Association.

Published Works

For a period of 7 years (2000 - 07) Kennis compiled notable local cases as the Legal Editor of “Hong Kong Cases” and “Hong Kong Public Law Reports”.

Personal

Outside practice, Kennis is active in charity work with a special emphasis on underprivileged children in our  community and educational matters by serving as independent school manager.