For urgent Criminal Law advice including arrests in Hong Kong, please contact our Hong Kong Criminal Lawyer Kevin Steel on +852 9037 0333.
Kevin is a criminal law specialist who has practiced criminal law, including fraud, financial crime and defence cases for individuals and corporations in Hong Kong for the last twenty eight years. He joined Robertsons in 1994 and heads the firm’s Corporate Crime Unit.
As a Hong Kong criminal lawyer, Kevin has defended numerous high profile cases prosecuted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB). He also regularly undertakes defence work in Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) investigations and prosecutions as well as acting in immigration, taxation and customs and excise cases. Kevin is well known for getting the job done and has a reputation for being able to negotiate with authorities.
He is recommended in the Corporate Crime Section of the Asia Pacific Legal 500, for Hong Kong. He also sat on the Criminal Law and Procedure Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong between 1995 and 2018 and is generally recognized as one of the leading lawyers in his field, most recently being recognized as a leading lawyer by the Doyles Guide.
Kevin conducts trials, mitigations and bail applications and has defended clients in the Magistrates Courts, High Court, Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal.
Kevin has strong international ties and is an active member of professional associations such as INBLF. Kevin has also acted for clients in Hong Kong who are subject to U.S. based FCPA investigations.
Kevin is extremely knowledgeable about computer and technology crimes (including computer blackmail cases), and has successfully defended computer crime charges, as well as frequently acting and advising corporations who are the victims of computer crimes.
Kevin is also capable of putting together a team of top forensic experts when required to defend or investigate all kinds of computer frauds.
We are available to advise on any investigations, appear at court or trials involving the Hong Kong Authorities
- Hong Kong Police
- Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)
- Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB)
- Securities and Future Commission (SFC)
- Customs and Excise Department (C&ED)
- Immigration Department (ID)
Relevant news:
- Kevin Steel and Li Chung Nam attended INBLF's Black Tie Weekend 2023
- Robertsons at the Law Society’s 14th Recreation and Sports Night
- 40% of our current partners have been Robertsons' trainees!
- Presentation of Robertsons Prize at CityU School of Law
- Robertsons’ criminal lawyers listed on the Doyle’s Guide again
- Kevin Steel classed as a Thought Leader in WWL Thought Leaders: Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR 2023 (Business Crime Defence) by Who’s Who Legal
- Barry Hoy and Kevin Steel recognised as Litigation Stars by Benchmark Litigation
- Kevin Steel recommended as Global Leader of Business Crime Defence and National Leader of Business Crime Defence & Investigations by Who’s Who Legal
Practice Areas
Criminal & Commercial Crime, Regulatory Investigations & Proceedings
Languages
English, Cantonese
Qualifications & Education
Solicitor, Hong Kong (1991)
Solicitor, England and Wales (1992)
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Northumbria University
Memberships
The Law Society of Hong Kong
The Law Society of England & Wales
Former Member, Criminal Law and Procedure Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong
CRIMINAL & COMMERCIAL CRIME
- Acting for a bank advising on a high profile double murder investigation and subsequent trial.
- Leading a 10 men Defence team in respect of an ICAC investigation of a director of a red chip listed company suspected of having offered advantages in breach of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance.
- Leading a local team in relation to several Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations and conducting an investigation and interview of employees suspected of bribing a mainland Chinese official.
- Acting for a prominent Hong Kong barrister accused of perverting the course of justice and disclosing information to the press: CACC 248/2006, FACC 3/2009
- Successfully defending a director in a Takeovers and Mergers Panel prosecution of an alleged concert party arrangement.
- Defending the vice president of an international bank accused of a multi-million dollar theft - DCCC 949/2006.
- Acting for a Hong Kong company accountant who was acquitted in the first criminal prosecution under the Securities and Futures Ordinance concerning market manipulation.
- Successfully defending dishonest access to computer cases.
- Recently successfully defending rape allegation in High Court.
- Successfully reporting fraudsters for companies and recovering the proceeds of crimes in computer email frauds.