*The registration is now full.

On December 15, 2015, the Hong Kong Competition Ordinance (the city’s first cross-sector legislation) entered into full force. The law was modelled on the regimes of other parts of the world, with the European Union’s system being particularly influential. However, in just ten years, Hong Kong has succeeded in building a unique competition policy that has been carefully tailored to meet the specific needs of the city and protect the livelihood of its residents. 

To mark the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Ordinance, this seminar will explore the origins of the law and its evolution through advocacy, policy and enforcement. It brings together key experts with first-hand experience in the application of the Ordinance and thorough knowledge of the regimes that inspired the drafting of the law and first enforcement actions. The discussion will shed light on the main achievements to date, any outstanding challenges, and what lies ahead for Hong Kong’s antitrust landscape.

About the Speakers:

Friso Bostoen is an assistant professor of competition law and digital regulation at Tilburg University (from May 2023). He obtained his Ph.D. from KU Leuven as a fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (2021) and was a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute (2022–23). Friso completed his initial legal studies at KU Leuven (2016) and went on to obtain an LL.M. degree from Harvard University as a Fulbright scholar (2019).

Friso’s research focuses on the regulation of online platforms—and technology more broadly—under antitrust law and sectoral regulation. His work has resulted in numerous international publications and presentations. In addition, Friso edits the CoRe Blog and hosts the Monopoly Attack podcast. He has taught competition law at a variety of institutions including KU Leuven, the London School of Economics, Erasmus University (Rotterdam), Waseda University (Tokyo), and the University of Trento.

Catrina Lam is a barrister at Des Voeux Chambers in Hong Kong. Her practice encompasses all aspects of commercial disputes, including both domestic and international arbitrations, competition and regulatory matters, and administrative and constitutional law. She has acted in many of the first landmark cases on competition law in Hong Kong including Competition Commission v Nutanix Hong Kong Ltd & Ors (CTEA 1/2017), the first enforcement case brought by the Competition Commission, Taching Petroleum Company Ltd v Meyer Aluminium Ltd (CTA 1/2018), the first case in which a contravention of competition rule was raised as a defence to a civil claim, Competition Commission v Quantr Ltd & Ors (CTEA 1/2020), the first enforcement case brought following a successful leniency application, Competition Commission v ATAL Building Services Engineering Ltd & Ors(CTEA 2/2022), one of the biggest cartel cases in monetary value brought in Hong Kong, and Competition Commission v Midland Realty International Ltd & Ors (CTEA 3/2023), involving four of Hong Kong’s largest real estate agencies. She has also appeared on behalf of PCCW-HKT in an abuse of dominant position case and in an appeal concerning the sharing of essential facilities before the then Telecommunications (Competition Provisions) Appeal Board (led by Sir Peter Roth QC, former President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the United Kingdom).

Lester Lee is the Executive Director (Legal Services) of the Competition Commission (Commission) since November 2023.

Before joining the Commission, Mr. Lee was a practicing barrister having been called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2009.  In May 2015, he joined the Commission as Senior Manager (Competition Affairs) and was later promoted to Head (Litigation) in December 2017. From June to October 2023, Mr. Lee was appointed as Acting Executive Director (Legal Services) overseeing the daily operation of the Legal Division.

Mr. Lee obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from Durham University in 2006. He later obtained a Master of Laws in Human Rights from the University of Hong Kong in 2014 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law from King’s College London in 2016. In 2023, his exceptional abilities were recognised, and he was selected as one of the LexisNexis “40 under 40” legal leaders of tomorrow.

Marcus Pollard is a partner in Linklaters’ Antitrust and Foreign Investment Group, based in Hong Kong. Recognised as global “Lawyer of the Year” (Under 40) by the Global Competition Review 2021 awards, 40 under 40 Asia by Asia Legal Business “Thought Leader” by Lexology Index 2024 in Greater China, and a “Leading Partner” by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025, Marcus attracts strong praise from clients in leading legal directories, with a client praising him as “one of the pioneers of Hong Kong’s competition ordinance” on Who’s Who Legal.

Having spent two years at the Hong Kong Competition Commission, Marcus is known for his regulatory insights. During that time, Marcus assisted the Commission in the drafting of its Guidelines, Cartel Leniency and Enforcement Policies. He also served as a Case Manager for a number of the Commission’s initial antitrust investigations and other matters.

Marcus has extensive experience advising on cartel and dominance investigations in Hong Kong, as well as antitrust litigation before the Competition Tribunal. Notable precedent-setting “firsts” include advising on the first resale price maintenance case brought to the Tribunal, the first abuse of dominance investigation and competition proceedings in the Tribunal and the first cartel prosecution and competition proceedings brought to the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which involved the first ever dawn raid in Hong Kong, and advising a complainant in a probe by the Commission into hotel most-favoured-nation clause, which resulted in the territory’s first behavioural commitments. 

Marcus also coordinates the pan-Asian practice focussing on Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. He regularly advises on multijurisdictional merger control and foreign investment matters, regional antitrust investigations and compliance, focussing on assisting multinational clients. Prior to moving to Asia, Marcus was based in Brussels and worked on a range of global cartel and antitrust matters – including investigations with complex remedy/commitment processes in the EU and China, leniency applications, and multi-national litigation.

*CPD credits are available upon application and subject to accreditation by the Law Society of Hong Kong (currently pending)

Register here to attend the seminar on or before 9 December 2025, 12:30pm (Hong Kong Time).