Sunny Hathiramani

Biography

Sunny is a partner in Tanner De Witt’s restructuring and insolvency and international arbitration practices. He provides strategic counsel to a diverse client base, including private equity funds, distressed companies, and insolvency practitioners. A seasoned litigator, he specialises in high-stakes contested cross-border insolvencies, shareholder disputes, and complex fraud and directors’ duty claims, consistently delivering robust advocacy for his clients.

Sunny’s strategic acumen is further demonstrated in his representation of clients in international arbitrations under the HKIAC and other major rules. His sector-specific expertise spans the electric vehicle, automotive, financial services, and pharmaceutical industries. Complementing this work, he regularly advises financial institutions on high-stakes contentious regulatory matters, guiding them through complex investigations by the SFC, the Insurance Authority, and other financial regulators.

Sunny’s academic credentials include a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences from King’s College London and a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP Law School. He has deep roots with Tanner De Witt, having started his career with the firm as a paralegal. After successfully completing his training contract, he rapidly progressed and was promoted to partner in 2019.

His expertise has been recognised through numerous industry accolades. He was selected for the Asian Legal Business “40 Under 40” list in 2020 and the LexisNexis® 40 UNDER 40 Hong Kong SAR List in 2025. Since 2019, he has been consistently acknowledged as a “Next Generation Partner” for Hong Kong in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide.

Biography

Restructuring and Insolvency

• Representing the Joint Provisional Liquidators of a Cayman incorporated company in a complex, multi-jurisdictional asset-protecting exercise. The matter involved pursuing claims against former directors (and their affiliates) and protecting assets of the company in the Mainland worth over US$1 billion
• Acted for the trustee-in-bankruptcy of a high-net-worth Japanese individual in a multi-jurisdictional asset recovery matter, successfully securing and realising assets valued in excess of HK$50 million located in Hong Kong
• Represented a 50% shareholder in a PRC-incorporated joint venture in a contentious just and equitable winding-up petition. The case involved allegations of serious deadlock and exclusion from management, ultimately resulting in a court-ordered liquidation and contempt proceedings against the counterparty
• Acted as lead Hong Kong counsel in the wind-down of an international diamond retail group, overseeing the closure of its flagship high-end boutiques and the complex realisation of a luxury asset portfolio
• Acted for a Milan Stock Exchange-listed automotive design firm in a high-value cross-border claim. Successfully petitioned the Hong Kong court to wind up a subsidiary of a Hong Kong-listed entity for non-payment of a €3 million debt

International Arbitration

• Assisting Singapore counsel to obtain urgent interim relief from an HKIAC emergency arbitrator on behalf of a Singapore retail trust to restrain the counterparty directly or indirectly terminating or replacing the trustee-manager pending the constitution of the main tribunal, preserving the status quo and our client’s business
• Advised a multinational pharmaceutical corporation in successfully resolving a high-value HKIAC arbitration initiated by its PRC distributor 
• Representing a UHNWI to obtain a worldwide Mareva injunction in Hong Kong in aid of arbitration proceedings commenced in the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. This matter involved assets globally, including shares held in a NYSE-listed company
• Representing a private equity fund to obtain a favourable arbitration award of over US$65million in the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. This matter involved urgently obtaining a Mareva injunction in aid of the HKIAC proceedings and ultimately contempt proceedings 
• Successfully enforced a SIAC arbitration award in Hong Kong on behalf of a global shipping company, securing a judgment for over HK$25 million against the debtor

Biography

• Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty – An update on Litigation Funding and Personal Liability on costs
• Panellist at INSOL Focus Webinar 2021 – Cross-Border Insolvencies under the Pandemic
• Panellist at the INSOL Focus Webinar 2022 – Hot topics in Litigation Funding for Insolvency

Biography

• LexisNexis® 40 UNDER 40 Hong Kong SAR List – 2025
• “Up and Coming” in Chambers and Partners Greater China Region – 2024
• Who’s Who Legal Restructuring & Insolvency – 2024
• “Next Generation Partner” in Legal 500 Asia Pacific from 2020 to 2024
• Asian Legal Business’ “40 Under 40” – 2020

Biography

• The Law Society of Hong Kong
• International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL International)
• Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty (RIF) Committee Member
• International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)
• South Asian Lawyers Group (SALG)
• The Company and Insolvency Law Society (COINS)
• Turnaround Management Association (TMA)

Biography