Gregory Payne

Experience

• Founding and leadership: Gregory Payne is the founder and senior partner of Payne Velasco, a Hong Kong litigation and dispute-resolution practice established to provide high-quality legal services with a practical, cost-conscious approach. The firm’s emphasis on dispute resolution and comprehensive litigation services reflects Mr. Payne’s leadership and decades of experience in Hong Kong’s civil and commercial litigation landscape. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Professional background and practice: Mr. Payne has over 30 years of experience practicing law in Hong Kong, with a core specialization in litigation and dispute resolution. His work encompasses a broad spectrum of civil and commercial disputes, including fraud-related matters, matrimonial litigation, and criminal litigation. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Notable areas of focus within commercial litigation: In the commercial litigation arena, Mr. Payne concentrates on assisting victims of fraud to recover misappropriated funds. He has developed substantial expertise in tracing and recovering monies lost through various fraudulent schemes, including email fraud, romance scams, internet fraud, sham investments, fake stockbrokers, and employee fraud. Over the last decade, his team has advised hundreds of fraud victims and achieved recoveries for 32 individuals, alongside securing 20 successful Norwich Pharmacal Order (NPO) discoveries against banks to obtain documents supporting asset tracing. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Pre-Payne Velasco career and training: Prior to founding Payne Velasco, Mr. Payne’s career included graduation from the University of Adelaide with degrees in Law and Economics in 1991, articling at Mouldens (a historic Australian firm), and serving as an Associate to the Honourable Mr. Justice Perry of the Supreme Court of South Australia. His path also included service as a Senior Government Counsel with the Civil Litigation Unit of the Department of Justice in Hong Kong, followed by a partnership at another Hong Kong law firm before establishing Payne Velasco. These roles collectively shaped his early litigation experience and cross-border practice. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Bar admissions and qualifications: Mr. Payne was admitted to practice in Hong Kong in 1994, and his qualifications extend to the High Court of Australia (1994) and South Australia (1992). This multi-jurisdictional exposure underpins his capability to handle cross-border disputes and complex litigation with international dimensions. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Notable judgments and cases: Mr. Payne and his team have been involved in numerous high-profile matters, with published judgments illustrating their engagement in fraud and commercial disputes. Examples include Steve Jay Shire and Another v. Zhao Yanling (HKDC 776, 2024) and Stephen Anthony Soyka v. Hang Xu Trading Co Ltd (HKDC 957, 2023), among others listed in the firm’s case materials. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Mediation and dispute-resolution approach: In addition to traditional litigation, Mr. Payne is associated with alternative dispute resolution in Hong Kong and is identified as HKIAC-accredited in mediation, reflecting a broader commitment to pragmatic, negotiated outcomes where appropriate. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Professional leadership and service: Beyond his client work, Mr. Payne has held various leadership roles within the legal and business communities in Hong Kong, contributing to legal practice standards and the governance of dispute-resolution processes. Source: Payne Velasco profile

Specialty

• Practice areas: Gregory Payne specializes in litigation and dispute resolution, with a broad litigation practice spanning civil and commercial disputes, matrimonial disputes related to financial settlements and asset tracing, and criminal litigation. The firm emphasizes a practical, cost-conscious approach to litigation and dispute resolution. Source: Payne Velasco profile; Commercial Litigation page
• Focus industries: The firm’s sector focus includes financial services, technology, and logistics, among others, reflecting the cross-industry needs of clients engaged in complex commercial disputes and cross-border matters. Source: International business community profile of Payne Velasco
• Types of cases handled: The team handles debt recovery, fraud recovery, asset tracing (including hidden assets in matrimonial contexts), cross-border civil and commercial disputes, and a range of matrimonial issues (asset division, trusts, and related disputes). They also advise on pre-litigation strategies, enforcement, and related remedies. The firm notes a track record of obtaining Norwich Pharmacal Order discoveries to obtain bank documents and trace funds. Source: Payne Velasco profile; Commercial Litigation page
• Alternative dispute resolution: Mr. Payne is associated with mediation and dispute resolution beyond court litigation, including HKIAC mediation, reflecting a preference for efficient, collaborative resolutions where suitable. Source: Payne Velasco profile

Education

• University of Adelaide, degrees in Law and Economics, 1991. This education formed the foundation for a career spanning Hong Kong’s legal and regulatory environment and provided early exposure to cross-border legal practice. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Legal training and early career in Australia: An articled clerk at Mouldens, one of Australia’s historic law firms, followed by service as an Associate to the Honourable Mr. Justice Perry of the Supreme Court of South Australia. These experiences contributed to a broad understanding of both common-law traditions and complex civil litigation. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Hong Kong admissions and cross-border qualification: Admitted to practice in Hong Kong in 1994, with additional admissions to the High Court of Australia (1994) and South Australia (1992). This multi-jurisdictional qualification supports Mr. Payne’s capacity to handle cross-border disputes and international cases. Source: Payne Velasco profile
• Earlier government and legal training roles: Mr. Payne’s background includes a period as a Senior Government Counsel with the Civil Litigation Unit of the Department of Justice, Hong Kong, emphasizing public-sector litigation experience and exposure to complex civil matters. Source: Payne Velasco profile

Achievements and Recognition

• HKIAC-accredited General Mediator, reflecting formal accreditation in mediation and a commitment to alternative dispute resolution as part of the firm’s dispute-resolution capabilities. Source: Gregory Payne profile
• Past leadership and governance roles in professional associations, including membership in the Law Society of Hong Kong Standing Committee on Compliance and Guidance Committee, as well as involvement with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Legal Committee and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners Matrimonial Sub-committee. These roles demonstrate leadership and service within the legal community. Source: Gregory Payne profile
• Major fraud-recovery track record, including advising hundreds of fraud victims and achieving recoveries for 32 individuals, along with 20 Norwich Pharmacal Order (NPO) discoveries against banks to obtain documents for tracing stolen funds. This record highlights notable case work and impact for clients. Source: Gregory Payne profile
• Involvement in high-profile judgments and fraud-related litigation, with listed judgments such as Steve Jay Shire and Another v. Zhao Yanling [2024] HKDC 776 and Stephen Anthony Soyka v Hang Xu Trading Co Ltd [2023] HKDC 957, illustrating engagement in significant commercial and fraud disputes. Source: Gregory Payne profile