A bit of background

I write about companies and markets when lawyers and regulators get involved.

This may involve exploring a shift in regulation, making sense of why companies end up in court, or bringing a stray detail in a filing into view. China and Hong Kong are a particular focus.

My background is in financial journalism and law. I spent 11 years at the South China Morning Post, after working at the Japan Times in Tokyo. As a freelancer, I have written for the Financial Times, Observer, International Herald Tribune and Singapore Business Times.

I practised as a barrister in Hong Kong. My court work included a fair amount of divorces and financial disputes.

A stint spent working in corporate investigations involved mapping out connections, patronage and finance. More recently, I worked in corporate governance. This gave me a ringside seat on what investors want, what companies resist and what regulators actually do.

New pieces filed at least weekly.