Simpson Thacher Hong Kong partner arrested for drink driving
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Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Hong Kong partner Chen Leiming was arrested last Thursday following a road accident in Hong Kong, according to a local newspaper in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Chinese-language newspaper Ming Pao reported the collision, which occurred at around 11:50pm on 21 June. It was reported that Chen was driving a Porsche sports car and was involved in a side collision with a mini bus in Stanley on the south eastern part of Hong Kong Island. No one was seriously injured, however both drivers suffered head and neck pain and were cared for by paramedics.
Following the collision, the Hong Kong police conducted breath tests on both drivers and Chen was found to have exceeded the prescribed limit of alcohol in his breath.
The 51-year-old lawyer was arrested for drink driving, but was later released on bail and will report back to the police on 6 August.
In May, Clifford Chance’s Asia managing partner Peter Charlton was charged with one count each of ’driving a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration in breath over prescribed limit’ and ’careless driving’ (17 May 2012).
Under Hong Kong’s Road Traffic Ordinance, the general maximum penalties for convicted drink driving include a fine of up to HK$25,000, imprisonment for up to three years and disqualification from driving for up to two years.
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Readers' comments (43)
Rural Bliss | 5-Jul-2012 4:35 pm
The drink drive limit in Honkers is 50 mg compared to 80 mg in the UK.
It's therefore quite possible that he was under the UK limit when arrested - there's nothing in the article to indicate how much he was over the limit.
So as little as a pint of beer could have put him over the limit.
It's typical of contemporary society that there are so many po-faced prats willing to condemn him for something that on the evidence presented may have been of no more consequence than a minor speeding offence. Indeed, in many cases speeding would probably be far more dangerous than a drink driving offence involving so little alcohol.
And how many of those sanctimonious people gravely speculating about whether this makes him unfit to practise or whether his firm's reputation has been severely damaged have taken their eyes off the road while fiddling with the satnav or shouting at the kids in the back or having a heated argument on their mobile?
You disgust me. You have as much humanity as the average lump of flint, and none of you is fit to practise as a lawyer. You judge without evidence and the concepts of justice, mercy and basic decency are completely alien to you.
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Anonymous | 6-Jul-2012 3:13 pm
Rural Bliss:
"You disgust me. You have as much humanity as the average lump of flint."
"You judge without evidence and the concepts of justice, mercy and basic decency are completely alien to you."
Er.... Irony anyone?
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Anonymous | 8-Jul-2012 2:03 pm
"I for one will think twice before I send anymore business to Simpson Thacher."
Has to be the most silly comment ever. Really? And what will the thought process be? 'I willl hire XXX because he's a good lawyer...oh no two years ago so and so was arrested for drunk driving - oh well, that's it, try another firm.......' Personally I'd hire Mr Chen himself, let alone his partners, if I thought he was the best man for the job, regardless of his driving habits.
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Anonymous | 9-Jul-2012 6:51 am
Sorry Ben, I have never driven drunk. Obviously you have. Don't drink and drive. It's not that hard to comprehend.
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Anonymous | 9-Jul-2012 11:33 am
Regarding regulatory sanction by the Law Society in HK (the HK Bar is not relevant; it does not regulate non-barristers), much depends upon, if convicted, (a) whether Chen is admitted in HK, and (b) whether a disciplinary tribunal considers his conduct has brought the profession into disrepute.
I cannot see any regulator taking a professional stand over an offence which does not relate to honesty. Perhaps that is what "Ben" clumsily meant at the outset; giving him the benefit of the doubt!
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Louise | 9-Jul-2012 1:41 pm
I think it is also a bit about people thinking that they are above the law. Where is their moral integrity? Would you allow one of your friends to drink drive? It is not just the risk that they pose to themselves, but more importantly the risk that they pose to others. Taxis are cheap and plentiful in HK - well paid partners can afford them!
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Anonymous | 10-Jul-2012 1:11 pm
@11.33 - Chen was admitted in HK in 2011. Also NY and BC, Canada. But completely agree that nothing will happen at the regulator in the absence of dishonesty.
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Anonymous | 11-Jul-2012 10:26 am
To Rural Bliss:
Re: 50mg vs 80mg limit difference
Have you ever been to Hong Kong? Average Hong Kong'er is physically smaller than average UK'er. Judging from the pictures available online, Mr. Chen looks way smaller than the average Hong Kong'er. So yep, a pint would do it. He should have had the common sense and judgment to either call a cab home or limit himself to half a pint that faithful evening.
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Anonymous | 11-Jul-2012 2:53 pm
Responding to the call for an analysis of lawyers and alcoholism:
http://www.vallexfund.com/download/Being_Happy_Healthy_Ethical_Member.pdf
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Sock puppet | 16-Jul-2012 3:43 pm
Will all you people pretending to be "clients" and even less credibly "general counsel" please for the sake of shame stop it. No one believes you. You are all trainees/associates at city law firms. Enough already.
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