Joe Zhixiong Zhou v SAIF Partners II L.P.: The importance of mapping out the correct corporate structure

Joe Zhixiong Zhou v SAIF Partners II L.P. is a recent judgment of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal which concerns a dispute between a private equity fund and its former partner. This judgment, written by Lord Hoffmann NPJ and substantially shorter than those handed down by the lower courts, has several important implications. In this article, we will first unpack and explain the judgment and supplement the discussions with the relevant legal principles and concepts. We will then discuss the judgment’s implications to cases involving a complex web of parties and/or fiduciaries.