Allsop

Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal 3 cases

Allsop has 3 reported Hong Kong decisions (2025) in the HKCFA.

About Allsop

Allsop has 3 reported Hong Kong decisions (2025). These were decided across HKCFA (3). By subject matter, the largest shares are Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (1) and Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (1). Of these, 3 sitting on the coram.

Source: derived from 3 published Hong Kong judgments, most recent decision 23 June 2025. Published on HKLII.

On the judicial record

James Leslie Bain Allsop, born 7 April 1953, sits as a Non-Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. He was educated at the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1974 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1980, and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1981 before being appointed Senior Counsel in 1994. His career in Australia included service as an additional Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, appointment as President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal on 2 June 2008, and appointment as Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, a role he held from 1 March 2013 to 6 April 2023. In 2024 he was appointed an International Judge to the Singapore International Commercial Court.

At the Court of Final Appeal, Allsop has sat on matters including the corporate dispute Peking University Founder Group Company Limited v. Nuoxi Capital Limited (In Liquidation In The British Virgin Islands) [2025] HKCFA 14, an earlier stage of the same proceedings reported as [2025] HKCFA 6, and the criminal appeal HKSAR v. Lam Cheuk Ting [2025] HKCFA 7.

Biography

James Leslie Bain Allsop (born 7 April 1953) is a judge from Australia, currently serving as a Non-Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. As a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal, Allsop uses the official Chinese name of Au Zung-leot (Chinese: 歐頌律; Jyutping: au1 zung6 leot6). He was the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, in office from 1 March 2013 to 6 April 2023. He was also previously President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, where he presided from 2 June 2008 to 28 February 2013. In 2024, he was appointed as an International Judge to the Singapore International Commercial Court.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Career Highlights

• In 2024, he was appointed as an International Judge to the Singapore International Commercial Court.
• He was appointed Queen's Counsel in Western Australia in 1998.
• He has also served as an additional Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory (2003–08).
• Allsop was appointed the President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal on 2 June 2008.
• On 20 November 2012, Commonwealth Attorney-General Nicola Roxon announced Allsop would be appointed Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia.

Education

• graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts in 1974 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1980
• Bar in 1981, and was appointed Senior Counsel in 1994
• University Medal in law
• University of Sydney, where he specialises in international admiralty and maritime law

Total cases

Delivered

Sat on (coram)

Court

How many cases has Allsop decided?

Allsop has 3 reported Hong Kong decisions (2025).

Which courts does Allsop sit in?

Allsop sits in HKCFA (3).

What court does Allsop sit on in Hong Kong?

James Leslie Bain Allsop sits as a Non-Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. He was formerly Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, and was appointed an International Judge to the Singapore International Commercial Court.

What kind of matters has Allsop heard at the Court of Final Appeal?

Reported matters before Allsop at the Court of Final Appeal include the corporate liquidation dispute Peking University Founder Group Company Limited v. Nuoxi Capital Limited [2025] HKCFA 14 and the criminal appeal HKSAR v. Lam Cheuk Ting [2025] HKCFA 7.