James H M McGowan

Barrister Admiralty Chambers Called 1989 9 appearances

James H M McGowan appears as counsel of record in 9 reported Hong Kong judgments (2021–2025), most often before the HKCFI. Member of Admiralty Chambers.

About James H M McGowan

James H M McGowan appears as counsel of record in 9 reported Hong Kong judgments (2021–2025). These were heard before HKCFI (4), HKCA (3) and HKCFA (2).

Source: derived from 9 published Hong Kong judgments, most recent decision 11 December 2025. Published on HKLII.

Professional record

Branch: Barrister
Chambers: Admiralty Chambers
Year of call (HK): 1989
Year of call (UK): 1979

Registry facts from the Hong Kong Bar Association roster.

In the court record

James H M McGowan is a Hong Kong barrister at Admiralty Chambers, called to the Hong Kong Bar in 1989 following call to the England and Wales Bar in 1979, and holding Junior Counsel (JC) qualification. Between 2021 and 2025 his reported matters span both the appellate and first-instance courts, with the heaviest concentration in the Court of First Instance, and he was most often instructed as counsel for the applicant. The reported matters concern criminal law, drug offences and bribery and corruption.

His appellate work includes HKSAR v. Umer-Farooq [2025] HKCA 1042, HKSAR v. Shehoza Vicent Kennedy and Another [2025] HKCA 687, HKSAR v. Sze Ching Lok (施政樂) [2024] HKCFA 11 and HKSAR v. Dramane Mouhamed Saiti [2021] HKCFA 4, all as counsel for the applicant, alongside The Law Society of Hong Kong v. Jim Yiu Ming and Another [2025] HKCA 932 as counsel for the respondent. At first instance he appeared in HKSAR v. Awais Mohammad and Another [2025] HKCFI 6494 as counsel for the accused and in HKSAR v. Ayub Gohar [2025] HKCFI 3693 and HKSAR v. Dewan Md Hatem [2025] HKCFI 1418 as counsel for the appellant, with co-counsel across these matters including Janice Kwan, Justin Ma and Margaret Yu.

What is James H M McGowan's background at the Hong Kong Bar?

James H M McGowan practises from Admiralty Chambers, holding Junior Counsel (JC) qualification. He was called to the England and Wales Bar in 1979 and to the Hong Kong Bar in 1989, and his reported matters run from 2021 to 2025.

What kind of cases has James H M McGowan handled?

James H M McGowan's reported matters concern criminal law, drug offences and bribery and corruption, most often as counsel for the applicant, spanning the Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal, including HKSAR v. Sze Ching Lok (施政樂) [2024] HKCFA 11.