Harriet Ho

Harriet’s practice entails a broad range of civil work, including Commercial and Chancery, Property, Personal Injury, and Aviation & Travel. Harriet welcomes instructions for drafting, advice, and advocacy at all stages of the litigation process.

Harriet joined Lamb Chambers in May 2021 after commencing her practice at a set focused on commercial and aviation work based in the Temple. Prior to starting pupillage, Harriet gained experience working as a County Court advocate and had also worked as a Judicial Assistant to Magistrate Judge Dr Eric Cheung in Hong Kong.

Harriet has been instructed in civil forfeiture matters resisting applications for frozen monies in excess of £1million, in which Harriet defended against the claim that the sums had been obtained via fraud by false representation. Harriet has assisted more senior members, including conducting legal research and drafting witness statements as well as written submissions for a third-party in a confiscation POCA matter.

As a passionate advocate for equality and diversity, Harriet has previously given talks to university students and aspiring barristers, such as ‘Being BAME at the Bar’, in order to promote and further inclusion at the Bar.

Harriet is a member of the Commercial Bar Association and the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.

Outside of work, Harriet enjoys going to the theatre, playing the piano, and horse riding.

Languages

English (fluent)
Cantonese (fluent)
Mandarin (basic)
French (basic)

Commercial

Harriet is developing a strong broad commercial practice and has experience working on a range of commercial and insurance matters, including drafting, trials, applications, CMCs, and costs budgeting.

Harriet is regularly instructed in debt recovery matters, credit hire cases, and claims made under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 procedure. Harriet accepts instructions in all commercial matters.

Recent Cases:

TS v T UK Ltd (2021) – Drafted defence for a well-known multinational telecommunications company against a claim in relation to erroneous overcharges and breach of express contract terms as well as implied terms of reasonable care and skill, pursuant to the SGSA 1982.
MW v HB Ltd – Drafted advice in a contractual dispute regarding a joint venture and share of profits of completed projects.
W&D Ltd v L Ltd (2021) – Drafted particulars of claim and reply to defence and counterclaim in relation to building work disputes.
TC v RBS plc (2021) – Successfully represented client in a high value trial regarding an unfair payment protection insurance relationship.
SJH v CL (2021) – Drafted defence and successfully obtained at an application hearing an unless order to require fraud be properly pleaded.
AATM Ltd v PR of AT(D) – Drafted opinion as to merits and quantum regarding a breach of contract and care services claim against a care home.
TTRS Ltd v NM Ltd (2021) – Successfully submitted and recovered substantial costs in circumstances whereby the Claimant had filed a notice of discontinuance the day prior to trial.
RCI Ltd v ACF (2021) – successfully represented finance company in a debt recovery matter and defeated a Consumer Rights Act 2015 defence.

Personal Injury

Harriet has a busy personal injury practice and welcomes instructions in all personal injury and/or clinical negligence matters, including road traffic accident claims, infant settlement hearings, credit hire claims, stage 3 disposal hearings, as well as advice as to quantum.

Recent Cases:

JD v MIC Ltd (2021) – Advised and drafted application for summary judgment in a ‘test’ case regarding direct cause of action against insurer companies and the application of EC (Rights Against Insurers) Regulations 2002 post-Brexit.
PS v R&S plc (2022) – Successfully reduced judgment to 20% only of the value of claimed for credit hire.

Property

Harriet has a substantial practice in property, with a particular focus on landlord & tenant matters, including residential and commercial possession, recovery of arrears, obtaining and resisting injunctive relief, mortgage arrears, deposit protection, and rent repayment disputes. She regularly represents housing associations, local authorities, as well as private landlords.

Harriet welcomes instructions in all property work, including matters dealing with possession, nuisance, disrepair, service charges, and boundary disputes.

Recent Cases:

Advice to both professional and lay clients as to Rights to First Refusal and the Landlord & Tenant Act 1987 regarding an intended simultaneous purchase of a freehold and leasehold.
MK & Others v SO (2021) – Drafted Respondent’s statement of case and witness statement in a rent repayment dispute.
NW Ltd v QMK (2021) – Successfully represented housing association by obtaining an injunction in relation to nuisance disrepair.
CP Ltd v JAPLM Ltd & ARS (2021) – Successfully argued that a resigned director was still liable as a guarantor for arrears unpaid by the company.
GP Ltd v LA & SKO (2021) – Successfully submitted legal arguments on surrender of lease and obtained judgment for arrears.

Aviation and Travel

Harriet is developing a practice in this area and is often instructed to advise and represent airline companies in carriage by air claims which are governed by EU Regulation No.261/2004, Montreal and Warsaw Conventions, comprising of passenger claims arising from delay, cancellation, denied boarding, lost baggage, and negligence claims.

Recent Cases:

AC v BA plc (2021) – Successfully defended a flag carrier airline in a contractual dispute regarding the validity of Voucher refunds offered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AA v BA plc (2021) – Currently representing the Respondent in an ongoing appeal regarding a breach of varied contract terms following the acceptance of Covid-19 Vouchers.

International

Harriet is a fluent Cantonese speaker and Harriet has had experience working as a Judicial Assistant in the Kowloon Magistrates Court and undertaking a mini-pupillage in Hong Kong.

Harriet conducted a webinar discussing the National Security Legislations and The New Rule of Law and Commerce in Hong Kong and China, following the passing of the Hong Kong National Security Law in June 2020.

Insolvency

Harriet is familiar with bankruptcy matters and representing debtors in the Rolls Building. She also has experience drafting statutory demands as well as winding-up petitions.