Profile

Maria So is a Barrister-at-law. She is also an accredited general and family mediator.  Her practice includes a wide spectrum of civil and criminal litigation. She is also a qualified CPA and worked in the accounting field prior to becoming a Barrister-at-law.

For legal practice includes criminal litigation matters and a wide spectrum of civil litigation which consists of personal injuries claims, contract and tort law, matrimonial and family law, land and conveyancing matters.

For mediation, a vast amount of experience including mediated in over hundreds of cases and has been involved in cases with tort (including defamation, nuisance, personal injuries, medical negligence and professional negligence); contract (including sale and purchase agreements loan and minibond agreements); land and conveyancing (including landlords and tenants, adverse possession of land, incorporated owners, possession applications, building management applications and land compulsory sale applications); construction matters; intellectual property; insolvency and bankruptcy matters as well as family and matrimonial matters.

Academic & Professional Qualifications & Appointments

Appointments:

Member, Environmental Education and Community Action Projects Vetting

Subcommittee – Environment and Conservation Fund (2022-2024)

Deputy Magistrate (2019, 2023)

Professional Qualifications:

International Accredited Professional Mediator (accredited in 2024)

Accredited Family Mediator (accredited in 2015)

Accredited General Mediator (accredited in 2010)

Barrister-at-law, Hong Kong (admitted in 2007)

Certified Public Accountant of New York State, U.S.A. (since 2003)

Registered Professional Accountant of Hong Kong (since 2003)

Mediation / Arbitration Panel:

International Dispute Resolution & Risk Management Institute (IDRMI)

Mainland – Hong Kong Joint Mediation Center (MHJMC)

Accredited General & Family Mediator of the Hong Kong Mediation

Accreditation Association Limited (HKMAAL)

Family Court-annexed Mediation Scheme (FCAMS)

JMHO Mediator-Assisted Case Settlement Conference (MCSC)

Hong Kong Mediation Services Limited (HKMSL)

Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (East Asia Branch)

JMHO Pilot Mediation Scheme under Land (Compulsory Sale for

Redevelopment) Ordinance Cap.545 (“LCSRO”)

Water Leakage Mediation Centre of Community & Construction

Professionals’ Development Centre

Academic:

Master of Laws          University College London, (University of London), UK

Postgraduate Certificate in Laws         City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Graduate Diploma in Law          BPP Law School, London, UK

Bachelor of Science Degree         New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York, USA

Language

Chinese, English and conversational mandarin