Expert Spotlight: Meet Restructuring Expert Jocelyn Chi

From the outset, Jocelyn has been clear. Her work is about being engaged in the market, anticipating trends and staying at the forefront of the industry to support client needs. This is clear with landmark cases including Gatecoin, China Metal and an on-demand meal delivery company, each of which helped define new standards in Hong Kong and contributed to the global dialogue on insolvency and restructuring.

Her professional impact is not limited to casework. Jocelyn is deeply committed to advancing the industry through her role on the INSOL Asia Board and by sponsoring initiatives such as the INSOL Future Leader Program, which nurtures the next generation of professionals. Jocelyn also brings a rounded perspective to her work. Away from the office, she pursues her passion for skiing, a pursuit she shares with her daughter. It is a reminder that the qualities that make her a respected leader extend beyond the professional sphere.

 

Landmark Cases and What They Signify

Jocelyn’s career is distinguished by precedent setting matters that have shaped Hong Kong’s restructuring framework. With China Metal, she led the first winding up of a listed company under section 212 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance, a case that underscored the importance of accountability in capital markets. Reflecting on the matter, she notes, “It was about more than one company. It was about showing that the market has rules and those rules matter.”

She also acted as joint liquidator of Gatecoin, the first cryptocurrency exchange liquidation in Hong Kong. The ruling clarified the treatment of digital assets in insolvency proceedings, showing how Jocelyn’s team was attuned to emerging market developments and able to set direction for the industry. Her leadership in delivering a managed exit for an on-demand delivery company further demonstrated her ability to combine technical rigor with empathy, ensuring a smooth exit for more than 1,000 employees and diverse stakeholders.

 

Leadership and Community Impact

As a senior leader in Hong Kong, Jocelyn heads a team of nearly 60 professionals and has built a culture defined by collaboration and excellence. For her, leadership is not only about delivering results in complex cases, but also about shaping the future of the profession. “If we don’t invest in the next generation, we risk losing the progress we’ve made,” she explains.

That philosophy drives her engagement of the INSOL Future Leader Program, which nurtures young practitioners. Her influence extends beyond technical work into the broader community. By supporting local rugby programs and Dragon Run paddling, Jocelyn underscores her belief that restructuring professionals should contribute to society as well as to the market. Taken together, these commitments show a leader who sees her role as building resilience not just in businesses, but in people and communities.

 

Market Insights: Private Credit and Structuring for Success

Jocelyn is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, where she shares her perspective on market trends. One area she highlights is the rise of private credit and its implications for restructuring in Hong Kong.

She points out that the challenge is not simply the volume of capital available, but the way deals are being structured. “There is a lot of capital waiting to be deployed, but speed sometimes comes at the expense of foresight,” she observes. With vast sums of capital sat as dry powder, managers face pressure to deploy quickly, often into bespoke structures that may not fully anticipate risks. In Hong Kong, jurisdictional complexities and enforcement pathways are frequently overlooked, leaving lenders exposed when stress emerges.

This is where Jocelyn and her team step in. By structuring deals for success from the outset, ensuring governance rights are clear, enforcement strategies are thought through, and flexibility is built in, Kroll helps lenders and corporates protect value and adapt to changing conditions. Jocelyn emphasizes that foresight and discipline in structuring are what distinguish successful outcomes from costly failures. “Our role is to make sure that when stress does come, the structure holds. That is how you preserve value and avoid unnecessary disruption,” she explains.

 

Recognition and Peer Feedback

Jocelyn is consistently recognized as a thought leader in forensic accounting and restructuring. She has been ranked in Who’s Who Legal and Financier Worldwide’s Power Players, with peers describing her as “smart, practical and great to work with” and “a highly competent and very able forensic accountant.” Market experts have praised her diligence and meticulousness, noting her role in some of the most important matters in the Asia Pacific region.

 

Beyond the Office

Outside of work, Jocelyn is passionate about skiing, a pursuit she enjoys on holidays and shares with her daughter. “It started as something for her, but it became something for us,” she says. The sport reflects the same focus and balance she brings to her professional life, rounding out her profile with a personal dimension that colleagues and clients find inspiring.