The Legal 500

For some, Mallesons Stephen Jaques is ‘the top construction firm in Hong Kong, if not Asia’, where there is ‘enormous strength in depth at all levels’ and the lawyers are ‘always prepared to go the extra mile’. Continuing to act on high-profile matters both in and outside the region, the team’s client base recently extended to the Middle East where it represents a major international contractor in various disputes with the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai on the construction of a major road interchange. David Bateson is an ‘excellent arbitrator’ with over 30 years of experience in Hong Kong, and Paul Starr is ‘very bright and hardworking’; ‘when Bateson or Starr is against you, you know you have a fight on your hands’.

‘The best in the region for construction contractual issues’, Pinsent Masons delivers ‘first-class industry knowledge and rapid response times’. The firm acts for a prestigious list of clients including Siemens, Bechtel International and the Hong Kong government and continues to advise various civil engineering companies on bidding for MTR Corporation’s $15bn rail expansion programme. Dean Lewis and department head Vincent Connor are ‘professional, helpful and in tune with market needs’, while the ‘excellent’ Nicholas Brown represented a consortium of Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Laing O’Rourke in their construction bid for part of the $20bn Ichthys LNG facility in Australia. Peter Clayton recently joined the Hong Kong team from the firm’s UK office.

Hogan Lovells offers ‘vast analytical approach, prompt response times and value for money, which are beyond comparable to other firms in the market’. While the firm has a strong litigation practice, it also has a growing non-contentious workload, where it is the primary legal adviser to the Construction Industry Council and continues to act for MTR Corporation. Timothy Hill and Damon So are the key partners to note; both are ‘very efficient lawyers, with a strong foot in construction-related matters’.

Minter Ellison fields a ‘coherent team of construction lawyers’, who have ‘thorough knowledge of the practice area and other dispute resolution means’. David Goldstein is highly regarded, as is Steven Yip, who has a ‘good knowledge of litigation procedures and tactics’. On the non-contentious side, Yip is providing procurement and regulatory advice to PetroChina on a submarine natural gas pipeline project that involves laying a 20km pipeline in Hong Kong and China waters. In 2010, Ian Cocking left to join Clyde & Co.

The construction group at Baker & McKenzie maintains a solid presence in the Hong Kong market, however it has undergone some substantial changes since 2010. Notably, department head Andrew Aglionby left to join Olswang in London, leaving David Smith as the partner in charge, and disputes lawyer James Kwan arrived from Simmons & Simmons to bolster the contentious practice. Disney remains a key client for the firm; the firm is advising it on the development of Shanghai Disneyland - one of the largest-ever foreign investment projects in Shanghai.

Haley & Co. in association with Clayton Utz continues to go from strength to strength on the back of the reputation of Colin Dodd and Glenn Haley, both extremely highly regarded practitioners in the field. The firm further cemented its position in the market by adding Geoffrey Shaw (formerly of Deacons) and consultant Ilan Freiman, who joins from an in-house position. Freiman is advising new client Hong Kong Science and Technology Park on the development of its phase three project, which is intended to be a role model for green construction in Hong Kong.

In 2010, Mayer Brown JSM saw the departure of Nick Longley to Holman Fenwick Willan. Nevertheless, the Hong Kong group is praised as an ‘excellent team, with depth in all areas of construction’. David Boyle and Menachem Hasofer are ‘real experts in construction law’, and Geoffrey Chan delivers ‘sound advice’. Recent work includes acting for Wynn Resorts Macau on issues relating to its Cotai Resort Project.

Harris Chan is the key construction partner at DLA Piper, focusing on contentious and non-contentious matters across Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China. Among an impressive list of work highlights, the firm is handling a number of retail sector projects.

The ‘very efficient’ Deacons lost Geoffrey Shaw to Haley & Co. in association with Clayton Utz in 2011. Kwok Kit Cheung is now at the helm of the construction practice and is acting for the major subsidiary of a Hong Kong-listed company in defending a large claim, relating to a project in Dubai.

In 2010, Clyde & Co gained ex-Minter Ellison partner Ian Cocking. With over 20 years’ experience, Cocking regularly advises contractors, proprietors, governments, financiers, consultants and insurers.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson’s main construction lawyer is Philip Nunn, who has extensive experience in litigation and arbitration, and also advises clients on major infrastructure projects.

Nick Longley joined Holman Fenwick Willan in January 2011, to launch the firm’s Hong Kong construction practice. Longley (formerly of Mayer Brown JSM) is ‘conversant with construction law and has in-depth knowledge of key legal issues’. Associates Richard Lyons and Vincent Liu also joined, from Mayer Brown JSM and Minter Ellison respectively.

Jones Day’s ‘very good’ construction practice handles a mix of regional and Hong Kong-based disputes as well as projects work for government bodies, energy companies and main contractors. Phillip Georgiou is recommended.

Li & Partners recently lost its key construction partner Gilbert Kwok to Stephenson Harwood, leaving the ‘knowledgeable and committed’ MS Yeung as the practice head. The mainstay of the group’s work is contentious, and recent work includes a dispute relating to Hong Kong International Airport.

Brian Downie is the key contact at Simmons & Simmons, where the team handles a large number of energy sector instructions and has seen a significant increase in international work. James Kwan left for Baker & McKenzie in 2011.

Stephenson Harwood recently welcomed Gilbert Kwok (formerly of Li & Partners) to drive the Hong Kong construction practice. The three-fee-earner group acts for some high-profile clients and is adept at handling both contentious and non-contentious matters.