The Legal 500

Recognised by many as ’the top construction firm in Hong Kong, and possibly Asia’, King & Wood Mallesons’ team of sector specialists is known for its wealth of technical knowledge, and its expertise in Hong Kong arbitrations and cross-border matters. Domestic highlights included acting in arbitrations on behalf of the Hong Kong government concerning the Route 8 Lai Chi Kok viaduct project. International work covers Dubai, the Philippines and Australia, with the team acting in the latter jurisdiction on the infrastructure development of a national broadband network. David Bateson is ’one of the top arbitrators in the region’, and Paul Starr is ’quite possibly the pre-eminent construction specialist in Asia today’. Brad Galvin was promoted to partner in 2012.

Led by the well-respected Vincent Connor, Pinsent Masons’ four-partner practice handles work that spans Africa, Abu Dhabi and the Philippines, and encompasses areas relating to sulphuric acid plants, power stations, sea drilling, and transport infrastructure. Non-contentious work highlights included advising various bidders on MTR’s rail expansion programme, and representing a consortium in its bid for the construction of processing and storage facilities at the Ichthys LNG onshore and offshore facility in Australia. The group’s prestigious client list includes Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Siemens, and China Offshore Oil Engineering. Nicholas Brown, Peter Clayton and Dean Lewis are also recommended.

Haley & Co. in association with Clayton Utz has quickly established itself as one of the busiest practices in the market. Under the guidance of Glenn Haley, Colin Dodd and Geoffrey Shaw, the ’responsive’ group continues to attract top-drawer non-contentious matters, as well as high-value arbitrations. Work highlights included acting for a Hong Kong developer in a $20m arbitration concerning a Philippines expressway project.

Hogan Lovells is ’truly an excellent firm to work with’. The construction practice, led by the experienced Timothy Hill, acts for owners, consultants and contractors, and is noted for both its non-contentious and contentious expertise. Recent mandates include acting for Associated Engineers in a $16m dispute with Johnson Controls, and representing a joint venture company in a $26m damages claim. Damon So is ’very competent, diligent and knowledgeable’. The firm was recently re-appointed principal adviser to the Construction Industry Council.

Baker & McKenzie’s construction practice has a strong foundation in non-contentious matters, and, with the addition of commercial litigator James Kwan in 2011, now has a developing contentious practice. Practice head David Smith leads on advisory matters, and played a key role in advising MTR on the $3bn planning and design of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Hong Kong Express Rail Link, and acting on the $5.5bn redevelopment of Ocean Park. The group is also acting in four arbitrations concerning the redevelopment of an infrastructure project in Hong Kong. Special counsel Catherine Mun has left to join Bird & Bird.

Clyde & Co has ’greatly developed its offering in Hong Kong. It now has great strength in depth and can truly be described as one of the standout construction practices in the region’. With former Minter Ellison partner Ian Cocking at the helm, the practice has gone from strength to strength, and acted in a number of Hong Kong based arbitrations and disputes. A ’standout lawyer’, Cocking is recommended for his expertise in complex developments. Gilbert Kwok has ’a huge degree of PRC knowledge, and is widely respected’.

At Mayer Brown JSM, Menachem Hasofer, David Boyle, and Singapore-based Kevin Owen are recommended for construction and town planning matters. Hasofer handled a large number of non-contentious mandates throughout 2012, including advising West Kowloon Cultural District Authority on planning compliance matters, and acting for Wynn Resorts Macau on the development of its Coatai Resort project. Other clients include Cathay Pacific, the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Alliance Construction Materials.

Steven Yip is now the main partner contact at Minter Ellison Following David Goldstein’s retirement. The team undertakes a range of litigation and arbitration work, and on the non-contentious side provides advice on tender applications, project developments and contract drafting.

Led by Harris Chan, DLA Piper’s ’very good’ team advises on both non-contentious and high-value contentious matters across Hong Kong, Macau and China. Its client base includes leading retailers and contractors.

A year on from its formation, Holman Fenwick Willan’s construction practice continues to blossom under well-respected practice head Nick Longley. The group has been retained to act in one of Hong Kong’s largest arbitrations.

Stephenson Harwood’s construction practice has been greatly enhanced by the arrival of the experienced Martin Downey from Blank Rome LLP in 2011, and former barrister Philip Rompotis in 2012. Downey is currently advising in a $500m Hong Kong arbitration.

Deacons’ Kwok Kit Cheung continues to advise on both contentious and non-contentious domestic matters. Recent work includes representing a listed sub contractor against a main contractor in a $20m arbitration.

At Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, renowned practice head Philip Nunn has now moved to a consultant role, with litigator and special counsel Alfred Wu, who joined in 2012 from Sidley Austin, heading the practice.

Ashley Howlett and Phillip Georgiou are the key contacts at Jones Day. From its Hong Kong base, the duo advises government bodies, energy companies and contractors on arbitrations concerning the construction of power plants and infrastructure projects across the region.

At Simmons & Simmons LLP, Brian Downie leads an ’enthusiastic and extremely responsive’ non-contentious team, which in 2012 advised on matters in Vietnam, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. The practice has strengthened its projects and energy offering with the recruitment of Vivien Yang, former head of natural resources at Clifford Chance.