The Legal 500

Drew & Napier LLC has a ‘deserved’ reputation in international arbitration, and conducts ‘good work’ in the region. Jimmy Yim SC continues to represent a Norwegian cable company in seeking $20m damages from a Chinese enterprise for project delays. Hri Kumar SC is representing a foreign company in an ICC arbitration against a Chinese listed company for breach of contract valued at $230m.

‘Leading firm’ Herbert Smith Freehills continues to dominate the market, acting on a string of high-profile, $100m-plus cases over the past 12 months. It is currently representing a UK-listed mining multinational in a $3bn mining dispute, and acting for two international investment banks in relation to Indonesian parliamentary investigations into the IPO of PT Krakatau Steel. New client wins include Premier Oil Petrochina International and Ferrostaal. The single, integrated team works across South East Asia from offices in Bangkok, Singapore and Jakarta; the team is led by Alastair Henderson.

Norton Rose (Asia) LLP’s leading arbitration practice has expertise across aviation, insurance, shipping, transport, infrastructure and energy matters. Wilson Ang covers disputes involving financial institutions and is well known for his expertise in business ethics, and regulatory compliance and anti-corruption matters. Head of department Guy Spooner is a well-respected advocate with previous experience in Hong Kong. Ian Teare recently relocated from the London office, bolstering the shipping litigation practice.

‘A top firm in Singapore’, Rajah & Tann LLP is rated for its ‘professionalism, responsiveness and client orientation’. Its large network offers clients an integrated service across jurisdictions to the ‘highest standard’. The firm is acting for a group of companies in a financial dispute relating to a steel plant in the Philippines with claims up to $1bn. It is also representing an international property developer in a dispute over a Singaporean law contract for the sale and purchase of a complex in Vietnam, valued at $140m. Its 14-partner team includes the ‘very hardworking and responsive’ Sim Chee Siong.

Allen & Gledhill LLP’s arbitration practice is led by Andrew Yeo, Edwin Tong and Dinesh Dhillon, and spans disputes in the finance, construction, media and entertainment sectors, and employment, family and property matters. It is acting for a syndicate of banks in an SIAC arbitration with a purchaser of distressed assets, valued at $350m.

John Goulios is now head of the litigation and regulatory practice at DLA Piper Singapore Pte. Ltd., having relocated from Australia; he replaces Justyn Jagger, who left for Stamford Law Corporation. Goulios’ experience includes insurance and reinsurance, alternative dispute resolution and commercial litigation.

Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee provides an ‘impeccable service’ which is both ‘rigorous and thorough’. The team is involved in a high-profile case representing a Southeast Asian state in its defence of two investment treaty claims by foreign investors. The ‘very strong’ Jonathan Leach is ‘very adept at understanding clients’ needs’.

K&L Gates offers ‘good responsiveness and quality service’, and practice head Raja Bose is ‘client and results oriented’. The firm’s core strengths in arbitration cover construction, infrastructure, energy, and transport. It assisted a European shipyard in a €100m dispute relating to the upgrade of an offshore drilling unit. Chris Tung in Hong Kong is ‘very responsive’.

‘Top in all criteria’, King & Spalding LLP is led by the ‘very convincing’ John Savage. The team is representing The Dow Chemical Company in an ICC arbitration against Petrochemical Industries Company (a state-owned Kuwaiti company) arising out of a failed joint venture agreement.

Pinsent Masons MPillay’s ‘excellent’ arbitration group is led by managing partner Mohan Pillay, who provides ‘great support’ and is ‘very logical’. The practice is known for its construction-related work, and acts for a number of leading Asian clients, including Sembawang Engineers and Constructors, a subsidiary of Punj Lloyd.

White & Case LLP is ‘an excellent law firm with highly skilled, experienced lawyers’, and is ‘certainly worth the expenditure’. Recent highlights include representing a major Asian oil company in an arbitration, under New York law but seated in Singapore, arising out of a dispute with a contractor in connection with a pipeline construction project in Indonesia. Aloke Ray has ‘excellent cross-examination skills’.

WongPartnership LLP recently acted in a major case for media group Astro in an SIAC arbitration relating to a failed joint venture with an Indonesian satellite company, obtaining a $230m award for its client. Alvin Yeo SC is ‘very practical’, and makes ‘good commercial decisions’.

Ashurst LLP has a focus on energy disputes and particular expertise on India-related matters, recently acting for Siemens in a claim against National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) concerning the construction of a power station in India. It has recently hired Akshay Kishore, an Indian-qualified disputes lawyer.

Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow represented private equity firm Quvat before the SIAC in an internal dispute which arose from equity share option plans granted by the fund to its key employees. The experienced Leng Sun Chan joined as senior counsel, and co-heads the dispute resolution group.

Braddell Brothers LLP is a ‘unique boutique’ which ‘punches well above its weight’. It acted for PT First Media TBK in a high-profile case to resist a $250m award to Astro Media. Edmund Kronenburg is ‘best in class’, and a ‘trusted confidant’.

Clifford Chance’s arbitration practice is led by Nish Shetty, who specialises in restructuring. The firm has experience across shareholder disputes, insolvencies, restructurings, receiverships, defamation cases and commercial fraud matters.

Brian Nash has relocated to head Clyde & Co’s Singapore office, and also the arbitration team. He has experience in marine litigation and offshore energy matters. The firm benefits from a relationship with local firm Clasis LLC.

Simon Davidson heads the arbitration team at Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, which has a focus on marine and energy disputes. Its extensive client list features many Singaporean and Indonesian companies.

Ince & Co advises clients across the shipping, international trade and energy sectors. Denys Hickey is a member of the SIAC Panel of Arbitrators, and has experience in the ICC and SCMA.

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s arbitration work is led by Yu-Jin Tay, who has been assisting two Asian oil and gas companies in pending arbitration disputes relating to a sale and purchase agreement worth $100m.

Stamford Law Corporation continued its recruitment drive with the addition of insurance expert Justyn Jagger, who was previously head of litigation at DLA Piper Singapore Pte. Ltd.. The firm has expertise in shareholder, construction and international trade disputes, and acts for clients such as Weerawong, Chinnavat & Peangpanor, Benoit Chambers, and Budidjaja & Associates.

Clients ‘feel comfortable’ in the hands of Stephenson Harwood’s team, which is led by the ‘very responsive and experienced’ Durai Shunmugam. It recently advised the People’s Insurance Company of China, and also counts The China Navigation Co. Pte among its clients.

The team at Watson, Farley & Williams LLP is ‘tremendously hardworking and responsive’. In the past year, it was involved in over 50 disputes with a combined value of $1.5bn. The ‘solid’ Marcus Gordon heads the group.

Allen & Overy saw an increase in complex financial disputes involving parties in emerging markets, and a rise in investment treaty arbitration.

Subramanian Pillai led on a number of arbitration cases for Colin Ng & Partners LLP, with a focus on construction, engineering and infrastructure disputes.

Eversheds LLP has an ‘arbitration practice par excellence’, handling commercial disputes across the region. Oommen Mathew has ‘tremendous experience’ and ‘impeccable commercial understanding’.

Legis Point LLC added three new associates to its team, which has extensive experience in SIAC arbitrations.

Michael Hwang SC handled a major ICSID claim for Libananco Holdings against the Republic of Turkey for unlawful expropriation of assets; the compensation claimed was $10.1bn.

RPC has a new practice led by Mark Errington, previously of Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP. Its recent work includes advising on a large number of losses across the power generation sector across Asia.

The ‘excellent’ team at Respondek & Fan Pte Ltd is led by the multi-lingual Andreas Respondek, who is currently acting as lead counsel to Qiagen.

Shook Lin & Bok LLP’s ‘analytical’ team has ‘in-depth knowledge’ of arbitration matters, and has recently handled disputes in Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius and Vietnam.

Boey Swee Siang is the main contact at ATMD Bird & Bird, covering arbitration work from the Subordinate Courts up to the Court of Appeal.

Harry Elias Partnership LLP’s arbitration group is led by Francis Goh, who also has expertise in alternative dispute resolution and infrastructure-related disputes.

Kennedys’ core arbitration practices focuses on shipping and trade disputes. Clients include insurers such as Allianz and Ace Insurance.

Oon & Bazul LLP’s busy arbitration practice has extensive experience in maritime and trade disputes. Bazul Ashhab leads the sizeable team.

Rodyk & Davidson LLP gives ‘practical advice’. It is acting for Indonesian company PT Citrasari Abadi in relation to a failed banking acquisition worth $18m.

Sidley Austin LLP’s arbitration work is conducted out of its Hong Kong office by three partners, including Charles Allen. It regularly appears before the SIAC.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s recent caseload includes a number of ICC cases, including an increasing number of disputes arising between US and PRC joint ventures. Paul Mitchard QC is the key contact.

TSMP Law Corporation is acting for a major Malaysian entity in a multimillion-dollar claim over the installation of an extensive communications network in Malaysia.

At Wikborg Rein In Alliance with Pan Asia Wikborg Rein, Chris Grieveson has been leading the team on a range of arbitration matters, including representing a Singaporean shipyard in a $280m dispute.

Wong Tan & Molly Lim LLC covers commercial disputes, and has a strong mediation offering. Molly Lim SC is the main contact.