Clifford Chance LLP is distinguished by its onshore practice, with a foundation of on-the-ground experience across Greater China, supported by a network of international offices. The team is sought out by financial institutions, financial investors and corporations for assistance in a range of commercial disputes. Acting as the head of the firm’s Hong Kong litigation and dispute resolution practice, Ling Ho leads the team with a practice dedicated to IP and tech-related disputes. Donna Wacker is another standout, with over 20 years of experience acting for clients in litigation concerning financial services and insolvency, while Shanghai-based partner Lei Shi is a triple-qualified practitioner with a specialisation in PRC-related commercial litigation. Michael Wang plays a key role in the firm’s banking litigation offering, assisting banks, investment funds and listed companies on a regular basis. Notable changes to the team include the arrival of Jonathan Wong from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in April 2021 and Soo Khim Keoy from Withers in June 2021.

DLA Piper fields a team of dedicated practitioners with deep knowledge in a range of proceedings. Apart from shareholder and director disputes, the practice also handles private client litigation at a domestic and international level. Led by Kevin Chan in Hong Kong, who has more than 20 years of experience representing international companies in complex commercial disputes, the team has considerable expertise in multi-jurisdictional work, benefitting from the support of members based in Shanghai and Beijing in addition to the firm’s offshore presence. Also noted at the partner level are Harris Chan, who has a broad disputes practice covering issues between shareholders and directors, construction disputes and internet fraud, and Satpal Gobindpuri, well regarded for his extensive knowledge of commercial disputes involving product liability, trade mark, fraud and trade.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP provides coverage across Hong Kong and Shanghai, working on high-profile proceedings surrounding fund and shareholder disagreements, restructurings and liquidations. Apart from its presence in Asia, multiple practice members work from the US, giving it a significant international reach. Leadership of the practice is divided between Kelly Naphtali, Tiana Zhang and Cori Lable. Naphtali is an insolvency and restructuring litigation expert; Shanghai-based partner Zhang stands out for her knowledge of matters with a China or US element, active on cross-border cases concerning fraud, antitrust and trade control; and white-collar criminal law disputes are a key focus for Lable. Other standout practitioners include Amy Ngan and Paul Quinn, noted for multi-jurisdictional commercial and insolvency disputes, as well as Fergus Saurin, who focuses on litigation in relation to energy and resources, banking and international trade.

With extensive experience in commercial disputes, Norton Rose Fulbright‘s team is adept in cross-border estate, contractual, construction and financial litigation. Apart from having a commercial litigation focus, the firm also acts in IP disputes, particularly in relation to the technology and life sciences sectors. Camille Jojo leads the Hong Kong-based team, drawing on over 40 years of experience handling disputes in connection with banking, shareholder, restructuring, and trust and probate matters. Extending the practice’s expertise in terms of construction issues is Alfred Wu, as he regularly handles cases surrounding infrastructure and building projects in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China and the Asia Pacific region on behalf of contractors, subcontractors, government departments and statutory bodies. In terms of internal developments, Kevin Hong was promoted to the partnership in January 2021, while Daniel Ng was promoted in January 2022; they are noted for construction and banking and finance-related disputes, respectively.

With access to a large pool of advocates as a result of its OneAsia strategy, Latham & Watkins LLP combines strong collaboration and familiarity with the Greater China and offshore markets to provide a broad service in high-profile and complex litigation. Among its recent highlights, the firm is representing Sinovac Biotech’s board of directors against dissident shareholders. Acting on this matter and also leading the team overall is Hui Xu, noted for multi-jurisdictional white-collar investigations and litigation. Dominic Geiser, who joined from Herbert Smith Freehills in August 2022, showcases particular expertise in complex commercial litigation involving offshore and cross-border elements, many of which feature elements of fraud, asset tracing or injunctive relief. Bolstering the department’s capabilities in relation to internal investigations and cross-border litigation is associate Sean Wu, who acts for multinational clients in the online commerce, finance and technology sectors.

Morrison Foerster‘s Hong Kong-based dispute resolution department stands out for its expertise representing multinational and Chinese companies before a variety of China- and Hong Kong-based forums. Leading the team is Timothy Blakely, who is regularly sought out for complex commercial litigation involving US and Hong Kong law, as well as government and internal investigation matters. Supporting the team’s efforts in terms of cross-border disputes in the Asia-Pacific region is triple-qualified partner Sarah Thomas, while Chen Zhu specialises in securities litigation and white-collar defence. Also active in white-collar criminal law is of counsel Jessica Chan, who plays a key role in the firm’s handling of high-stakes matters in this space.

Active across its mainland China and offshore offices, Jones Day makes use of its pool of talent to handle commercial disputes at a global and regional level, with an emphasis on matters relating to anti-corruption, antitrust and regulatory investigations. Leadership of the practice is shared between Peter Wang, who divides his time between Hong Kong and Shanghai, of counsel Lillian He in Shanghai, Haifeng Huang, who divides his time between Hong Kong and Beijing, and Qiang Xue in Beijing. Wang is particularly noted for antitrust litigation, as he also acts in relevant investigations in relation to M&A. Other standout practitioners include Hong Kong-based partner Samuel Ngo, noted for his experience in commercial conflicts, especially in relation to construction and engineering, property development and insolvency matters. At the associate level, Liya He supports the team’s efforts with regard to global disputes involving multinational companies.

With a team based in Hong Kong, Stephenson Harwood has a strong focus on international trade finance disputes, and can also be found acting in corporate, insolvency and restructuring-related proceedings. The practice is further distinguished by its PRC knowledge, which stems primarily from its association with Guangzhou-based Wei Tu Law Firm, providing major clients with a multi-faceted service in terms of jurisdictional advice. Hong Kong-based partner Ivan Ng leads the practice, bolstering the firm’s litigation offering in shareholder disputes, contractual disputes and insolvency matters. Emily Li, who was promoted to the partnership in May of 2022, is another key contact in this regard, acting for PRC and international clients on shareholder and trade finance disputes. Managing partner Jamie Stranger is also noted for his expertise in corporate insolvency, commercial litigation, fraud and professional liability.

White & Case LLP stands out for its expertise in transaction-related disputes, where it acts for Chinese banks and financial institutions, thanks to its close collaboration with the firm’s corporate and banking teams on a variety of contentious work, including debt recovery and restructurings. Bingna Guo in Beijing co-head the practice, with senior associate Paulina Ho supporting the firm’s efforts in relation to commercial disputes, enforcement proceedings and investigations. Chan focuses on multi-jurisdictional matters, including those connected with joint ventures and insolvency proceedings, while Guo is noted for her experience handling investigations and compliance matters.

Dorsey & Whitney LLP’s commercial litigation department is noted for cross-border disputes, where a strong degree of collaboration with the firm’s US offices allows it to handle a spectrum of China-related US litigation. In Beijing, ‘expert legal counsel and adviser‘ Ray Liu heads the practice, with significant expertise in high-stakes cross-border disputes and a special focus on representing Chinese clients in US litigation. Strengthening the firm’s depth was the arrival of associate Joshua Wong from Wilkinson & Grist in August 2021. The practice saw another addition the following month, welcoming Justin Wang from Zhong Lun Law Firm in September 2021.