Drawing upon the expertise of three core commercial litigation partners based in Hong Kong, and also able to leverage wider disputes resources housed within the firm’s specialised arbitration, financial services regulatory and competition practices, Herbert Smith Freehills is well-positioned to provide ‘comprehensive and effective‘ representation to clients from a range of sectors in often high-stakes contentious matters. ‘Superb’ team head Gareth Thomas has a longstanding presence in the local market and a track record of involvement in a myriad of high-stakes disputes, affecting both commercial (including many high-profile financial services entities and blue-chip corporates) and private clients. Fluent Mandarin speaker Jojo Fan has established herself as a lynchpin of the firm’s banking litigation offering and provides ‘very commercial and solutions-oriented’ advice across a range of matters, including in the defence of a number of recent mis-selling claims. Rachael Shek‘s return in January 2022 from Clyde & Co LLP was a boost for the department; in August 2022 of Dominic Geiser departed for Latham & Watkins LLP.

Combining superb tactical and procedural expertise with an ‘excellent understanding of the commercial needs’ of its client base, Allen & Overy is a popular choice among international and regional entities across a broad array of corporate and commercial disputes. Overseen by the ‘very capable and experienced’ Matt Bower, the three-partner Hong Kong-based team is undoubtedly best-known for its work within the financial services sector, both in the context of contentious regulatory matters, as well as across a range of conventional litigation. Drawing upon vast disputes experience, as well as fluency in Mandarin and Cantonese, the ‘detail-oriented’ Fai Hung Cheung is a popular choice among Chinese banks across a range of disputes, while US-qualified Eugene Chen is a vital resource to multinational and Chinese clients subject to regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, both domestically and internationally.

‘Well-resourced and very client-oriented,’ Baker McKenzie is ‘excellent at handling big litigation’, including for regional and international clients, in multi-jurisdictional matters – where the firm’s vast global network is a strong selling point. The team is also distinguished by its ability to provide an integrated Greater China offering and thereby to represent clients before the local courts, by virtue of the firm’s longstanding joint operation with PRC law firm FenXun Partners. The scope of the disputes work is broad and encompasses standalone mandates, as well as work for existing clients of the firm, covering, inter alia, banking litigation, shareholder disputes and property-related litigation. Cynthia Tang heads up a ‘successful team’ that includes the ‘extremely hardworking and knowledgeable’ Bryan Ng, who excels at handling financial services and regulatory litigation, and the ‘very diligent and meticulous’ Jannice Lau, who is adept at advising on corporate and shareholders disputes.

The ‘knowledgeable‘ team at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has ‘good strength-in-depth’ and provides ‘sound, sharp and timely advice’ to a mix of clients, ranging from listed companies, to private equity houses and banks. Although it does handle some conventional commercial litigation, including as it pertains to shareholder and joint venture disputes, as well as in the context of disputes arising from derivatives and structured products, the firm’s core sweet-spot relates to regulatory investigations and enforcement matters. The ‘responsive, hands-on and client-friendly’ Martin Rogers heads up the Asia litigation function, which also includes James Wadham.

The ‘professional, technical and cost-effective’ team at Gibson Dunn provides ‘commercially-focused’ advice to a compelling mix of corporates, high-net-worth individuals and family offices across a wide spectrum of disputes. Although the team does handle some commercial litigation, and is also able to leverage broader compliance and investigations and antitrust expertise from separate practice groups at the firm, it is best-known for its private client-related disputes offering. Brian Gilchrist is ‘strategically savvy and massively experienced’ and consequently is regularly instructed by many of Hong Kong’s wealthiest individuals in their most sensitive and highest-profile tax, trusts and probate disputes. Elaine Chen co-heads the team with Gilchrist and is ‘masterful in navigating complex legal issues’ for high-net-worth individuals engaged in, inter alia, contentious probate and estate administration disputes.

Led from Hong Kong by the ‘commercially astute’ Paul Starr and also drawing upon ‘extremely strong PRC connections’, as a result of the firm’s sprawling presence on the Mainland, the ‘very gifted and experienced team’ at King & Wood Mallesons provides ‘speedy, sound and pragmatic advice’ to major listed companies and state-owned enterprises across a range of commercial litigation. High-profile construction disputes remain a mainstay for the practice, with stakeholders, including contractors and developers. Starr remains key to this work, as does ‘gifted lawyer’ Donovan Ferguson. Edmund Wan is also strong at handling contentious construction matters, although he has also effectively diversified his litigation offering to include a range of domestic and cross-border commercial disputes, including insolvency and competition litigation. Peter Bullock is another key member of the team, and ‘provides accurate and friendly support’ to clients engaged in TMT disputes.

Leveraging ‘excellent technical and litigation skills’ and also demonstrating a ‘very collaborative approach‘ between the firm’s Hong Kong and Shanghai offices, HFW provides a cohesive and powerful offering to international and regional clients, particularly those operating within core areas of sector strength, including commodities and shipping. ‘A heavyweight litigator and brilliant strategist’, team head Noel Campbell is particularly adept at handling contentious insolvency matters which include elements of fraud. George Lamplough also handles cross-border fraud cases, as well as a considerable volume of shipping-related litigation work.

Frequently working alongside practitioners throughout Asia (including Singapore and mainland China) and beyond, Linklaters‘ ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Hong Kong offering is a popular choice for financial services clients, in particular, where it has the ‘cross-border expertise to deal with high-profile and sensitive matters’. Justin Tang has ‘a good grasp of the law and regulatory framework, as well as the court processes’, and alongside the ‘sharp and very insightful’ Denise Fung is one of the main Hong Kong-based contacts within the Southeast Asia disputes practice, which is led out of Singapore by Jelita Pandjaitan.  

Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP has a strong presence throughout Greater China, ensuring that it excels in local and regional matters, as well as being ‘more than capable of handling complex cases that involve matters across various jurisdictions’, by virtue of its strong international network. Although it is skilled at handling disputes across a range of sectors, the firm is perhaps best known for its expertise at handling shipping and international trade, an area that Lianjun Li is particularly effective. Li co-heads the overarching disputes team alongside Asha Sharma, who regularly handles shareholder and corporate disputes.

The ‘exceptional’ three-partner team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP excels in handling big-ticket commercial disputes, and is ‘a natural choice to manage international disputes with a Hong Kong or PRC focus’. Rory McAlpine has a ‘great depth of experience and technical ability’ and is consequently frequently called upon to represent major regional and Chinese corporates, and international financial institutions, in high-stakes disputes, where he is equally adept at handling litigation and ADR. Counsel Wilfred Ho is ‘a fantastic problem-solver with first-rate communication skills in English and Mandarin’ and is a key contact for Asian clients across a range of commercial litigation, including shareholder and insolvency-related actions. Steve Kwok co-heads the team alongside McAlpine and has forged a very strong practice representing US-listed Chinese companies in securities litigation matters brought before the US courts.

Ashurst is ‘well-equipped to handle complex and sophisticated matters’, including in the context of large-scale finance disputes, where it is often supported by the firm’s banking and restructuring practices. ‘Detail-oriented’ team head James Comber is frequently at the forefront of much of this work, including in the context of contentious regulatory matters brought by, amongst others, the HKSE. Bilingual litigator Cliff Chow has made in-roads into the Chinese market since joining the firm over two years ago from Allen & Overy, including on behalf of local banks and SOEs, as has ‘all-rounder and true problem solver’ Benjamin NG.

Drawing upon deep industry knowledge in core sector strengths for the firm as a whole, including transport, trade and insurance, the ‘very efficient and professional’ team at Clyde & Co LLP provides a very capable service to international clients, as well as for China-based clients on outbound litigation involving Hong Kong proceedings. Patrick Perry excels in handling the defence of claims against professional services firms (including in the context of professional negligence allegations) and is a key member of the team that also includes aviation litigation expert Peter Coles. Team head Simon McConnell has extensive experience in commercial disputes, particularly in the financial services sector.

‘Small but very strong’ conflict-free specialist litigation boutique Gall‘s ‘well organised and effective team of lawyers’ picks up a significant volume of high-quality commercial litigation work (including in relation to shareholder disputes, fraud and asset recovery) on a standalone basis, as well as from law firm referrals. The six-partner team, which is led by Nick Gall, has excellent credibility before the local courts, and consequently provides a very strong service to clients, not only in purely domestic matters but also on the Hong Kong elements of large multi-jurisdictional mandates. Chris Wong  is ‘very practical and good at client management’, particularly on behalf of Chinese clients engaged in matters before the Hong Kong courts.

Under the leadership of Rudy Chung, global insurance heavyweight Kennedys continues to develop and grow its litigation/regulatory offering in Hong Kong and provides ‘very practical and commercial’ advice to a diverse client base, including corporates, government departments, insurers, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals. The firm has also developed a market-leading reputation representing health care professionals and doctors in the defence of medical negligence and medical-related cases. Key to this success has been the work of practice co-heads Christine Tsang and Sandy Cho, who are both ‘very knowledgeable about medical-legal related issues and have vast experience under their belts’. 

The ‘outstanding’ team at Minter Ellison provides ‘very efficient and effective‘ advice to regional and local corporates/individuals (as well as international entities with substantial operations in Greater China) across a broad swathe of disputes, running the gamut from corporate and shareholder litigation, through to insurance and IP disputes. William Barber ‘combines sensible legal advice with tactical acumen’ for clients engaged in commercial and regulatory disputes, including those within the financial services and energy sectors. Other key contacts include Desmond Liaw, who provides ‘practical and commercial advice‘ to clients seeking representation across complex litigation, employment and insolvency matters, and senior partner David Morrison, who has vast experience handling corporate, regulatory and securities litigation in the region.

With two partners based in Hong Kong and able to draw upon additional strength from the firm’s international network, should the need arise, the ‘solutions-oriented and pragmatic’ team at O'Melveny punches above its weight and is frequently engaged in complex cross-border disputes. Leveraging ‘an unparalleled depth of experience and knowledge in Hong Kong’ team head Denis Brock is frequently at the forefront of the highest-profile mandates it handles across a broad swathe of litigation, including as it relates to infrastructure, product liability, insurance and professional negligence. Counsel Kieran Humphrey is also a key contact and is noted for his ‘strategic and pragmatic mindset’.   

Appreciated by local and international clients for its ability to formulate ‘logical and sensible solutions in a timely-fashion’, RPC‘s litigation offering differs from many in the ranking due to its largely conflict free status and therefore its  ability to act adverse to banking entities in commercial litigation. This work, alongside other financial services and general commercial disputes, is handled by solicitor/advocate Charles Allen and Jonathan Crompton, who both have a strong reputation in the region, with the latter also very adept at handling risk management and contentious matters relating to cyber security/data protection. The other key component to the firm’s litigation offering is its strength in relation to professional negligence matters, an area that Asia managing partner Antony Sassi is well regarded, including in the defence of claims brought against accountants, auditors and solicitors.