The team at A&O Shearman holds an established reputation in the international arbitration space, with the merger between Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling further strengthening the firm’s ability to provide clients with advice on the full range of complex and high-value matters across a vast array of jurisdictions, including the U.S., the UK and the UAE as well as the PRC and Hong Kong. Melody Chan and Edward Taylor lead the team, advising on the full range of high-value disputes. Chan focuses on the financial markets and the energy, construction and TMT sectors, and Taylor acts in significant disputes involving technology, biotechnology, commercial investments and energy. Heidi Li represents clients in disputes relating to joint ventures and post-M&A matters, as well as banking and shareholder disputes. Joanne Lau departed from the firm in February 2024 to sit in the HKIAC and Matthew Hodgson has relocated to the London group.

Clifford Chance posseses a market leading international arbitration team, acting in the full range of disputes, with a particularly strong commercial focus. Joint practice head Thomas Walsh is recognised for his expertise in private equity, TMT and cryptocurrency, pharmaceutical disputes and aviation sectors. Walsh regularly acts in highly complex and multi-jurisdictional disputes, and sits as an arbitrator under major rules including HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, LCIA and SIAC. Co-head Lei Shi acts in high-value, cross-border matters concerning private equity and TMT. Cameron Hassall is an active player in the Hong Kong arbitration space, regularly sitting as an arbitrator under the HKIAC rules. Jonathan Wong specialises in acting for financial institutions, investors and large multinationals on a range of contentious matters. Yvonne Shek excels in private equity, shareholder and joint venture disputes, as does Irene Ding who also handles insolvency disputes. Dianna Shao is also a key contact.

The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP international arbitration team are an established group, currently observing an increase in set aside cases and private equity disputes. Simon Chapman KC heads the team, leading in an array of high-value and complex matters with a strong focus on private equity disputes. Justin D’Agostino is active across the China and the wider Asia region, and acts as the firm’s global CEO. Kathryn Sanger specialises in joint venture and M&A disputes, private equity and China-related proceedings. May Tai brings vast skill to the team, acting in high value SIAC arbitrations. Antony Crockett acts for government bodies and international organisations. Helen Tang is also recommended.

The team at Freshfields has extensive experience acting for multinational corporations and leading Chinese corporations on high-value, cross-border arbitrations and disputes across the APAC region. The team acts for a broad range of clients across a large range of sectors, including TMT, energy, financial services, life sciences, and infrastructure. The team is led by John Choong, who acts in high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional arbitration matters. Xin Liu has extensive experience in Hong-Kong related international arbitration, often working on matters concerning M&A, energy and trading disputes.

King & Wood Mallesons maintains its strong reputation for handling construction disputes, in addition to handling mining, energy, technology and pharmaceutical disputes. Paul Starr and Jessica Fei jointly lead the team, Starr is a key contact for cross-border disputes and international arbitrations, and Fei’s practice focuses on disputes within the energy, infrastructure and construction sectors, often involving the international sale of goods and cross-border investments. Fei routinely represents clients before the ICC, HKIC and UNCITRAL. Barbara Chiu handles high-profile and complex contentious cross-border matters. Donovan Ferguson is also recommended for his specialism in construction-related resource, infrastructure and contractual disputes. Rachel Yu and Crystal Luk are also key contacts for commercial disputes.

The Baker McKenzie team is recommended for its arbitration expertise concerning IP and commercial disputes. Gary Seib leads the team, harnessing his longstanding experience in tech and TMT to handle major asset tracing matters. Philipp Hanusch often operates as an arbitrator under HKIAC, ICC, CEITAC, VIAC, ICDR and UNCITRAL rules. James Ng is also recommended for his expertise in arbitrations and disputes arising in the hospitality and TMT sectors, with a strong focus on shareholder and joint venture-related disputes.

Dentons Hong Kong is noted for advising both Chinese and international clients. The team was further strengthened by the arrival of Alfred Wu, senior consultant Philip Nunn and Muriel Cheng in September 2024. Keith Brandt leads the team, harnessing extensive experience to advise in heavy-weight dispute resolution, with a particular focus on the energy, construction and financial services sectors. Brandt is supported by Robert Rhoda, who specialises in international arbitration and cross-border litigation. Richard Keady operates in highly regulated domains providing advice in dispute resolution. Jean Lau is also a key contact.

The offering at Fangda Partners specialises in high-value international and regional arbitration, regularly working for high-profile clients in both English and Chinese law. Peter Yuen leads the team, often appearing before the ICC, SCC, LCIA and HKIAC in addition to handling ad hoc arbitrations. Andrew Skudder has particular expertise in commercial and antitrust arbitration, often acting for shipping, TMT and construction clients.

Hill Dickinson Hong Kong engages in the full range of arbitration matters, ranging from mining and energy to international trade and cryptocurrency disputes. Damian Laracy leads the team, and regularly handles cases before the CIETAC, ICC, UNCITRAL, HKIAC, HKMAG, LMAA concerning construction, mining, energy and infrastructure projects, in addition to crypto currency disputes. Bryan O’Hare is a key contact for commercial and insolvency disputes, and Yvette Yu is noted for her regulatory expertise. Jim James frequently acts in a range of shipping and energy disputes.

The Hogan Lovells team regularly collaborates with the firm’s Singapore, Shanghai, and Tokyo practices. James Kwan has expertise in representing Chinese and international clients alike in high-value and complex arbitrations, with particular specialism in tech, energy, and life sciences sector disputes, with a client base spanning Asia, the U.S., the Middle East, and Europe. Zoe Dong has extensive experience in high-value, complex, and multi-jurisdictional commercial litigation, in addition to internal investigations and regulatory enforcement matters.

Johnson Stokes & Master  is noted for its specialism in construction, engineering and real estate disputes. Menachem Hasofer and Geoffrey Chan lead the team; Hasofer is noted for his varied expertise in construction, public and administrative law, and judicial review proceedings, particularly in matters concerning town planning, environmental, and land lease matters. Chan has extensive experience in handling contentious construction matters, including contracts claims, negligence claims and matters involving environmental issues. Terence Tung has a wealth of experience in appearing before the Supreme People’s Court and the High People’s Court in China, as well as the High Court of Hong Kong. Jason Leung is also recommended for his knowledge of engineering and real estate development matters.

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright regularly represents both domestic and multinational corporations, and regulatory bodies, on complex, cross-border disputes, with a strong focus on large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. Camille Jojo leads the team utilising her considerable experience to handle a variety of banking disputes, shareholder and general commercial disputes and arbitrations, and contentious trust and probate cases. Kevin Hong also leads the team, with his caseload consisting of both local and multinational commercial, construction and energy disputes. Alfred Wu departed the practice in September 2024.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP‘s practice leverages its international network of teams across Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore (recently established), Tokyo, Sydney, to handle high-stakes and high-value international commercial arbitrations. John Rhie leads the team, specialising in both commercial and investment treaty arbitrations, as well as white collar crime-related cases. Rhie is also active in insurance and financial services sector matters.

The broad offering at Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP advises a diverse client base on a range of high-value contentious matters in a range of sectors. Lianjun Li co-leads the team, and is particularly experienced in handling mandates involving international trade, commercial transactions, transportation, shipping and cross border investments. Practice co-lead Asha Sharma is a key figure within the practice, while co-head Mark West often advises on and coordinates cross-border arbitrations. Matthew Townsend is recommended for his expertise in high-value energy, infrastructure, and tech related disputes. 'Superb litigator' Donald Sham is also a key contact.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, utilising his longstanding expertise to act in complex and high-value arbitrations, including ad hoc and before the LCIA, ICC, LMAA and UNCITRAL. McAlpine is qualified in several jurisdictions, including Hong Kong, England and Wales, Australia and the US. The team is led by Friven Yeoh who joined from Sidley Austin in October 2024.

The arbitration team at CMS is active across a variety of sectors, ranging from infrastructure, real estate and construction, to life sciences. Mariel Dimsey heads up the team after rejoining the firm in March 2024, specialising in international commercial and investment arbitrations. Nicolas Wiegand is well-equipped to handle a broad range of  disputes involving joint ventures, sales, and distribution within the energy, technology, construction and infrastructure sectors. Steven Wise advises on the full range of contractual and tortious disputes.

The team at Deacons is known for its handling of complex commercial disputes involving the construction and energy sectors. The team regularly acts for key domestic and international private clients, corporations, governments and statutory bodies in China. Joseph Chung's practice primarily consists of construction, energy and banking and finance sector work. KK Cheung has longstanding experience in assisting major developers, contractors and sub-contractors in disputes concerning construction projects, often possessing a cross-border element. Justin Yuen and Richard Hudson are also recommended.

The team at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has developed particular expertise in private equity matters. The addition of  Tony Dymond as co-head of the team has extended the practice, contributing his focus on complex, multi-jurisdictional construction and engineering matters. Gareth Hughes jointly leads the practice, and is noted for his expertise in complex multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes under the HKIAC, LCIA, SIAC, CIETAC, UNCITRAL and ICC rules. Cameron Sim is another key member of the team.

The team at Eversheds Sutherland advises financial institutions, private equity firms, brokers and asset management firms in a range of cross-border financial arbitration matters, under a range of institutional rules, including HKIAC to ICC. Mark Hughes leads the team, and is supported by Wesley Pang, who often advises on high-value energy sector and infrastructure project-related disputes in Asia, and across the EMEA region.

Kirkland & Ellis houses a broad practice known for handling the full range of arbitration issues, with a strong focus on private equity and funds-related arbitration. Fergus Saurin leads the team, often advising on capital markets, M&A, and shareholder disputes, as well as banking, and international trade and investment cases. Saurin is supported by Paul Quinn, who handles complex insolvency and fraud cases. Amy Ngan is a key name for cross-border litigation, and Kevin Leung is also a key contact. Kelly Naphtali left the firm in 2024.

The offering at Pinsent Masons is well-known for its strength in energy and infrastructure sector disputes. Alvin Ho heads up the practice, and is a key contact for major Hong Kong and SOE contractors. Dean Lewis routinely advises on energy and infrastructure project-related disputes in Hong Kong, the Philippines, the Middle East, Guyana, Costa Rica and Venezuela. Nicholas Turner and Karah Howard have particular expertise in cross-border construction matters.

RPC are active in the arbitration space, particularly in relation to joint venture and shareholder disputes, and set aside and enforcement proceedings. Charles Allen leads the team, acting for a range of individuals, private and listed companies, and financial institutions. Jonathan Crompton specialises in finance and technology disputes.

Sidley Austin often acts for a lucrative client base of blue-chip clients, Chinese corporates and state-owned enterprises on major bet-the-company multi-jurisdictional mandates. Yan Zhang regularly represents multinational clients across a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, TMT and financial services, while Desmond Ang has a growing restructuring and insolvency practice, representing both debtors and creditors.

Zhong Lun Law Firm regularly advises notable clients including Bank of China Limited and eBay, and Frederick Hui and Gilbert Leung jointly leads the practice. Hui specialises in multijurisdictional commercial disputes, frequently representing financial institutions, NGOs and Chinese state-owned enterprises. Terence Luk is recommended for his deep knowledge of cross-border arbitration.