Two partnership announcements at a leading Hong Kong boutique law firm show that the market for disputes lawyers is thriving across all sizes of law firms.
Hong Kong’s disputes market remains a healthy one; not just at the level of the largest law firms, according to Nick Gall, name partner at leading litigation boutique, Gall.
Speaking to CDR in Hong Kong, last week, he said: “The market is busy with a range of disputes- this firm has been involved in commercial litigation, high-net worth family law disputes, and also Chinese-related claims. “
The firm announced two partner appointments in August 2014, in Caroline McNally and Chris Wong and the hire of Brooke Holden, a senior associate, from Pinsent Masons in Hong Kong.
Wong, a commercial disputes lawyer, leads the firm’s China practice, whilst McNally leads the firm’s family and divorce one, with Holden specialising in international and domestic arbitration and litigation.
Gall tells CDR that “the office continues to attract people of quality, with high standards, who want to litigate, who are financially sensible, and adept at serving their clients creatively and flexibly. We attract the kinds of lawyers who like a variety of work, and like going to court.”
Wong’s appointment, says Gall, comes as a result of his having developed the firm’s PRC practice, saying “We offer an alternative to the very large firms, by offering value for money, and extending our services to law firms in areas where they might welcome a Hong Kong presence like ours, but have perhaps been overlooked.”
Wong’s promotion follows a four year stint at the firm, having joined in October 2010, having developed a wide range of experience in Hong Kong and mainland Chinese-related disputes.
These include complex multi-jurisdictional disputes, fraud and asset recovery, contentious insolvency and bankruptcy, shareholder and joint venture disputes, in which he has acted for and against numerous mainland Chinese companies and individuals in Hong Kong.
He also has an extensive background in regulatory disputes, ranging from the misselling of financial products, audit negligence claims, and anti-corruption investigations by Hong Kong’s Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC).
Gall says there is “a market in Hong Kong for investigatory work which we see larger firms engaged with, which is clearly lucrative, in dealing with corporate investigations, including for US firms.”
Moves in that field include Mini vandePol’s move from Melbourne to Hong Kong for Baker & McKenzie, plus a hire by Proskauer in the form of David Chu in January 2014, alongside other moves in 2013 by Gibson Dunn and Freshfields, respectively.
At the associate level, the team welcomed Holden, who advises in relation to domestic and international arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution, both in Hong Kong and abroad.
Holden has broad experience representing local and international clients in the resolution of commercial disputes across a range of sectors and jurisdictions.
She tells CDR: “I have worked in Hong Kong for over nine years, the majority of which were spent at Pinsent Masons specializing in a mix of construction litigation and project work. My move to Gall was prompted by a desire to expand my litigation experience outside construction, into general commercial dispute resolution.”
She added: “What I enjoy about working at Gall is the diversity of work and the fact that the lawyers are passionate about what they do. My move was driven by the opportunities the firm could offer both in terms of the nature of work and career prospects.”
Gall said the firm was developing its senior associate ranks, “with the likes of Holden adding her commercial litigation experience to that of partner, Michael Withington, who joined in 2012.”
He said Holden joined at a time “when our clients are looking for further experience in relation to international and domestic arbitration and commercial disputes.”
The firm also appointed Caroline McNally as a partner, the head of the firm’s family and divorce practice, who joined Gall as a registered foreign lawyer from Farrer & Co in London in March 2013. Having since qualified in Hong Kong, she became a partner.
