Thomas Walsh

Practice Areas

Thomas Walsh co-leads the firm's Greater China international arbitration practice. He is also the head of its Korean disputes practice. He has a particular focus and experience in post-M&A, private equity and tech related disputes and has been based in Asia since 2010 so has a depth of experience in the region.

Thomas He is recognized as one of the leaders in Asia in international arbitration and is ranked as Band 1 by Chambers and as a Leading Individual by Legal 500. In accordance with this he has leadership roles with many of the leading global and regional arbitral institutions. This includes being on the HKIAC's Exco, Council and Chair of its Appointments Committee and also being elected as the Chair of ICC HK's Nominations Committee.

Legal Directories note that he is a "dedicated and enthusiastic player at the heart of the dispute resolution scene in Hong Kong’, Thomas Walsh co-heads the Greater China practice alongside Shanghai-based Lei Shi and is regularly involved in many of the most complicated multi-jurisdictional disputes in the region" (Legal 500) and that "[h]e gives confidence to clients with great communication skills and a thorough understanding of the key issues" (Chambers & Partners).

Alongside his work as counsel and as an arbitrator, he also regularly writes and speaks on arbitration and is one of the General Editors of the leading commentary in arbitration in Hong Kong, the Arbitration and ADR Volume of Hong Kong Civil Procedure (or "White Book"). He also enjoys teaching arbitration and has been an adjunct professor at Hong Kong University, Peking University, Seoul National University and Yonsei University.

Career

Trinity Hall, Cambridge (BA) 2001

Admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales 2007

Admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong 2011

Admitted as a Foreign Legal Consultant in the Republic of Korea 2013

Joined Clifford Chance 2014

Head of Korean disputes practice 2014

Partner since 2019

Co-head of China International practice 2020