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Ranking tables

Global China Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)

Dispute Resolution chapters focus on litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. The work covers the full course of a dispute, such as pre-trial negotiations, documentation and preparation for trial, summary judgment applications, trial, appeals and enforcement proceedings. This section also covers white-collar crime, including government investigations. Expertise in alternative dispute resolution, involving non-court mediation and arbitration, may be ranked in separate tables where the market is sufficiently developed. Practice areas such as Insurance, Construction, IP and Media may also contain litigators who are experts in their field in markets that are sufficiently specialised. In some jurisdictions in the region, where the legal profession is not fused, we feature separate ranking tables for barristers and solicitors. In jurisdictions where the legal profession is fused, but there is sufficient distinction between lawyers practising in the style of barristers, and lawyers practising in the style of solicitors, we have sought to make this distinction clear by again having separate ranking tables.

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1
Band 1
  1. Herbert Smith Freehills
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 1
2
Band 2
  1. Allen & Overy
    2
    Allen & Overy
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 2 |
    Allen & Overy boasts a world-class arbitration practice with a highly reputed Hong Kong bench and a wealth of experience handling complex cross-border disputes, with clients benefiting from the firm's PRC joint operation firm, Lang Yue. It is particularly active in arbitration proceedings relating to India, as well as across South and South-East Asia. The firm operates across a wide range of sectors, including the natural resources, banking and finance, construction, and technology and telecoms sectors. Highly regarded for its expertise in investment treaty arbitrations, it is experienced in arbitrations acting both for and against sovereign states and government bodies. Key clients include the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Cambodia and BG Exploration and Production India.
  2. Clifford Chance
    2
    Clifford Chance
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 2 |
    Clifford Chance has a highly regarded team known for successful, commercially focused advocacy, with key partners located in the firm's Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. The firm represents clients in disputes relating to joint ventures, shareholder agreements and M&A transactions and is experienced handling arbitration in a range of sectors, including mining, banking and finance and energy. The firm is active in the representation of private equity firms and other financial institutions in commercial arbitrations, with additional experience representing SOEs. It is also able to assist clients with investor-state arbitrations.
  3. Sidley Austin
    2
    Sidley Austin
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 2 |
    Sidley Austin has a robust Hong Kong-based team advising clients on a broad spectrum of cross-border commercial disputes, with particular experience in matters involving Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia. The firm acts for a roster of private equity funds and offers notable experience in handling work from a range of other sectors including construction, engineering, tech, real estate, and oil and gas. It offers clients expertise across the full spectrum of major arbitral institutions, as well as experience acting as both counsel and arbitrator.
  4. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 2
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Band 3
  1. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    3
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 3 |
    Freshfields' Hong Kong team is experienced in acting for both privately and state-owned Chinese businesses and international corporations in high-value arbitration proceedings. It regularly advises on cross-border disputes and offers notable expertise in arbitrations related to bilateral investment treaties. The team often acts for major private equity firms, as well as clients in the pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors.
  2. King & Wood Mallesons
    3
    King & Wood Mallesons
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 3 |
    King & Wood Mallesons fields a sizeable Hong Kong team, augmented by the firm's significant presence in Mainland China, to enable clients to benefit from a comprehensive China arbitration offering. It is best known for its considerable acumen and experience handling construction cases, with additional experience across the mining, energy, pharmaceutical and technology sectors. The firm advises international clients as well as Chinese private companies and SOEs. It is regularly active on commercial cases arising out of shareholder disputes.
  3. Shearman & Sterling
    3
    Shearman & Sterling
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 3 |
    Shearman & Sterling is well-regarded for offering deep expertise in disputes arising from the energy and resources sector, including in the areas of oil and gas, power and nuclear energy. The team advises on investor-state arbitration, including matters relating to investment treaties and projects in relation to China’s Belt & Road Initiative. It is experienced in representing a full range of private companies, SOEs and sovereign states, including high-profile US and European clients. The firm offers clients arbitration expertise from both its Hong Kong and Mainland China offices, while drawing on the strengths and resources of its regional and global offices to offer a truly international service.
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Band 4
  1. CMS
    4
    CMS
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 4 |
    CMS offers a dedicated international arbitration team boasting expertise acting as both counsel and arbitrator for domestic, regional and global clients. The firm frequently acts on disputes in a broad array of sectors, including the pharmaceutical, construction, shipping and transport sectors. It is notably the firm of choice for a number of German technology clients.
  2. DLA Piper Hong Kong
    4
    DLA Piper Hong Kong
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 4 |
    DLA Piper's solid Hong Kong-based arbitration practice has a strong track record of advising Chinese companies on disputes relating to their outbound investments, leveraging the firm's extensive global network effectively in cross-border cases. It is able to handle cross-border mandates on behalf of companies headquartered in other Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, including Japan and Australia, drawing on its overseas offices to offer regionally coordinated service. The team has broad experience across multiple sectors including construction, industrial manufacturing, energy, tech and shipping.
  3. Fangda Partners
    4
    Fangda Partners
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Fangda Partners offers an established practice with offices across Mainland China and a growing presence in Hong Kong. It services PRC-based entities as well as foreign multinationals on high-value cross-border disputes, including investment treaty disputes. The team provides a broad scope of sector expertise and acts for clients in the energy, mining and technology industries.
  4. Hogan Lovells International LLP
    4
    Hogan Lovells International LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Hogan Lovells fields a capable team representing clients in arbitrations across Asia from its base in Hong Kong. The firm is highly experienced in cross-border disputes, often teaming up with its regional offices to assist with mandates spanning Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Mongolia. It regularly acts as counsel in energy and construction disputes concerning joint ventures and projects. The team also represents private equity firms, banks and clients in the hospitality and leisure sectors.
  5. Reed Smith Richards Butler
    4
    Reed Smith Richards Butler
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Reed Smith's Hong Kong-based arbitration team is regularly called on to handle matters for clients from the Greater China region across a diverse spectrum of sectors. The team is experienced in advising clients across the oil and gas, real estate, pharmaceutical, shipping and transport sectors. It regularly cooperates with its offices in Shanghai and Beijing, in addition to drawing on its global presence to advise on complex cross-border matters.
  6. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Affiliates
    4
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Affiliates
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 4 |
    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom offers a well-reputed team acting on a wide range of high-value commercial arbitrations. The Hong Kong and Beijing teams coordinate with offices across Asia-Pacific to provide complete regional coverage, supported by the firm's wider global network. The firm acts on behalf of clients from the energy, leisure and TMT sectors, and demonstrates significant experience advising banks, financial institutions and private equity firms. It is additionally experienced in construction arbitrations.
  7. Dentons Hong Kong LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)
    2023 | Band 4