Ranking tables

Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms) | Global

China

The Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms) rankings table below has been designed to provide the most in-depth insights and reviews of the top ranked lawyers and law firms. The firms included in our rankings have been recommended by in-house counsel, other third-party experts and private practice lawyers. Our comprehensive research ensures you have all the information needed when looking to purchase legal services across China.

Rankings overview for Departments

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E

Eminent Practitioners

  1. Chris HowseHowse Williams
  2. Joseph KwanDeacons
5

Band 5

  1. Alfred Wu Dentons7 Years Ranked
  2. Asha Sharma
    Asha Sharma Reed Smith Richards Butler9 Years Ranked
  3. Bryan Ng Baker McKenzie4 Years Ranked
  4. Cynthia Tang Baker McKenzie15 Years Ranked
  5. George Lamplough HFW20 Years Ranked
  6. James Comber
    James Comber Ashurst8 Years Ranked
  7. Melody Chan
    Melody Chan A&O Shearman7 Years Ranked
  8. Tim Blakely
    Tim Blakely Morrison Foerster9 Years Ranked
  9. Bryan O'HareHill Dickinson Hong Kong
  10. Damien LaracyHill Dickinson Hong Kong
  11. Edmund WanKing & Wood Mallesons
  12. Jonathan CromptonRPC
  13. Kevin SoKaras So LLP in association with Mishcon de Reya
  14. Nathan DenticeMinterEllison LLP
  15. Pamela MakTanner De Witt
  16. Paul KwanDeacons
  17. Peter BullockKing & Wood Mallesons
  18. William BarberMinterEllison LLP

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Clifford Chance
    1
    Clifford Chance
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked
    Clifford Chance offers an internationally renowned dispute resolution team advising an impressive roster of international clients, including high net worth individuals and major financial institutions. The team is based in Hong Kong and is highly regarded for its outstanding work on multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, with experience handling significant financial services litigation and insolvency disputes. It is also able to advise high net worth individuals on contentious trust and estate matters and regularly assists clients with securing interim measures.
  2. Herbert Smith Freehills
    1
    Herbert Smith Freehills
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 1 | 3 Years Ranked

    Herbert Smith Freehills enjoys a superb reputation for handling a vast range of local and international litigation for blue-chip clients from the firm's office in Hong Kong. The firm is also well placed to serve high net worth individuals and is distinguished by the depth and experience of its bench of litigators, allowing the team to commit substantial resources to the largest and most complex cases. It is notably visible in litigation arising out of financial services litigation and shareholder disputes, as well as general commercial disagreements. Clients benefit from the firm's alternative legal services team based in Shanghai, which offers support on the review of Chinese language documents, as well as from its joint-operation local firm, Kewei.

  3. Deacons
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 1
  4. MinterEllison LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 1
2

Band 2

  1. A&O Shearman
    2
    A&O Shearman
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked

    A&O Shearman has a hugely experienced Hong Kong-based disputes team with a distinguished track record acting for high-profile banking and corporate clients on contentious matters. The firm also offers expertise in regulatory investigations and mis-selling claims, leveraging the strength of its fraud, white-collar crime and money laundering practices. It is particularly noted for its work on multi-jurisdictional disputes across the Asia-Pacific region, with clients also benefiting from the firm's PRC joint operation, Lang Yue Law Firm.

  2. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    2
    Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher's burgeoning Hong Kong team handles a broad range of commercial disputes, with particular strengths in financial services disputes and contentious tax matters. The team is also well equipped to advise on substantial trust and probate disputes, as well as loan enforcement matters and private wealth disputes.
  3. Linklaters
    2
    Linklaters
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 2 | 3 Years Ranked
    Linklaters offers a highly reputed Hong Kong-based team, known for its strong track record in the litigation space. It is sought after by leading global and regional financial institutions, funds and investment banks for high-profile finance-related cases and is particularly visible and active in disputes concerning regulatory investigations, fraud and insolvency cases. The team also advises on disputes relating to unfair competition and intellectual property protection, as well as advising on shareholder disagreements and other commercial disputes. The firm offers extensive PRC capabilities through its joint operation with Zhao Sheng Law Firm.
  4. Dentons
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Baker McKenzie
    3
    Baker McKenzie
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    Baker McKenzie offers a highly capable team acting on major disputes in the PRC and Hong Kong. It is particularly active in cross-border disputes, especially those involving breach of contract and fraud as well as insolvency and restructuring. The team also advises clients on shareholder and joint venture disputes, as well as contentious trust and estate issues, banking disputes and disputes over land ownership. Clients benefit from the support of the firm's extensive network of global offices. The team advises an impressive roster of clients, including financial institutions and multinational companies.

  2. DLA Piper LLP
    3
    DLA Piper LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    DLA Piper's robust Hong Kong-based practice offers capable litigators covering the full range of commercial disputes. It acts for notable corporations, insurance companies and financial institutions on domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters such as shareholder disputes, insolvencies and financial litigation, including debt recovery. The team is regularly mandated to assist with contentious regulatory investigations, as well as on estate and probate disputes. The team is also a popular choice for real estate developers and investors on their disputes.

  3. Hogan Lovells International LLP
    3
    Hogan Lovells International LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked

    Hogan Lovells' Hong Kong office enjoys an excellent reputation for handling a broad range of litigation, including investigations, shareholder disputes and financial regulatory matters, with notable strengths in insolvency disputes, acting for both liquidators and receivers. The firm is able to assist clients with disputes involving Hong Kong, China and jurisdictions throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It is noted for its contentious construction practice and is additionally well placed to advise on anti-corruption investigations and public inquiries. Its wide-ranging clientele includes corporates, statutory bodies, high net worth individuals and senior management staff at multinational companies.

  4. Debevoise & Plimpton
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 3
  5. Johnson Stokes & Master
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
    4
    Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Davis Polk & Wardwell boasts a highly respected practice offering a wealth of expertise in cross-border litigation. Though it is Hong Kong-based, clients benefit from the team's close coordination with colleagues in the firm's New York and Washington, DC offices. It regularly acts on matters in key jurisdictions across the Asia-Pacific region and is particularly well regarded for its handling of regulatory enforcement matters and white-collar investigations. The team advises a wide range of high-calibre clients, including financial institutions, asset managers, Chinese and multinational corporates, accounting firms and law firms.
  2. 4
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked

    Norton Rose Fulbright has a major cross-border practice presenting solid litigation capabilities in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The firm continues to attract prominent international and domestic banks, technology companies and financial services firms, as well as high net worth individuals. It handles a broad range of commercial litigation, tracing and recovery matters and restructuring and insolvency-related disputes. It also maintains an active practice advising on cyber-fraud cases.

  3. Stephenson Harwood
    4
    Stephenson Harwood
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked

    Offering a robust Hong Kong litigation practice advising on contentious matters related to restructuring and insolvency, construction and finance, Stephenson Harwood frequently acts on shareholder disputes, professional negligence, employment and insolvency litigation and fraud claims. The firm offers longstanding experience handling complex international instructions and advises clients across a range of sectors, including insurance and financial services, often acting for domestic and international banking clients. It is frequently sought out by liquidators and administrators in insolvency disputes.

  4. Howse Williams
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 4
  5. King & Wood Mallesons
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 4
5

Band 5

  1. Ashurst
    5
    Ashurst
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5 | 3 Years Ranked

    Ashurst boasts a full-service Hong Kong-based team with a strong focus on the financial services sector. The team is regularly instructed in shareholder and contractual disputes and is well regarded for insolvency-related litigation. Clients benefit from the firm's extensive network of offices in Asia and alliances with local firms in China and India. It is valued for its contentious regulatory practice and also handles regulatory investigations.

  2. Fangda Partners
    5
    Fangda Partners
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5 | 3 Years Ranked

    Fangda Partners offers a well-regarded Hong Kong team noted for its capabilities in Mainland China, with demonstrable strength in handling cross-border disputes involving Chinese entities, including SOEs, as well as domestic disputes. It also acts for a range of foreign clients in addition to its strong PRC and Hong Kong client base. Particular areas of expertise include joint venture and shareholder disputes, regulatory matters and fraud claims. The team is capable of advising clients on cross-border disputes across the Asia-Pacific region.

  3. Reed Smith Richards Butler
    5
    Reed Smith Richards Butler
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5 | 3 Years Ranked

    A sizeable Hong Kong-based litigation practice handling a wide range of commercial disputes, in addition to a strong track record for shipping disputes, Reed Smith is noted for advising on cross-border breach of contract and shareholder disputes. It also regularly acts on debt recovery mandates, as well as advising on various interim measures and judicial review procedures.

  4. Simmons & Simmons
    5
    Simmons & Simmons
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5 | 3 Years Ranked
    With an experienced Hong Kong-based team with a strong track record of advising clients on commercial disputes, Simmons & Simmons is especially noted for its specialist focus on regulatory and funds work. The team offers additional experience in intellectual property, insolvency and employment litigation. Its impressive client roster includes a number of international banks and accounting firms, as well as SOEs, tech clients and high-level executives.
  5. Gall
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5
  6. Hill Dickinson Hong Kong
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5
  7. Karas So LLP in association with Mishcon de Reya
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5
  8. O'Melveny & Myers
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5
  9. RPC
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5
  10. Tanner De Witt
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 5
6

Band 6

  1. Eversheds Sutherland
    6
    Eversheds Sutherland
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 6 | 3 Years Ranked

    Eversheds Sutherland provides clients with expert advice on a broad range of litigation matters, from finance and competition to insolvency and contract disputes. The Hong Kong-based team also acts for regional and international clients on regulatory and international trade-related disputes. It frequently acts on behalf of major financial institutions and also represents government agencies in judicial review proceedings.

  2. Freshfields
    6
    Freshfields
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 6 | 3 Years Ranked
    Freshfields has a skilled Hong Kong-based litigation team that is part of a comprehensive, global disputes practice, regularly acting for major corporations and banks on significant cross-border mandates. It also advises a roster of private equity funds and is involved in a wide range of commercial litigation, including a consistent flow of cases in the financial services sector, as well as notable telecommunications sector expertise. It has additional experience in regulatory investigations and enforcement.
  3. 6
    HFW
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 6 | 2 Years Ranked

    HFW is a pioneering international law firm in Hong Kong specialising in matters across the litigation sphere. It demonstrates capabilities representing high net worth individuals in estate disputes, as well as handling a variety of debt recovery and enforcement mandates. It also frequently acts for liquidators in restructuring and liquidation cases with cross-border aspects.

  4. Kirkland & Ellis
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 6
  5. Zhong Lun Law Firm
    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)
    2025 | Band 6