Reed Smith Recruits Disputes Partner in Hong Kong

Reed Smith is continuing its efforts to rebuild its disputes practice in Hong Kong, having hired Stephanie Chan as a litigation partner from Ashurst, where she was counsel.

Chan's practice focuses on commercial litigation, contentious regulatory matters and international arbitration in the financial services, mining, real estate, entertainment, energy and manufacturing sectors. She also advises on regulatory investigations by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Commercial Crime Bureau.

Chan leaves Ashurst after five years with the firm. Previously, she was an associate at King & Wood Mallesons and disputes boutique Boase Cohen & Collins.

Reed Smith Richards Butler, as it is known in Hong Kong, has been rebuilding its Hong Kong disputes and regulatory practices after about 20 lawyers, including nine white-collar defense partners, left to join MinterEllison earlier this year. Since the departures, Reed Smith has recruited partners Mark West from Kennedys, who has a similar disputes and regulatory practice; shipping specialist Peter Glover from Norton Rose Fulbright; and commercial litigator Stephen Chan from local firm Oldham, Li & Nie.

Denise Jong, Reed Smith's Hong Kong-based Asia-Pacific managing partner, told Law.com's Asia affiliate The Asian Lawyer that the firm is regaining its disputes and regulatory capability in Hong Kong, which is needed during a recession when disputes work increases. Preliminary government data released on Thursday shows that Hong Kong entered a technical recession in the third quarter. The city's economy contracted in the three months ended September 30, for the first time in a decade – down 3.2% from the previous quarter.

Reed Smith has more than 100 lawyers in Hong Kong, focusing on corporate, commercial disputes and arbitration, transportation and shipping, finance, property and employment law. Early next year, the firm will move its Hong Kong office from Central, the city's main business district, to the emerging business district of Quarry Bay, where rent can be one third of the cost of comparable space in Central, one of the most expensive office locations in the world. Jong told The Asian Lawyer that the move is in part a hedge for the recession.