HFW has a large team of long-term Hong Kong shipping specialists. It is highly rated for ship finance and shipping disputes, including both wet and dry shipping matters, being one of the most active firms in the Hong Kong High Court and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. The firm represents the full spectrum of those involved in the industry, from shipowners and charterers to marine insurance underwriters and governments. Christopher Chan leads the practice and is noted for his capabilities in wet and dry matters for a plethora of stakeholders, including P&I clubs, charterers, and owners. Patrick Yeung is another senior practitioner in disputes and transactional shipping-related matters, along with Henry Fung, who is qualified as a China Appointed Attesting Officer. George Lamplough is well-known for his kidnap for ransom and piracy work, while Patrick Cheung focuses on cross-border asset finance and corporate transactions.

Ince & Co has a ‘long-established reputation as an all-rounder admiralty law firm’, demonstrating prowess in both wet and dry shipping cases, as well as in a wide range of matters, such as assisting banks and corporates with ship finance and addressing novel issues like green shipping initiatives. The team is led by Rosita Lau, a veteran shipping lawyer frequently representing clients in cross-border commercial disputes in high courts. This adept team has the valuable support of a robust lineup of partners, notably including Max Cross, lauded for his ‘very experienced advice’ in handling complex arbitrations and related matters. Former joint practice head David Beaves departed to Hill Dickinson Hong Kong in October 2023.

Clyde & Co LLP’s shipping team is co-led by Matthew Lam, who has over 20 years’ experience in handling litigation and arbitration cases in Hong Kong and across the wider APAC region, and head of the banking and finance group Fei Kwok. Many of the team’s matters are high-value and often cross-border in nature, and it frequently advises on collision and salvage cases, pollution liabilities, and insurance disputes, as well as on all types of asset finance, including secured lending, leasing and export credit financing. The team is supported by the dispute resolution expertise of Christopher Jobson, who often acts for energy companies, insurance and financial institutions, and transport organisations. Associate Rita Hung specialises in shipping litigation and has experience in enforcing foreign judgments in Hong Kong, while Michael Ng, who is dual-qualified in Hong Kong and New Zealand, focuses on sale of goods, carriage of goods by sea, and charterparty claims.

While it is best known for its shipping litigation expertise, CMS also has a strong core of senior shipping specialists who frequently advise on restructuring and insolvency-related disputes, shareholder and director disputes, and shipping finance matters. Andrew Horton co-leads the team with an outstanding record in Asia Pacific shipping work, particularly in international trade disputes matters. Co-head Steven Wise is experienced in advising on a full range of contractual and tortious disputes, especially those regarding charterparties, bills of lading, sale and purchase contracts, and insurance policies. The team expanded its shipping litigation and arbitration credentials with the hire of Fontaine Lai as an associate from the Swedish Club, and in October 2023 it welcomed Richard Oakley, a master mariner who joined from Ince & Co.

The DLA Piper team offers ‘practical recommendations in solving the dispute cases and formulating strategies in arbitration cases in the shipping industry’, in addition to providing shipping law advice and related services to its global clientele, which encompasses shipowners, insurance companies, and banks. Ernest Yang co-heads the team and advises on claims arising from shipbuilding, ship sale and purchase, and cargo and charterparty contracts claims, among other areas. Xiaoshan Chen jointly heads the team and handles some of the largest commercial arbitration matters in and outside of mainland China. Kevin Chan is ‘a pre-eminent shipping practitioner’ who specialises in cross-border dispute resolution and international arbitration, while Tom Van Hoof is a finance lawyer and a key port of call for a number of Chinese and international banks and financial institutions.

Hill Dickinson Hong Kong‘s shipping group is praised by a number of clients for its capabilities in both contentious and non-contentious matters, frequently representing owners, charterers, banks, and insurers on a range of shipping issues. Practice chair Damien Laracy is a highly experienced litigator and arbitrator who specialises in both commercial and maritime matters. Antony Cowie is a prolific advisor who brings over 25 years of experience to bear on shipping, corporate, and financing transactions. Yvette Yu‘s extensive experience makes her a key contact for clients in the telecoms sector, while Jim James‘s expertise is concentrated in shipping arbitration and litigation, as well as shipping finance and leasing. The team welcomed the highly regarded asset finance and corporate practitioner David Beaves who joined from Ince & Co in October 2023.

The shipping practice at Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP leverages the bench strength of its worldwide network and offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing to provide expert guidance to high-profile clients operating in the shipping industry, covering both wet and dry aspects. Co-led by renowned shipping disputes specialist Lianjun Li and the experienced Peter Lee, who has background in representing shipowners, builders, and banks, the group excels in various areas, including litigation, shipping-related corporate finance, and M&A work. The team receives additional support from Min Li, an authority in China-related disputes, Tat Pan, a specialist in general banking and ship financing, Donald Sham, a member of the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group; and Zeldar Wang, who joined the firm from Ince & Co in September 2022.

Stephenson Harwood has a large team of Hong Kong shipping specialists and has further expanded with the arrival of Paul Ho in October 2023 from Ince & Co who excels in maritime and international trade, and ship finance. It is highly rated for ship financing mandates and shipping disputes, covering the full spectrum of shipping litigation work, from dry and wet charterparty work to insolvency and restructuring matters. In addition to its work for major international banks, credit agencies, owners, and operators, the group also acts for commodities finance companies. The practice is jointly led by Elizabeth Sloane, who is an expert in distressed enforcement and crisis management of urgent situations across both dry and wet sides of shipping, and Hongkai Zhou, who is noted for his shipping finance capabilities. Andrew Rigden Green is another senior practitioner experienced in marine and international trade matters, and Jason Toms is noted for his extensive experience in both wet and dry shipping matters and commercial litigation. Elton Chan is a shipping finance expert.

Haiwen & Partners specialises in the resolution of maritime and commodities disputes, often handling cross-border cases related to various aspects of contentious wet and dry shipping matters. The firm also provides guidance to significant insurers in the Hong Kong market, addressing concerns like data privacy, policy coverage, and recovery claims. Heading the team is Edward Liu, who maintains strong working relationships with Chinese and international shipping companies, frequently representing them in arbitration and commercial mandates.

Howse Williams has unique expertise in advising shipowners and terminal operators in relation to personal injury matters. The team is headed by Chris Howse, a seasoned practitioner in maritime disputes. Assisting him is David Coogans, who has over 25 years of experience in all types of wet and dry matters, and William Leung, an experienced commercial litigator.

At Norton Rose Fulbright's Hong Kong office, Becky Tai spearheads a diverse shipping finance practice with a focal point on Greater China. Beyond conventional financing transactions, the team dedicates itself to providing solutions by harnessing the strengths of its capital markets and corporate divisions, thereby catering to clients on a cross-border scale. A testament to its recent growth lies in the fact that the practice frequently represents Chinese leasing companies in their sales and leaseback transactions, as well as its being heavily engaged in LIBOR discontinuation matters.

The ‘responsive and tenacious’ shipping and litigation practice at boutique firm Tsui & Co handles a range of both contentious and non-contentious mandates. The group is led by Sam Tsui, who  frequently advises P&I clubs, insurers, owners, and charters, and his practice spans across a variety of arbitration and financing mandates, as well as insurance matters.

Underpinned by a network of offices in the key shipping hubs, Watson Farley & Williams's Hong Kong office has a wide-ranging shipping practice, acting for many international and Chinese banks, leasing houses, export credit agencies, insurance companies, and investment funds. The group is jointly headed by Christoforos Bisbikos, cross-border shipping finance deals specialist and Marcus Gordon, an experienced litigator and arbitrator. Other key names include Madeline Leong, who has particular experience in the transportation, natural resources, and energy sectors, and Guan Jian, a specialist in financing transactions across the maritime and energy sectors.