On September 20, the leading dispute resolution practitioners from across the region gathered at Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong for the Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards 2018.

 

The night started off with a speech from Rimsky Yuen from Temple Chambers. His keynote speech outlined his thoughts on the future development of dispute resolution in the region.

On a night that recognised the leading dispute resolution advisers in Asia, Ing Loong Yang of Latham & Watkins won the trophy for outstanding practitioner.

Neil Kaplan CBE QC SBS, was named as the winner of the lifetime achievement award, which was given to honour the individual on the basis of the impact of their work over the course of their career. 

International law firm of the year for dispute resolution was Herbert Smith Freehills and the boutique disputes firm was Gall. For arbitration, the international award went to Allen & Overy and the domestic prize was taken by WongPartnership.

Other individual awards went to Kevin So of Davis Polk & Wardwell as the rising star; John Scott SC of Des Voeux Chambers as barrister of the year and Peter Godwin of Herbert Smith Freehills, who was picked as arbitration practitioner of the year. 

The awards ceremony also honoured the top dispute resolution practitioner and national firm of the year of the year in 14 jurisdictions, the best firms of the year at resolving disputes in 14 practice areas, and matters of the year.

Remarks from Rodney Heng of The Hub preceded the awards ceremony. The charity was the beneficiary of a silent auction during the event. 

Asialaw’s editorial staff chose the winners and nominees after extensive research between June and August 2018.

All the winners are listed below.

 

Outstanding practitioner

Ing Loong Yang, Latham & Watkins

 

Lifetime achievement

Neil Kaplan CBE QC SBS

 

International law firm of the year

Herbert Smith Freehills

 

Domestic law firm of the year

Australia

Gilbert + Tobin

China

King & Wood Mallesons

Hong Kong

Gall

India

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co

Indonesia

Hadiputranto Hadinoto & Partners

Japan

Nishimura & Asahi

Malaysia

Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill

New Zealand

Bell Gully

Philippines

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Singapore

Drew & Napier

South Korea

Kim & Chang

Taiwan

Lee & Li

Thailand

Tilleke & Gibbins

Vietnam

YKVN

 

Disputes star of the year winners

Australia

Michael Mills
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

China

Tao Huang
King & Wood Mallesons

Hong Kong

Paul Starr
King & Wood Mallesons

India

Nitesh Jain
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co

Indonesia

Andi Kadir
Hadiputranto Hadinoto & Partners

Japan

Ryan Goldstein
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Malaysia

Christopher Leong
Chooi & Company + Cheang & Ariff

New Zealand

Stacey Shortall
MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Philippines

Simeon Marcelo
Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

Singapore

Cavinder Bull
Drew & Napier

South Korea

Jin Yeong Chung
Kim & Chang

Taiwan

Edgar Chen
Tsar & Tsai

Thailand

Thawat Damsa-ard
Tilleke & Gibbins

Vietnam

Linh Nguyen Duy
VILAF

Rising star of the year

Kevin So
Davis Polk & Wardwell

 

Arbitration practitioner of the year

Peter Godwin, Herbert Smith Freehills

 

Barrister of the year

John Scott SC
Des Voeux Chambers

 

Practice area firm winners

Best in banking and finance

Davis Polk & Wardwell

Best in compliance & regulatory

Ashurst

Best in construction & real estate

Herbert Smith Freehills

Best in energy & natural resources

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Best in insolvency

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co

Best in insurance

Kim & Chang

Best in IP

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Best in TMT

Kim & Chang

Best in labour & employment

Gall

Best in offshore

Harney Westwood & Riegels

Best in shipping & maritime

Rajah & Tann

Best in tax          

Herbert Smith Freehills

Best domestic arbitration firm of the year

Wong Partnership

Best international arbitration firm of the year

Allen & Overy

 

Disputes boutique of the year
Gall

Matter of the year

Jianfa suing Michael Kors for trademark infringement

Chang Tsi & Partners

Landmark Supreme Court case regarding the tax treatment of stock donations to a non-profit foundation

Yulchon

Novel case in Hong Kong of Donald Tsang in criminal trial

King & Wood Mallesons

Supreme Court of India on Proctor & Gamble’s Fixed Dose Combinations Ban

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

$1.8 billion investment treaty arbitration award against Kingdom of Lesotho

Wong Partnership and Rajah and Tann