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
National 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