Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has expanded on its existing commercial litigation offering in Hong Kong with the hire of Paul Quinn (L) from Kirkland & Ellis and the return of Truman Mak from Latham & Watkins.
Quinn has 16 years of experience in advising clients on domestic and international commercial disputes, with a particular focus on professional negligence, company law, director's duties, shareholder disputes, insolvency, and fraud. His clients include boards, funds, liquidators, auditors, and shareholders.
He spent over nine years at Kirkland & Ellis, where he was promoted to partner in 2017. Quinn also previously worked at Lipman Karas (now Karas So) in Hong Kong and the legacy Mallesons Stephen Jacques in Australia.
Meanwhile, Mak's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, with a focus on financial sector disputes, shareholder disputes, fraud, contentious insolvency and restructuring, cryptocurrency issues, and financial regulatory proceedings.
Mak began his career at Herbert Smith Freehills in 2014 as a trainee solicitor and returns to the firm after a two-year stint at Latham & Watkins, where he worked as an associate.
"In complex times, more clients are seeking our advice on disputes of all types, and Paul and Truman will help us meet that demand," said Simon Chapman KC, HSF’s Asia head of dispute resolution, in a statement. "Their skills will allow us to expand our practice and will complement the work of our existing practitioners."
Added Asia managing partner Graeme Preston: "The dual strengths of our Asia corporate and disputes practices allows us to advise clients at every stage of their business and investments.”
The arrivals of Quinn and Mak bring the total number of full-time partners at HSF’s Hong Kong office to 20. The dispute resolution practice itself now boasts 13 partners.
Quinn’s departure from Kirkland & Ellis marked the second recent significant exit from the U.S. firm. Earlier this month, the firm lost private equity and M&A expert Gary Li to the PRC’s Zhong Lun Law Firm.
