Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards 2016
Asialaw highlights top dispute resolution firms and individuals
On a night that recognised the leading dispute resolution advisers in Asia, Nicholas Hunsworth of Mayer Brown JSM won the trophy for outstanding practitioner at the second annual Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution Awards 2016. The citation for Hunsworth’s award described him as “a veteran litigator who has been involved in a broad variety of high-profile cases in Hong Kong covering commercial disputes”.James Spigelman AC, QC, a non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal since April 2013, 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”. Spigelman, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, is a member of One Essex Court chambers in London as an arbitrator.
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 Rajah & Tann.
Other individual awards went to Simon Chapman of Herbert Smith Freehills as the rising star; Roxanne Ismail SC of Temple Chambers as barrister of the year and Justin D’Agostino of Herbert Smith Freehills, who was picked as arbitration practitioner of the year.
The awards ceremony, which took place in Hong Kong on September 27, also honoured the top dispute resolution practitioner and national firm of the year of the year in 14 jurisdictions, and the best firms of the year at resolving disputes in 10 practice areas.
Three firms were the co-winners for matter of the year, which was selected as Accent Delight International Ltd v Bouvier, Yves Charles Edgar. Tanner De Witt, Tan Kok Quan Partnership and Allen & Gledhill were recognised for a case that was described as “a ground-breaking judgment dealing with worldwide Mareva injunctions. The Singapore Court of Appeal delivered for the first time, a definitive clarification of the relationship between allegations of dishonesty against a defendant and a real risk of dissipation of assets”.
Remarks from Sarah Grimmer, the new secretary general of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and Duncan Pescod, chairman of the Children’s Heart Foundation, which supports Hong Kong children with congenital heart defects and their families 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 April and August 2016.
All the winners are listed below.
Outstanding practitioner of the year
Nicholas Hunsworth, Mayer Brown JSM
Lifetime achievement winner
The Honourable James Spigelman AC, QC
International law firm of the year
Herbert Smith Freehills
National law firm of the year
Australia
Gilbert + Tobin
China
Fangda Partners
Hong Kong
Wilkinson & Grist
India
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
Indonesia
Assegaf Hamzah & Partners
Japan
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Malaysia
Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill
New Zealand
Chapman Tripp
Philippines
Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz
Singapore
Drew & Napier
South Korea
Kim & Chang
Taiwan
Lee and Li
Thailand
Tilleke & Gibbins
Vietnam
VILAF
Disputes star of the year winners
Australia
Colleen Platford, Gilbert + Tobin
China
Helen Shi, Fangda Partners
Hong Kong
James Wadham, Davis Polk & Wardwell
India
VP Singh, AZB & Partners
Indonesia
Tony Budidjaja, Budidjaja & Associates
Japan
Akihiro Hironaka, Nishimura & Asahi
Malaysia
Cecil Abraham, Cecil Abraham & Partners
New Zealand
David Cooper, Bell Gully
Philippines
Emmanuel Lombos, SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan
Singapore
Paul Tan, Rajah & Tann
South Korea
John Bang, Bae Kim & Lee
Taiwan
Daniel Song, Lee and Li
Thailand
Phisit Dejchaiyasak, Weerawong Chinnavat & Peangpanor
Vietnam
Truong Trong Nghia, YKVN
Rising star
Simon Chapman, Herbert Smith Freehills
Arbitration practitioner of the year
Justin D'Agostino, Herbert Smith Freehills
Barrister of the year
Roxanne Ismail SC, Temple Chambers
PRACTICE AREA FIRM WINNERS
Best in compliance & regulatory
Allen & Overy
Best in construction & real estate
Hogan Lovells
Best in energy & natural resources
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Best in insolvency
Kirkland & Ellis
Best in insurance
Clyde & Co
Best in IP
Hogan Lovells
Best in TMT
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Best in labour & employment
Gall
Best in shipping & maritime
Ince & Co
Best in tax
Yulchon
Best domestic arbitration firm of the year
Rajah & Tann
Best international arbitration firm of the year
Allen & Overy
Disputes boutique of the year
Gall
Matter of the year
Accent Delight International Ltd v Bouvier, Yves Charles Edgar
Tanner De Witt
Tan Kok Quan Partnership
Allen & Gledhill
The shortlist for this year's awards can be found here.