Debevoise’s Asian offices are home to the leading funds practice in Asia. The practice has a superior understanding of the sector, whether in established funds attracting international investors or highly specialized, first-time funds targeting a local investor base. The funds team is led Gavin Anderson, described by clients in Chambers & Partners as “very quick, very smart and gives very high-quality advice.”
In M&A, the Hong Kong and Shanghai offices lead on some of the region’s biggest-value and highest-impact matters, with a particular focus on advising national and international insurers and other financial institutions. The team has a strong track record and deep knowledge of these sectors. Chambers Asia-Pacific says of the practice that it has “a streamlined team harnessing a depth of resources in the USA, alongside a growing Hong Kong-based offering.”
The office’s litigators are part of one of the world’s strongest international disputes practices, advising clients on complex arbitrations, litigations and anti-corruption matters, and working regularly alongside colleagues in Europe and the U.S. to provide the highest levels of representation in Asia. Mark Johnson is ranked by both Chambers and The Legal 500 as a top-tier advisor for dispute resolution in China and Hong Kong respectively, with Chambers Global stating that he “continues to be a leading name in commercial litigation and contentious regulatory work.” Gareth Hughes is recognized as a leading individual for dispute resolution in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, PLC, Chambers Asia-Pacific and Chambers Global. Benchmark Litigation (Asia-Pacific) (2019) names him a Dispute Resolution Star, and he is also recognized by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2020) for his anti-corruption and compliance practice, and by Chambers Asia-Pacific as a leading individual for Contentious Regulatory Financial Services related matters. The Asian disputes practice is also led by Lord Goldsmith KC, former Attorney General of the UK, Chair of Asian and European Litigation for Debevoise, and Vice Chair of Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and Tony Dymond, Co-Chair of the firm’s Asian Arbitration practice.
Debevoise lawyers have represented Asia-based clients and multinational clients for decades in Asia-focused disputes and white collar matters. The firm has one of the few practices to combine investment treaty arbitration, general commercial dispute resolution and public international law experience with strong capacity in four major international arbitration centers: New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris. The firm’s Asian disputes team also has deep experience in white collar and regulatory matters, working on behalf of clients in China, India, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand.