International law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has hired Paul Quinn and Truman Mak as commercial litigation partners in Hong Kong, expanding its Asia dispute resolution practice.

Quinn advises boards, funds, liquidators, auditors and shareholders on complex domestic and international commercial disputes, particularly in professional negligence, company law, director’s duties, shareholder disputes, insolvency and fraud.

He began his career with King & Wood Mallesons before joining Karas So in Hong Kong and is one of a small number of Hong Kong practitioners to have completed the INSOL Fellowship in international insolvency. Qualified in Australia and Hong Kong, Quinn joins the firm from Kirkland & Ellis in March.

Mak, a firm alumnus and Hong Kong solicitor advocate, advises on complex commercial litigation, with expertise in financial sector disputes, shareholder disputes, fraud, contentious insolvency and restructuring, cryptocurrency issues, and financial regulatory proceedings. 

He began his legal career in Herbert Smith Freehills’ dispute resolution practice in Hong Kong, spending time on secondment to the firm’s London office. Qualified in Hong Kong and Australia ( New South Wales ), Mak is also a solicitor advocate of the High Court of Hong Kong. He rejoined the firm from Latham & Watkins.

Herbert Smith Freehills, the firm notes, has the largest dispute resolution practice of any international law firm in Hong Kong. In addition to these hires, the 13-partner practice includes commercial litigators Jojo Fan and Rachael Shek, and experts in arbitration, construction and projects, corporate crime and investigations, financial services regulatory, competition, and ESG and public international law.

“In complex times, more clients are seeking our advice on disputes of all types, and Quinn and Mak will help us meet that demand,” says Simon Chapman, the firm’s Asia head of dispute resolution. “Their skills will allow us to expand our practice and will complement the work of our existing practitioners.”

Graeme Preston, the firm’s Asia managing partner, adds: “Quinn and Mak’s experience and industry knowledge, particularly in the finance, private capital and tech industries, will help us support our clients as they face today’s market challenges.”