Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Mallesons’ real estate and construction practice is well regarded in Hong Kong, especially for real estate related disputes. The team is strong on the arbitration side, winning many mandates to represent construction clients in high stakes arbitration. This past year, construction specialist Edmund Wan was promoted to partner and thus strengthened the firm’s overall offering in Hong Kong. The M&A team also advises on an array of real estate related transactions, while the finance team represents clients on Reits.

This past year, partner Paul Starr represented an Australian contractor in relation to its joint venture agreement and pre-tender joint venture agreement for a major rail project in Hong Kong.

Mayer Brown JSM’s real estate finance and acquisition practice is led by partner Keith Cheung. Andrew MacGeoch and Kevin Owen lead the real estate development and commercial, and construction and engineering practices, respectively. The firm’s solid relationships with leading Hong Kong real estate and construction companies make it the go-to firm for many high profile developments in the city.

In one recent example, Mayer Brown JSM’s real estate partners advised Swire Properties in the purchase and partial sale of PCCW Tower.

Paul Hastings is known as a leading firm for real estate work, especially when it comes to supporting international developers and construction companies on cross border acquisitions. The firm’s growing capital markets team has also given it a comparative advantage in equity offerings and debt issuances for leading real estate companies. Leading partners David Blumenfeld and Joel Rothstein spearhead construction and real estate work out of Hong Kong. Partner Derek Roth was relocated from Paul Hastings’ Los Angeles office to Hong Kong in order to further bolster the construction and real estate practice in greater China.

In one signature capital markets matter, Paul Hastings advised Hong Kong listed China SCE Property Holdings on in its synthetic offshore renminbi five-year bond valued at Rmb2 billion (US$301 million).

Pinsent Masons is known as one of the best specialist construction and projects firms across Asia. The firm has a transactional construction group that focuses on helping clients to mitigate future project risk by advising on procurement routes and the wording of contracts. The team specialises in custom contracts, many of which may require FIDIC, ICE, NEC or IChemE compliance. The firm also has a dispute resolution group solely dedicated to construction matters.

The Pinsent Masons team is advising on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge construction project, valued at over Rmb38 million (US$5.9 million). The firm will prepare the intergovernmental agreement between the Hong Kong, Macau and PRC Governments, and formulate the legal framework for the employer party organisation.

Vincent Connor and John Bishop are both leading lawyers in the practice.

Baker & McKenzie is known for its real estate and construction expertise across an array of transactions. For example, it helps clients to strategise and draft documents for their projects and offers specialised dispute resolution advice. Bakers’ team in Hong Kong is headed by experienced partner David Smith, and Rico Chan and James Kwan are also key partners in the practice.

The construction and real estate team in Hong Kong recently advised the Hong Kong Government on the tender and leasing of the Kai Tak cruise terminal. The firm’s involvement in the HK$7.2 billion (US$923 million) venture includes drafting the tenancy agreement and related tender documents for the lease.

Deacons’ construction and arbitration practice is led by Geoffrey Shaw, while the property department is led by Lilian Chiang. On the construction side, Deacons has a robust practice where it often advises leading contractors and developers on their projects. The firm has a traditional focus in Hong Kong, Macau and China. While the firm continues to have a comparative advantage in these jurisdictions, it is now increasingly working across Asia and even in the Middle East.

When it comes to real estate work, Deacons often represents major landlords and developers. Recently, the firm represented a main contractor in a HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) arbitration against an employer in connection with a major renovation project.

Partners Steven Yip and David Goldstein head the construction practice at Minter Ellison, which is known for its ability to give leading advice to developers in Hong Kong and Macau on major construction projects.

In one recent example, the construction team advised a subsidiary of Kowloon Development (Jumbo Power Enterprises) in a HKIAC arbitration. This involved a dispute with a contractor relating to the foundation and excavation works for a Kowloon residential and commercial development. Minter’s team also represented LaSalle Investment in its joint venture and cooperation agreement with Hongkong Land on a mixed commercial and residential development project at Tai Hang, Hong Kong.

Hogan Lovells’ construction and real estate practice in Hong Kong provides clients with both non-contentious advisory offering and contentious offering. In a recent real estate contentious matter, the firm advised Shandong Hongri Acron Chemical on the enforcement of an arbitration award obtained from CIETAC against PetroChina for defective products. The award value was in the tens of millions of US dollars.

Timothy Hill and Damon So are leading lawyers in Hogan Lovells’ practice.

Orrick is often involved in real estate financing transactions in Hong Kong and across greater China. The firm’s leading structured finance and securitisation practice, led by Michelle Taylor and Donna Healy, is regularly involved with real estate finance work. Partner Michael Haworth splits his time between the firm’s Hong Kong and Tokyo practices, and brings additional experience in real estate acquisition and finance work to the team.