Craig Shepherd will lead the new practice
Herbert Smith Freehills is continuing its Asia expansion with the creation of a construction and infrastructure disputes hub in Kuala Lumpur.
The hub leverages the skills of the firm's Asia and global disputes practices, and will be led by partner Craig Shepherd, who has worked in Asia since 1995 and has now relocated to Kuala Lumpur.
It will provide a dispute resolution service to the firm's energy, infrastructure, TMT and projects clients, and responds to record investment in Asia infrastructure, from renewables and roads to data centres and urbanization.
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"The firm already handles the most complex construction and infrastructure disputes, both in Asia and globally, and the hub will further coordinate and focus that expertise," said Shepherd.
"Working with the firm's energy, projects, project finance, infrastructure and TMT teams, we will be able to support our clients at every stage of their projects, from inception to disputes."
As a construction and infrastructure dispute resolution specialist, Shepherd understands the latest trends and techniques emerging across markets and industries. He has 30 years' experience in arbitration and litigation in the infrastructure sector, solving clients' problems from the firm's offices in London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Tokyo and now Kuala Lumpur.
Shepherd will work closely with newly promoted Singapore disputes partner Daniel Waldek and a team of eight disputes lawyers and three paralegals in Kuala Lumpur to support the firm's disputes specialists in China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, and globally.
"Asia's projects and infrastructure markets remain strong, with Chinese, Japanese and Korean companies driving much of the investment within Asia and outbound into Europe, Latin America and Africa," said Asia head of disputes for HSF, Simon Chapman QC.
"Craig's construction disputes expertise and experience with clients through time in our Tokyo, Dubai, Hong Kong and London offices makes him the ideal choice for this new role."
This is the latest step in the firm's expansion in Asia, following the recent hires of project finance partner Rupert Baker and capital markets partner Xavier Amadei in Singapore, and Rachael Shek in Hong Kong. In May, the firm promoted five new partners in Asia and six new counsel in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore and Tokyo.