Herbert Smith Freehills adds commercial litigation partners Paul Quinn and Truman Mak in Hong Kong

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

Paul 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.

A firm alumnus and Hong Kong Solicitor Advocate, Truman advises on complex commercial litigation, with expertise in financial sector disputes, shareholder disputes, fraud, contentious insolvency and restructuring, cryptocurrency issues, and financial regulatory proceedings.

"In complex times, more clients are seeking our advice on disputes of all types, and Paul and Truman will help us meet that demand," said Asia Head of Dispute Resolution Simon Chapman KC. "Their skills will allow us to expand our practice and will complement the work of our existing practitioners."

Herbert Smith Freehills 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.

"The dual strengths of our Asia corporate and disputes practices allows us to advise clients at every stage of their business and investments," said Asia managing partner Graeme Preston.

"Paul and Truman'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."

ABOUT PAUL QUINN

Paul graduated with bachelor's degrees in law and civil engineering from the University of Tasmania, Australia. He began his career with King & Wood Mallesons before joining Karas So LLP in Hong Kong.

He 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, Paul joins the firm from Kirkland & Ellis on 3 March 2025.

ABOUT TRUMAN MAK

Truman holds a bachelor's degree in law and a bachelor's degree in commerce from the University of New South Wales. 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), Truman is also a Solicitor Advocate of the High Court of Hong Kong. He speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese. He rejoined the firm from Latham & Watkins on 11 February 2025.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Herbert Smith Freehills' market-leading China disputes practice is the largest of any international firm in the region, comprising 13 partners and over 50 lawyers, plus a three-partner disputes practice at joint operation partner Kewei in Shanghai adding access to Mainland dispute resolution. The team advises on litigation, arbitration, corporate crime and investigations, financial services regulatory, employment, competition, and private wealth.

2. With more than 40 years of history in Asia, Herbert Smith Freehills provides premium legal advice on dispute resolution, projects and transactions to the world’s most important organisations operating in and from the region. In Asia, the firm advises across industry sectors and strategically important areas, including private capital, ESG, energy transition and technology and digitalisation, from offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jakarta,* Shanghai,* Singapore* and Tokyo.

*In Shanghai, the firm is part of a joint operation with Kewei, allowing access to China legal services alongside Herbert Smith Freehills' international expertise. In Jakarta, Herbert Smith Freehills' international counsel practise on secondment at its affiliate firm, Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung, one of Indonesia’s leading commercial and corporate law firms. In Singapore, Herbert Smith Freehills entered a Formal Law Alliance (FLA) with Prolegis LLC in 2015, that allows access to Prolegis' Singapore law capabilities.