Herbert Smith Freehills adds Rachael Shek as commercial litigation partner in Hong Kong 史密夫斐尔香港办公室迎来商业诉讼合伙人石明杰律师

Leading international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has welcomed back Rachael Shek as a partner in its market-leading commercial litigation practice, adding her expertise at a time of surging demand.

全球领先的律师事务所史密夫斐尔迎来石明杰律师（Rachael Shek）回归，加入本所领先的商业诉讼团队担任合伙人，助力律所满足激增的业务需求。

A firm alumna, Rachael specialises in banking litigation and joint venture/shareholder disputes, with broad experience of complex commercial litigation, corporate loan recovery, private wealth disputes, and more.

"Rachael joins the practice after two of our busiest years on record," said Simon Chapman QC, Asia head of dispute resolution. "Periods of economic volatility such as the pandemic trigger disputes, and we are already seeing a substantial increase in such work."

"We only expect to be busier in the coming months and years, so adding Rachael to our team will help meet growing demand."

The Hong Kong litigation team is central to the firm's disputes reputation, handling some of the most valuable and complex cases in the Hong Kong market. It also provides critical litigation support to the firm's market-leading arbitration, financial regulatory, corporate crime and investigations, employment, and restructuring teams.

Rachael has spent her career in Hong Kong, beginning with Herbert Smith Freehills in 2007. She has advised banks, private equity firms and other financial services providers as well as Hong Kong listed companies, global manufacturers and ultra-high net worth individuals.

"Rachael knows Hong Kong's business landscape and the economic forces that shape the city," said Hong Kong litigation head Gareth Thomas.

"Her experience across a number of our key client sectors, strong local reputation and world-class litigation skills will make her a valuable asset to our firm and our thriving dispute resolution practice, as will her leadership among our team of talented associates."

ABOUT RACHAEL 

Originally from the UK, Rachael speaks English and Cantonese. She has a bachelor's degree in law from Newcastle University and a postgraduate certificate in law from the University of Hong Kong. Rachael is qualified to practice in Hong Kong.

Rachael joins a litigation team that includes three partners and 22 lawyers, operating in one of the most dynamic markets in the world, and which forms part of the firm's wider market-leading disputes practice.

石明杰律师曾任职于史密夫斐尔，擅长银行业诉讼和合资企业及股东争议，在复杂的商业诉讼、企业债权回收、私人财富争议等方面拥有丰富的经验。

史密夫斐尔亚洲争议解决事务主管合伙人卓柏文（Simon Chapman）表示：“过去两年，我们经历了有史以来最忙碌的时期，在此之际石律师重新回到了史密夫斐尔。在像疫情这样的经济波动时期，争议事件频发，我们已看到相关工作大幅增加。”

“预计在接下来的几个月甚至几年中，我们只会更加忙碌。石律师的加入将有助于我们满足不断增长的客户需求。”

史密夫斐尔香港办公室诉讼团队是史密夫斐尔享有盛誉的争议解决业务核心之一，能够就当地市场最具价值和最复杂的法律事务提供咨询。不仅如此，该团队还能够与本所仲裁、金融监管、企业犯罪与调查、劳动法和重组这些市场领先的业务团队合作，提供关键的诉讼支持。

石明杰最早于2007年加入史密夫斐尔开启了律师生涯，主要从业经历均在香港。她为银行、私募股权公司和其他金融服务提供商以及香港上市公司、全球制造商和超高净值个人提供法律咨询。

史密夫斐尔香港办公室诉讼业务主管合伙人唐明仕（Gareth Thomas）表示：“石律师深入了解香港的商业格局，了解那些塑造了这座城市的经济力量。”

“她的从业经验覆盖了我们多个关键行业，在本地市场享有良好声誉，具备国际级的诉讼水准，对本所以及我们蓬勃发展的争议解决业务都颇具价值，并将在我们富有才华的律师团队中显示出卓越的领导力。”

关于石明杰律师

石明杰来自英国，英文和广东话流利。她拥有英国纽卡斯尔大学法律学士学位和香港大学法律研究生文凭，以及香港执业资格。

石律师加入的诉讼团队包括3名合伙人和22名律师，在全球最具活力的市场之一开展业务，是本所市场领先的争议解决业务的一部分。