HFW fields a team of maritime experts that routinely undertakes high-profile transactional work involving charter parties, carriage contracts and shipbuilding as well as wet shipping matters such as collisions, grounds and pollution claims. Henry Fung spearheads the practice and has extensive experience across transactional and contentious issues. Patrick Cheung offers advice on cross-border asset finance and corporate transactions, while skilled litigator George Lamplough’s diverse practice encompasses crisis management, fraud, and disputes. Nicola Hui represents clients in both Hong Kong and English High Court proceedings, and Angie Lo advises on a broad range of transactions. Christopher Chan left the firm in July 2024.

Hill Dickinson Hong Kong  is well-placed to handle the full spectrum of both contentious and non-contentious shipping matters. The team regularly acts for banks, P&I clubs, cargo owners, and the Hong Kong Government across a diverse range of disputes and shipping finance matters. Damian Laracy heads up the team alongside Gary Wong and Janice Lee. Laracy is a skilled litigator and arbitrator who specialises in debt and asset recovery matters, while Wong handles non-contentious mandates, including cross-border ship and project finance as well as lending and restructuring matters. Lee acts for PRC clients in asset financing matters, in particular sale and leaseback transactions. Disputes expert Jim James is also recommended, while David Beaves is a key contact for ship financing and leasing matters.

Matthew Lam and Fei Kwok spearhead the shipping practice at Clyde & Co LLP, which covers an impressive range of shipping litigation and finance matters, from collision, pollution and repair issues to lending, leasing and asset value support. Kwok offers comprehensive advice on finance projects and oil and gas transactions, with particular expertise in transport transactions. Lam has extensive experience across litigation and arbitration matters concerning charterparty disputes, marine casualties and bunker claims. Michael Ng is the firm’s key contact for international goods sales as well as debt recovery and security issues.

CMS Hong Kong LLP fields a strong team of shipping disputes experts. Under the leadership of Andrew Horton and Steven Wise, the team handles court proceedings, arbitration and mediation in relation to collision, salvage, brokers’ liability and logistics claims. Horton has a wealth of experience across international trade and marine insurance disputes, as well as enforcement and security actions. Wise represents clients in contractual and tortious litigation, with a particular focus on charter parties, bills of lading, sale and purchase contracts and insurance policy disputes Richard Oakley offers advice on the full range of admiralty matters from pollution and collisions to casualty investigations. Insurance specialist Anthony Woo is also recommended.

The litigation and regulatory team at DLA Piper regularly caters to shipowners, traders, shipyards, charterers and operators across a broad range of shipping-related litigation and transactional mandates. Practice head Ernest Yang undertakes litigation and arbitration on behalf of shipowners, major shipyards and logistics providers. Edison Li is a skilled commercial litigator and is also highly experienced in ship sales and purchases, as well as shipbuilding and ship financing matters. Kevin Chan is another key contact for shipping disputes.

Ince & Co remains highly regarded for its dispute resolution strength and for handling cases shaped by US tariff policy, the Red Sea crisis, green shipping and regulatory challenges. Rosita Lau is at the helm and is qualified to practise in England, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore. Lau is noted for her extensive experience across litigation, arbitration and mediation disputes, catering to international shipowners, Hong Kong ports and terminal operators, insurance companies and P&I clubs. Zhao Rong Ooi acts for state-owned enterprises, companies, financial institutions and insurers across a broad range of commercial, private wealth, financial and trade matters. Kelvin Lee departed from the firm in September 2024.

Stephenson Harwood leverages capabilities across both shipping finance and litigation issues to assist its high-profile client base. The finance team routinely oversees cross-border and private equity financings, as well as investment transactions into the shipping industry. On the contentious side, bill of lading, letters of indemnity, sale of goods contracts and voyage charter disputes are also key areas of focus. Splitting his time between Shanghai and Hong Kong, practice head Paul Ho routinely handles shipbuilding, international transactions and offshore construction matters. Elizabeth Sloane is qualified in Australia, Hong Kong and England and focuses on high profile shipping casualties as well as maritime insolvencies and pollution prosecutions. Hongkai Zhou offers advice on financing and ship leasing, as well as offshore installations. Skilled litigator Jason Toms is also a name to note. Andrew Ridgen Green departed for Watson Farley & Williams in May 2025.

Christoforos Bisbikos heads up the shipping offering at Watson Farley & Williams. The team is well-regarded for its expertise across project origination, finance, tax, dispute resolution and corporate and regulatory issues. Bisbikos has extensive experience across ship finance transactions, as well as fleet acquisitions and joint ventures within the maritime industry. Marcus Gordon is the firm’s key contact for dispute resolution, while Valerie Lee and Guan Jian handle a range of financing issues. Disputes expert Andrew Rigden Green joined the team in June 2025. Madeline Leong and Dora Ying are also recommended.

Haiwen & Partners is well-equipped to handle the full spectrum of maritime and commodity disputes, with extensive experience in shipbuilding, sale and purchase, marine insurance, cargo damage and urgent relief matters. Practice head Edward Liu lends his expertise to both wet and dry shipping matters, with particular skill in disputes involving charterparties, bills of lading and shipbuilding contracts. Lori Ng and Vinca Yau are also recommended.

Led by Becky Tai, the shipping team at Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong presence in Greater China. The group regularly advises on a broad range of shipping finance matters, from sale and leaseback transactions to joint ventures and loan facilities. Tai has a wealth of experience in maritime and offshore structured financing transactions, in which she routinely caters to high-profile Chinese and Japanese clients.

Tang & Co is notable for its strong dispute resolution practice, catering to P&I clubs and insurers on a variety of shipping disputes. Chong Jun Tang heads up the group and is qualified to practise in both Hong Kong and Singapore. Tang routinely advises on diverse shipping issues such as ship mortgage enforcement, commodity and shipbuilding disputes.

Sam Tsui is at the helm at Tsui & Co. The shipping team handles litigation and arbitration concerning collision, salvage and personal injury, as well as carriage, bills of lading and sale and purchase contracts. Tsui is a full member of the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group and counts P&I clubs, insurers, owners and charterers among his regular clients.