Herbert Smith Freehills has announced today the promotion of seven disputes lawyers to its global partnership out of a total of 17 worldwide. The promotions take effect on 1 May, 2018.
Five of this year's promotions in Herbert Smith Freehills Global Disputes Practice are women – from a total of 14 worldwide. The appointments cover New York, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney and Brisbane.
The new disputes partners and their principal areas of practice are:
UK and US
Amal Bouchenaki – Dispute Resolution, New York
Amal practices international arbitration in the New York office of Herbert Smith Freehills. She acts as counsel in complex treaty based arbitration proceedings and international commercial arbitrations conducted under the major arbitration rules.
Trained in both the civil law and common law systems, Amal has handled disputes involving an array of complex procedural and substantive issues and industry sectors, including, technology, telecommunications, and energy-related disputes arising out East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America.
In addition to appearing before international arbitral tribunals, she litigates international arbitration matters before national courts, and manages complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. Amal also has experience in the mediation of international disputes.
Amal's working languages are English, French, and Spanish. She has working knowledge of Italian, and elementary Mandarin, Amal is a regular speaker on issues of international law and international arbitration and mediation.
Nicholas Clayton – Dispute Resolution, London
Nick Clayton is a solicitor-advocate in Herbert Smith Freehills' specialist tax disputes group. He has advised on high value and complex tax investigations and disputes (both civil and criminal) since 2008.
He advises financial institutions, corporate groups and ultra-high-net-worth individuals on high value and complex tax investigations and disputes with HMRC, as well as on the use of mediation and negotiated settlements.
He also advises clients regularly on tax aspects of mis-selling claims (involving tax schemes and investment products) and in connection with HMRC’s powers to compel clients to provide documents/information pertaining to other taxpayers.
Nick has a particular interest in public law issues around the use of HMRC’s powers, and in Tribunal practice and procedure.
Jonathan Turnbull – Dispute Resolution London
After completing his doctorate in bio-organic chemistry, Jonathan uses is strong and broad scientific background to assist clients with patent litigation, and has a particular focus in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences sectors.
Jonathan has in depth knowledge on issues associated with SPCs, employee-inventor compensation, market access and multi-jurisdictional patent litigation. Jonathan is currently advising, or has recently advised, clients before all relevant forums in the UK: UK-IPO, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Courts of Justice of the European Union. Jonathan is also a solicitor advocate with rights of audience in all civil proceedings in the UK. He has been recognised by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Lawyer.
Asia-Pacific
Joanna Caen – Dispute Resolution, Hong Kong
Joining Herbert Smith Freehills in March 2015, Joanna leads our Greater China trust, estate, family company, philanthropy and mental capacity practice from Hong Kong.
Based in Hong Kong, Joanna has over 10 years' experience of advising high-net-worth individuals, families, trustees and banks on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious private client matters.
Although she heads our private wealth practice in Greater China, Joanna has advised clients from across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
Merryn Quayle – Dispute Resolution, Sydney
Merryn plays a key role in HSF's global crisis management and response group and the firm's cyber security team.
She has worked for the past 10 years on crisis management and dispute resolution of major business risk issues for public companies, leading teams in major matters in the courts, Tribunals and in arbitrations.
She has advised and acted widely across a number of industries for global clients and has a particular expertise in mining and resources and joint ventures. Her practice covers front end risk management, assessment and advice; crisis management and cyber-security response; and dispute resolution.
Clare Smethurst – Dispute Resolution, Brisbane
Clare has 15 years’ experience assisting clients with the resolution of major commercial and construction disputes.
Clare's areas of expertise are building and construction law advice, litigation and all forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Having practised in leading Australian and European firms, Clare has advised a variety of principal, contractor, and government clients in the construction industry. Clare specialises in providing on-going, strategic advice to her clients during projects and has extensive experience with the litigation and arbitration of disputes, as well as adjudication under the security of payment legislation in Queensland and New South Wales.
Helen Tang – Dispute Resolution, Shanghai
Helen specialises in China-related dispute resolution with a focus on internal commercial arbitration. She advises Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private enterprises, as well as multinational corporations operating in China, on complex commercial disputes.
Her practice focuses on international arbitration, compliance and investigation, as well as other forms of dispute resolution including pre-action strategy and settlement negotiation.
Helen has previously worked in Herbert Smith Freehills' Hong Kong office and London office. She is fluent in English and is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese. After graduating from Peking University in China, Helen completed her postgraduate legal studies at BPP Law School and the University of Hong Kong under the firm's PRC scholarship.
Justin D’Agostino, Global Head of Herbert Smith Freehills' Disputes practice and the firm's Asia Managing Partner, commented:
"I am incredibly proud of our talented new partners. Not only do our promotions span right across the world, I am encouraged to see such a diverse spread of new partners. I know the new additions will further consolidate and strengthen our global network and leading world class practice areas."