Clyde & Co strengthens global disputes practice with hire of Hong Kong partner

Global law firm Clyde & Co has today announced the appointment of Rachael Shek as a Partner in Hong Kong to strengthen the firm's market-leading global disputes practice.

Rachael is highly regarded disputes lawyer who joins from Eversheds Sutherland. Her practice covers a wide spectrum of disputes, including complex commercial litigation, banking litigation, joint-venture/shareholder disputes, corporate loan recovery, private wealth disputes, wire fraud and insurance disputes. She advises global banks, private equity firms, and other financial services providers, global corporations, manufacturers, and ultra-high net worth individuals. Hong Kong qualified, Rachael speaks English, Cantonese and some Mandarin.

Rachael also founded and chaired her previous firm's Hong Kong office Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and has spoken publicly on a wide range of topics including women in leadership, modern families, visible and invisible disabilities, race and ethnicity, LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace, mental health, de-stigmatising period care, and sustainability.

Commenting on Rachael's appointment, Simon McConnell, Managing Partner of Clyde & Co Hong Kong, says: "Rachael is a very exciting addition to our already first-class disputes offering, which is consistently ranked as one of the largest and most active across many regions. We're delighted to attract someone with not only the right experience and market knowledge that we know is invaluable to our clients in Hong Kong and the wider region, but also someone with real energy, drive and a passion for creating a legal profession that is more progressive and diverse."

Rachael comments: "Clyde & Co is the perfect fit for me given its status as a heavy-hitting disputes firm and one in which I know I will have an excellent framework to develop my practice within a collegiate and international environment."

Christopher Jobson, Chairman of Clyde & Co's APAC Board, commented: "We anticipate significant growth in the APAC region over the next few years, and it's clear that there will be an increasing need for truly joined-up cross-sector international disputes expertise. Rachael's appointment deepens our offering in this area." 

Clyde & Co is one of the world's leading disputes law firms operating across the world carrying out complex national, international and cross border litigation, arbitration and mediation work across jurisdictions and arbitral centres in emerging and developed markets and on all types and size of dispute. One of the world's top 25 disputes firms by revenue and one of the largest disputes practices in Hong Kong, the firm draws upon its deep sector roots to provide focused dispute resolution services in the construction, energy, marine, aviation, trade and insurance sectors.

Rachael Shek becomes the fourth arrival for Clyde & Co this year in the APAC region, following partners Damian Watkin, Patrick Boardman and Alec Christie in Australia.

The hire comes as Clyde & Co celebrates 40 years since it first established an office in Hong Kong. In February 1981, Clyde & Co opened in Hong Kong, the firm's first office outside London and has since grown to be one of the longest-established international law firms in the region with 12 partners and almost 100 employees – together becoming the leading insurance practice in Hong Kong and offering a complete legal service to local and international clients across the firm's core sectors including aviation, marine, energy and construction. 

Commenting on the anniversary, Simon McConnell, Managing Partner of Clyde & Co Hong Kong, says: "We are immensely proud of the transformation we have seen at Clyde & Co Hong Kong over the past 40 years. What has set us apart of over this time is the way we work with clients in the territory and wider region – bringing our local expertise and experience together with all the benefits of a globally integrated firm. Our success here is testament to all the skill and dedication of the people who have worked here over the past 40 years, some of whom have been here since the start."