HSF appoints new disputes head in Asia
The managing partner of Herbert Smith Freehills in Tokyo has been appointed head of the firm’s disputes practice in Asia.
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Peter Godwin (pictured) will continue to lead the Tokyo office alongside his new role. He succeeds Gavin Lewis, who left HSF in September to join Linklaters.
“We are seeing a growing number of high-value disputes across the entire Asia-Pacific region,” said Godwin in a statement.
The practice is attracting litigation work in Hong Kong arising from international companies doing business in China, as well as disputes from deals between China and Australia and Japan and Indonesia, he elaborated.
Disputes work may be flowing in Asia, but competition is also intensifying, admitted Godwin, with more domestic and international firms going after these opportunities.
HSF’s disputes practice in Asia comprises about 100 lawyers across eight offices.