International law firm CMS has appointed Andrew Horton and Steven Wise as insurance partners with its Hong Kong affiliated firm Shirley Lau & Co.
Horton is a marine insurance specialist with extensive experience in litigation and arbitration. He regularly advises P&I clubs, international insurers, trading companies and recovery agents on disputes involving bills of lading, charterparties, marine insurance policies, P&I and FD&D claims.
Qualified in both Hong Kong and England & Wales, he is highly regarded in the market, and is ranked as a leading lawyer for Shipping Litigation in China in the Chambers Asia-Pacific and Legal 500 Asia guides.
Wise is an experienced dispute resolution lawyer, specialising in shipping and international trade. A qualified solicitor in both Hong Kong and England & Wales, Wise advises on charterparties, bills of lading, commodity contracts, trade credit and shareholder disputes, and has particular expertise in complex charterparty and multi-jurisdictional disputes.
The duo will lead the firm’s team of seven insurance lawyers in Hong Kong, which is one of the premier shipping and insurance hubs in Asia.
“These appointments mark the next stage in our growth story in Hong Kong,” said CMS managing partner Stephen Millar. “With these new additions, we are adding further firepower to our contentious practice, which has been growing steadily since our launch in Hong Kong less than two years ago. Added to our recent tie-up with Shirley Lau & Co, which has boosted our corporate offering and allowed us to provide Hong Kong law support to clients, we have a well-rounded practice, with a team of highly skilled transactional, finance and disputes lawyers.”
