Hong Kong, 20 April 2010: Leading Australian law firm Clayton Utz has today strengthened its commitment to providing its clients with access to the best legal services wherever they do business with the official opening of an office in Hong Kong in association with one of the market's leading construction lawyers Glenn Haley, practising as Haley & Co.
Based in the Hong Kong Club Building, Clayton Utz in association with Haley & Co. will initially focus on providing clients with services in the areas of Construction and Major Projects, Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration ― areas in which Clayton Utz dominates the Australian market.
Clayton Utz Major Projects partner Colin Dodd, who resides in Hong Kong, will oversee the office working with Glenn Haley, the former head of Deacons' Construction Practice Group in Hong Kong. In addition to several lawyers who have been recruited locally, the office will have the full support of Clayton Utz lawyers across the firm's six Australian offices.
Glenn Haley is recognised as one of the leading construction lawyers in Asia, with many years' experience acting for a range of parties in all aspects of construction and major projects as well as construction disputes. Glenn is recognised as a leading construction lawyer in a number of international legal directories including Asia Pacific Legal 500 and Chambers Asia ― which describes him as "very well known and respected".
Colin Dodd, who first practised in Hong Kong in 1984, has for the last 8 years been at the forefront of Clayton Utz' Major Projects practice in Asia, most recently having led the Clayton Utz team that advised the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation over a five-year period on the US$16 billion Taiwan High Speed Rail project in Taipei.
Clayton Utz' Managing Partner International Services Stuart Clark said establishing a formal presence in Hong Kong was a logical step for Clayton Utz, which has operated in the Asian region for many years.
"The opportunity presented itself to form an association with Glenn Haley, widely regarded in Hong Kong and throughout Asia as one of the market's foremost projects lawyer, and enhance both our front and back end Construction and Major Projects capability in the region. We have also been undertaking International Arbitration work in the region for many years under the leadership of Doug Jones AM. Having a permanent presence in Hong Kong will enhance our ability to provide services to both our domestic and international clients in this area, " Mr Clark said.
Clayton Utz Chief Executive Partner David Fagan said the Hong Kong initiative marked an exciting development in the firm's highly successful international strategy. "One of the reasons Clayton Utz has been such as successful firm is that we have focused on our strengths. Our capability in Construction and Major Projects, Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration is second to none in Australia and we see significant opportunities to capitalise on those strengths in Asia," Mr Fagan said.