Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Chris is the senior partner and managing partner of Howse Williams. His main practice areas are dispute resolution; shipping, insurance and professional indemnity insurance; clinical negligence and healthcare. Chris has more than 35 years of legal experience. He established Richards Butler's Hong Kong office in 1981. Chris worked as the firm's senior partner until he left to establish Howse Williams in January 2012.
Gareth Hughes is a partner in the firm’s Hong Kong office and a member of the International Dispute Resolution Group. His practice focusses on major commercial disputes and investigations work, with a particular focus on financial institutions and contentious regulatory matters. With over 18 years of experience in the region, Mr. Hughes has built a successful practice specializing in commercial litigation, international arbitration and investigations work in relation to financial services, corporate finance, fraud, insurance and shareholder-related disputes. Mr. Hughes has acted for major corporates and financial institutions, with many of his matters involving the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Mark Johnson is a partner in the firm’s Hong Kong office and a member of the International Dispute Resolution Group. His practice focuses on white collar/regulatory defense matters, cybersecurity matters and commercial litigation in Hong Kong and across Asia.For more than 25 years in the region, Mr. Johnson has built a successful practice advising on shareholders’ and directors’ disputes, internal and regulatory investigations, commercial litigation and inquiries from a range of regulatory bodies, both in Asia and elsewhere. These include matters involving the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Much of his work is in the financial services and private wealth sectors.
Rising stars
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading individuals
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Keith is Managing Partner and head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution group of Dentons Hong Kong. He has more than 37 years’ experience in heavyweight dispute resolution, including high court/commercial court litigation, domestic and international arbitration, expert determinations, alternative dispute resolution, and mediations with particular focus on the energy, construction and financial services sectors. Keith has been widely recognised by various legal publications. He has been named one of the Top 15 Litigators in Asia by Asian Legal Business. Chambers Greater China 2022 and Legal 500 Asia Pacific ranked Keith as a leading individual in Dispute Resolution: Litigation for China/Hong Kong. Keith has a varied client base with an international background operating in a diversified number of jurisdictions, with particular experience in Asia Pacific including Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Middle East, including the Indian sub-continent.
Dominic Geiser is a partner in the Hong Kong office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the Litigation & Trial Department. Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience, Mr. Geiser’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration in Hong Kong and Asia, including contractual, financial, private and public company, investor, shareholder and joint venture disputes, frequently in a cross-border context and often featuring an associated regulatory or criminal angle. He has substantial experience representing clients in claims involving investment mis-selling, minority shareholder actions, breach of directors’ duties, fraud, misrepresentation, economic torts, as well as in cases requiring urgent injunctive or other interim relief. In addition, he advises on loan and security enforcement matters, liquidation and winding-up proceedings. Mr. Geiser has particular expertise advising financial institutions, private equity and venture capital firms, major corporates and high-net worth individuals throughout Asia, Europe and the USA, as well as clients in the fintech, technology, media, telecommunications and consumer sectors. He has acted in some of the most high-profile and landmark cases in the Hong Kong Court over recent years. Mr. Geiser is widely acknowledged by legal directories as one of the leading litigators in Asia. Recent recognition includes being awarded Young Lawyer of the Year at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Hong Kong Law Awards in 2018, featuring in ALB’s “Asia’s 40 Under 40” list of the most accomplished young lawyers in 2018, and in ALB’s inaugural list of “Asia’s Top 15 Litigators” in 2021. Among his other professional commitments, Mr. Geiser is a panel member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, a member of the Civil Litigation Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong, and a Contributing Editor of Hong Kong Civil Procedure published by Sweet & Maxwell. Mr. Geiser is qualified to practice Hong Kong and English law, and is a Solicitor Advocate in Hong Kong.
Camille Jojo is a dispute resolution lawyer based in our Hong Kong office. He handles a wide range of complex finance disputes including credit and security disputes, general commercial disputes and arbitrations (including product liability, construction and engineering disputes), insolvency litigation and restructuring, trust and probate litigation and regulatory investigations. Camille has over 30 years of litigation and arbitration experience in Hong Kong and Asia and has been granted higher rights of audience enabling him to appear before the High Court and Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. He qualified as an arbitrator in 1997 and is currently a member of the Insolvency Law Reform Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong.
Donna Wacker is the Head of contentious regulatory and contentious insolvency in Hong Kong, and a core partner in the Asia Regulatory Group. Admitted in Hong Kong, Australia and England & Wales, Donna has more than 20 years experience in Asia, advising on contentious and advisory regulatory matters and complex litigation with an emphasis on the financial services industry. Donna's experience extends across advising banks, alternative investment funds, brokerages and listed companies in a wide range of regulatory matters and investigations by regulators across Asia, including investigations into insider dealing and market manipulation, short selling and position reporting.