Howse Williams Bowers (HWB)

Howse Williams Bowers (HWB) is a new, independent Hong Kong law firm which combines the in-depth experience of its lawyers with a creative, forward-thinking approach. The firm’s key practice areas are commercial and maritime dispute resolution; corporate/commercial; corporate finance; insurance and professional indemnity insurance; clinical negligence and healthcare; employment and intellectual property. As an independent Hong Kong firm, the partners are able to provide high quality legal services to local and international clients, whilst minimising the increasing limitations of legal and commercial conflicts of interest. The founding partners are all ex- Richards Butler Hong Kong as are the majority of the fee-earning staff.

AREAS OF PRACTICE: The HWB partners have an excellent reputation for providing the delivery of high-quality legal advice with a practical and commercial approach to solving legal issues in line with clients’ commercial objectives

Dispute Resolution: HWB specialises in dispute resolution both in Hong Kong and internationally. The firm handles complex multi-jurisdictional commercial cases involving sale of goods; trade finance; media law; fraud; shareholder, joint venture, employment, property and franchise disputes; injunction proceedings; jurisdictional challenges; public inquiries and judicial reviews.

Corporate/Commercial and Corporate Finance: HWB’s team advises clients on a diverse spectrum of practice areas in all Asian jurisdictions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, direct investment, capital markets and securities, private equity and venture capital, shareholder/joint venture agreements, corporate restructuring/reorganization, corporate governance and general commercial matters including operational contracts and intellectual property commercialization.

Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance: The firm advises on general insurance, professional indemnity, D&O and specialised insurance lines acting for, amongst others, mutual and fixed premium insurers of ships, a wide range of insurers for freight forwarders, warehouse operators, transport intermediaries, cargo owners and trade insurers. We also represent insurers who provide professional indemnity insurance for various professional bodies in Hong Kong. We provide services to the following professionals: solicitors, accountants, medical and dental practitioners, architects, directors and officers, engineers, estate agencies, financial institutions, fund managers, nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists and health care workers.

Shipping: The firm specialises in maritime dispute resolution and handles a wide range of disputes both in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. The shipping team has considerable experience in all types of dry shipping litigation acting usually on behalf of owners, charterers and their P&I Clubs. They are able to advise on any problems concerning charterparties, bills of lading and contracts of affreightment. They have particular expertise in handling problems arising from the shipment of coal, iron ore, nickel ore and fluorspar.

Clinical Negligence and Healthcare: The medico-legal team advises doctors, dentists and their indemnity providers and other healthcare professionals. The partners also advise private hospitals, medical group practices, corporate healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies on issues relating to the import and distribution of drugs and pharmaceutical products, drug liability claims and other regulatory matters.

Employment: HWB provides contentious and non-contentious employment advice to both employers and employees in Hong Kong. We advise on all aspects of the fast changing contractual, common law and statutory law employment framework.

Key Practice Areas:Dispute Resolution; Corporate/Commercial; Corporate Finance; Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance; Shipping; Clinical Negligence and Healthcare; Employment; Intellectual Property.