Beijing-headquartered law firm Jingtian & Gongcheng has hired arbitration specialist Kwan Chi Ho as a partner in its Hong Kong office from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he was a counsel.

With more than a decade of experience, Kwan's practice has a particular focus on cross-border disputes relating to Greater China and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining Akin Gump in 2022, he spent nearly a decade at Latham & Watkins.

“This is a significant hire for our firm,” said Zhao Yang, chairman of Jingtian & Gongcheng’s Management Committee. “The addition of Kwan Chi Ho to our team not only strengthens our international arbitration practice but also reinforces our commitment to providing top-tier legal services to our clients in Hong Kong and across the Asia-Pacific, especially those involved in complex cross-border disputes.”

Kwan’s arrival means Jingtian now has 12 partners in Hong Kong. They include corporate finance lawyer Kelvan Cheung, who joined from Deacons last year, and financial regulatory specialist Jimmy Chan (Chen Guohao), who was hired in 2021 from Clifford Chance.