Robert Lawrence and Ian Chung hired by HFW in Dubai

Robert Lawrence and Ian Chung hired by HFW in Dubai

The two were earlier serving at Clyde & Co

One of the top 30 UK law firms HFW has hired two high-profile shipping and offshore marine partners Robert Lawrence and Ian Chung in Dubai, to bolster its Middle East practice.

Their arrival consolidates HFW's status as a top-tier shipping firm in the region. It boosts the number of partners to 20 based across the firm's offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, and Riyadh.

Yaman Al Hawamdeh, the UAE managing partner at HFW, said, "This is a very significant development for HFW in the Middle East. Lawrence and Chung are go-to lawyers for maritime, offshore and international trade work. We plan to continue to invest in the Middle East and will actively pursue opportunities to further strengthen and broaden our offering to clients."

Lawrence remarked, "As a shipping disputes lawyer, there is simply no finer place to practice than HFW. The size, expertise and client base of the firm's global shipping group is unrivalled. It really is the gold standard for advice to the industry."

Lawrence's practice focuses on advising marine and offshore industry clients on disputes related to EPC contracts, offshore casualties, ship-building, and marine insurance. He has served at Clyde & Co for almost 16 years. Having been made a partner in 2013, he was working as head of the firm's international trade and transport practice for the Middle East. Prior to that, he worked as an associate at Hill Dickinson in London.

On the other hand, Chung's practice focuses on deal-related marine and transport matters, such as M&A, regulation, licensing, and finance. He returns to HFW after over five-and-a-half years at Clyde & Co. Earlier, he served for more than 11 years at HFW, where he started his career in private practice. Before that, he was a policy analyst at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.