Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has further expanded its international arbitration practice and continued the growth of its Asia Pacific offering with the appointment of disputes Partner Shaun Leong in Singapore.
Shaun joins HFW from Withers, along with Senior Associate Theodore Ang. This follows HFW’s hire of Singapore Legal Director Sinyee Ong in March 2025.
Shaun is an international arbitration specialist with more than 15 years of experience advising on a diverse range of complex international disputes, investor state treaty arbitration, investigations, and mediation. His expertise includes advising on disputes relating to AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrency, as well as energy, climate change, and sustainability.
Adam Richardson, Singapore Office Head, HFW: “I would like to welcome Shaun and Theodore to HFW in Singapore. Shaun’s diverse sector experience, as well as his vast international experience, which includes advising on complex, high-stakes disputes in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea, make him a valuable addition to the firm.”
“His practice aligns with a number of our focuses in Singapore and the wider region, and he will be well-positioned to support our clients with the coming wave of fintech and artificial intelligence disputes, as the proliferation of these technologies continues across sectors.”
Shaun is a recognised leader in emerging technology disputes. He was the first lawyer in the world to successfully obtain a worldwide proprietary injunction to freeze a non-fungible token (NFT) on the blockchain in a commercial dispute.
Shaun’s energy sector experience includes advising clients on matters relating to carbon credits, clean power purchase agreements, and renewable energy certificates, and advising on disputes relating to green activism.
Shaun Leong, Partner, HFW, said: “I am pleased to be joining HFW. It’s clear that the firm is on an exciting upwards trajectory, and its strong and growing international network appealed to me. The cross-border nature of my practice will be well served by HFW’s global platform and collaborative culture.”
Shaun is a panel arbitrator with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and with other premier centres including the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board International, the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, the Thailand Arbitration Centre, and the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre. He is also a specialist mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Centre, serves on the Inquiry Panel of Law Society of Singapore, and is a member of the International Arbitration Institute Working Group on international arbitration rules.
Shaun’s arrival continues a period of sustained expansion for HFW globally that has made it one of the fastest-growing law firms in the market.
HFW has added more than 50 new partners since the beginning of FY23, including team and partner hires in Hong Kong, Kuwait City, London, Melbourne, Paris, Perth, Piraeus, Riyadh and Sydney.
The firm also established a new entity in Saudi Arabia to continue the growth of its leading Middle East offering, and launched an office in Shenzhen to support its clients in China’s Greater Bay Area.
The firm’s Singapore office, which opened almost 35 years ago, has 40 lawyers and more than 70 people in total, working as part of an Asia Pacific team of more than 64 partners and 280 lawyers in total. Globally, the firm has 185 partners and more than 700 lawyers in total.
