January 16, 2020
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce that Brian Gilchrist and Elaine Chen will join the firm’s Hong Kong office. They will focus on disputes, including high-end litigation in the Hong Kong courts, arbitration and contentious financial regulatory matters.
“We are pleased to welcome Brian and Elaine to the firm,” said Ken Doran, Chairman and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn. “They regularly represent high profile individuals, financial institutions and other public and private companies in complex disputes and are extremely well known and highly regarded in the Hong Kong market. Their addition will deepen the strength of our premier litigation practice and will position us to better serve our global clients with their Hong Kong litigation and Asia arbitration matters.”
“Brian and Elaine represent a transformational opportunity to elevate our Hong Kong litigation practice into a market-leading position,” said Kelly S. Austin, Partner in Charge of the Hong Kong office. “Based in Hong Kong for more than 25 years, Brian is one of a small number of practitioners in Hong Kong to whom companies and individuals turn to litigate their most significant contentious disputes. A Hong Kong native, Elaine is one of the few high-end litigators able to practice in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Their practice will integrate seamlessly with our leading Asia compliance, investigations and competition practices, giving us the ability to handle a wide variety of disputes and enforcement matters across the region.”
“I am truly delighted to be joining the Gibson Dunn family,” said Gilchrist. “This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen my practice on such a strong litigation platform.”
Chen added, “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to establish Gibson Dunn as the leading Hong Kong disputes practice and to expand the firm’s international arbitration coverage.”
About Brian Gilchrist
Gilchrist practices general and civil litigation, with a focus on banking, insurance, tax, employment, contentious probate, directors’ duties and minority shareholders’ rights. He serves as a Vice President of the Law Society of Hong Kong and as the Honorary Legal Advisor to the British Consul General in Hong Kong.
He is top-ranked by Chambers and Partners in Asia, which noted, “he is one of the towering figures in Hong Kong litigation.”
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Gilchrist practiced with Clifford Chance’s Hong Kong office since 2008. Prior, he was a partner at Johnson Stokes & Master (now Mayer Brown) from 1998 to 2008. He is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and as a solicitor in Hong Kong.
He graduated from Cambridge University, Magdalene College with a B.A. in 1987 and an LL.M. in 1988.
About Elaine Chen
Chen represents companies and high-net-worth individuals in civil and commercial litigation and disputes, including a full range of banking, contractual, tort, companies, trust and tax matters. She has particular experience in tax, contentious probate and estate administration, mental health, private wealth, and boardroom and shareholders disputes.
Chen previously was a partner with Clifford Chance in Hong Kong since 2008. Prior, she practiced with Mayer Brown JSM (now Mayer Brown) from 1997 to 2008.
Chen graduated from the University of Bristol in 1996 and received the prize for “Best Performance” in the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws program at the University of Hong Kong in 1997. She also holds a LL.M. from the University of London. A Hong Kong native, Chen is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. She is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and as a solicitor in Hong Kong.