About Thornhill

Thornhill's Disputes practice is recognised for its quality and breadth, advising on complex disputes and investigations where commercial, regulatory and reputational issues intersect. Our Hong Kong Disputes team advises on matters spanning international arbitration, asset recovery, financial services disputes and cross-border investigations across the Asia-Pacific region.

About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Associate to take a leading role on complex commercial litigation and international arbitration matters within our Hong Kong Disputes practice. This is a senior position with significant client-facing responsibility, and the successful candidate will be expected to manage matters with a high degree of autonomy, working closely with partners on strategy while taking primary responsibility for day-to-day execution. You will also play a leading role in supervising and developing more junior members of the team.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of complex commercial disputes and arbitration matters, including case strategy, evidence gathering and procedural management

• Advise clients directly on litigation and arbitration strategy, risk assessment and likely outcomes

• Draft pleadings, witness statements, expert instructions and written submissions

• Coordinate with local and international counsel, forensic accountants and technical experts across multiple jurisdictions

• Represent clients at hearings, case management conferences and, where appropriate, at trial or arbitral hearings

• Supervise and mentor junior associates and trainees, including reviewing their work and supporting their professional development

• Contribute to the practice's business development activity, including client pitches and thought leadership content

Requirements

• Qualified in Hong Kong (or an equivalent common law jurisdiction, with willingness to requalify) with 5–8 years' post-qualification experience in commercial litigation or international arbitration

• Experience with institutional arbitration under major rules (ICC, HKIAC, SIAC or equivalent) strongly preferred

• Fluency in English required; working proficiency in Mandarin or Cantonese a significant advantage given the regional client base

• Demonstrated ability to manage client relationships independently, including direct engagement with general counsel and senior business stakeholders

• Strong advocacy and written drafting skills, evidenced by prior experience appearing at hearings or leading submissions

What We Offer

A clear pathway toward partnership, direct exposure to some of the region's most complex and high-profile disputes, and the opportunity to build a genuinely cross-border practice working alongside our London and New York Disputes teams.