Paul Quinn
Overview
Paul is a partner in the Dispute Resolution Team in the Hong Kong office of Kirkland & Ellis, focusing on complex, high-stakes, bet-the-company disputes. He has advised clients on a wide range of domestic and international commercial disputes, both in court and arbitration. He has particular experience dealing with professional negligence, company law, director’s duties, shareholder disputes, insolvency, fraud, urgent asset preservation, litigation funding, privilege and conflict of law issues. Paul was recognised in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 for his leadership of Kirkland’s Tier 1 litigation practice across Greater China, named among 500 Leading Global Litigators by Law Dragon 2023–2024, and identified as a Future Star by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2024.
Paul is a go-to practitioner for auditors, valuers and other professionals facing allegations of negligence or misconduct. He has experience acting on both plaintiff and defence side and understands the unique challenges and pressures faced by each. Paul has particular experience dealing with negligence claims arising out of collapsed Mainland China-based businesses. He has worked with dozens of factual and expert witnesses and is one of only a handful of Hong Kong practitioners to take the defence of a major audit claim through a full trial before the Hong Kong court.
Paul is sought after for his technical abilities and is specifically recognised in Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 for his drafting skills. He has worked across a wide range of industries including finance, technology, forestry, healthcare, agriculture, retail, crypto, energy and coal, mining, travel and media. He has extensive experience working on cross border disputes and insolvencies and is one of only a few Hong Kong practitioners to have completed the INSOL Fellowship in international insolvency. He frequently advises liquidators on their investigations and claims, both within and outside of Hong Kong.
Paul is a trusted advisor for many Boards. He invests in understanding the business and delivers direct, common sense and practical advice.
Experience
Representative Matters
Professional Negligence
- Advising a Big 4 accounting firm on its defence of a US$150 million professional negligence claim in the High Court of Hong Kong
- Advising a Big 4 accounting firm on its defence of a US$800 million professional negligence claim in the High Court of Hong Kong
- Advising a Big 4 accounting firm on its defence of regulatory proceedings brought by the HKICPA
- Advising the Australian branch of a leading international accounting firm on the risks associated with accepting an audit engagement of a dual listed (HKEX / ASX) business with operations spanning China and Asia Pacific
- Advising Hong Kong liquidators named as defendants to a professional negligence claim in the High Court of Hong Kong
- Advising bondholders of a former Hong Kong ListCo on potential claims against the ListCo’s auditors
- Advising the Hong Kong liquidators of Allied Weli Developments Limited on claims against the company’s former auditors and solicitors
- Advising the Trustee of the Sino-Forest Litigation Trust on claims against the company’s former professional advisors
Commercial Disputes (Court)
- Advising a Hong Kong ListCo on the successful resolution of a US$50 million dispute with its founding partner, disposing of claims threatened across Hong Kong, Mainland China, Cayman Islands and the USA
- Advising an Israeli technology company on its defence of a breach of contract claim commenced in the High Court of Hong Kong
- Advising a Hong Kong-based, US listed technology company on avenues to expedite proceedings in the High Court of Hong Kong
- Advising bondholders on enforcement action in the High Court of Hong Kong against a Canadian issuer
- Advising minority dissenting shareholders on a contentious take private of a US listed, Cayman Islands company, seeking to relist in Mainland China
- Advising a Canadian listed technology company on its pursuit of breach of contract claims
- Advising a top 20 ASX listed company on its defence of a claim alleging misuse of confidential information
- Advising a government research organization on royalty rights following a third party acquisition of its US-based licensee and various novations of the license agreement
- Advising the Trustee of the Sino-Forest Litigation Trust on numerous Court claims, including obtaining worldwide, ancillary and third party freezing orders in multiple jurisdictions
Commercial Disputes (Arbitration)
- Advising a major North American pension fund on a successful US$200 million HKIAC arbitration claim, including obtaining ancillary injunction and disclosure orders in the Hong Kong and Cayman Courts
- Advising a major US retailer on its defense of a HKIAC arbitration claim arising out of related Chapter 11 proceedings in the US
- Advising a Hong Kong ListCo on the successful resolution of various threatened HKIAC arbitration claims
- Advising the Trustee of the Sino-Forest Litigation Trust on numerous arbitration claims stemming from one of Mainland China and Hong Kong’s largest corporate frauds
- Advising a Mainland China-based medical products distributor on an ICC arbitration governed dispute with its supplier
Insolvency and Restructuring
- Advising the liquidators of Allied Weli Developments Limited on their successful application for examination orders against nine former officers, directors and professional advisors
- Advising Hong Kong Trustees in Bankruptcy on their investigations into a bankrupt’s business activities and assets across Europe, the Middle East and the US
- Advising a major US retailer on its creditor rights in the context of a group insolvency across BVI and Hong Kong
- Advising a cryptocurrency lender on a proposed restructuring of its business across Singapore, Hong Kong and the Caribbean
- Advising a bondholder group on a contentious restructuring of a South East Asian energy business pursued primarily through the Singapore Courts
- Advising a global retailer in Chapter 11 proceedings in the US on a recognition application in Hong Kong
- Advising Special Purpose Liquidators appointed by the Australian Court on a recognition application in Hong Kong
- Advising European creditors in connection on their pursuit of a creditor’s voluntary winding up of a Hong Kong debtor
- Advising a Hong Kong Court-appointed receiver on litigation strategy to secure shares held in Mainland China
- Advising the liquidators of The Grande Holdings Limited (in liquidation) on various actions in the High Court of Hong Kong arising from a contentious restructuring, numerous challenges by creditors and parallel claims against its former directors
- Advising the liquidators of Akai Holdings Limited, one of Hong Kong’s largest corporate collapses, on various claims including a bankruptcy petition against a former director
- Advising the creditors of a Thailand-based pipes, fittings and parts manufacturer on litigation strategy and potential asset recovery following defaults by the debtor
Litigation Funding
- Advising Hong Kong liquidators on their application to the High Court of Hong Kong for sanction of a litigation funding agreement
- Advising Hong Kong liquidators on the negotiation of multiple litigation funding agreements
- Advising Hong Kong liquidators on the use of After The Event insurance policies
- Advising Hong Kong receivers on the permissibility of third party funding in Hong Kong
- Advising various bondholder groups on establishing litigation trust structures to fund and pursue claims arising out of restructurings
- Advising an asset management fund on the potential acquisition and funding of litigation claims stemming from the collapse of an Indonesian bank and the value impact of related proceedings in Mauritius, the US, Singapore and Japan
Directors’ Duties
- Advising the Board of a Hong Kong shipping group on their duties as directors in the context of an internal reorganization
- Advising the Board of a major hotel and casino on their duties as directors in connection with plans to expand and raise capital
- Advising the Board of the Hong Kong division of a major US retailer in Chapter 11 proceedings in the US
- Advising the Board of a global commodities trader on their duties as directors in the context of a restructuring
- Advising the Hong Kong liquidators of a financial services company on potential claims against the company’s former officers and directors
Crisis Management and Investigations
- Advising several major US private equity funds on shareholder disputes and joint ventures in crisis in Hong Kong and Mainland China
- Advising the Audit Committee of a Hong Kong listed company in response to whistleblower complaints in connection with its China-based operations
- Advising a major US private equity fund on an internal investigations arising from suspected employee misconduct
Corporate Advisory, Strategy and Risk
- Advising a leading private equity fund on litigation risk associated with a potential US$1 billion investment
- Advising Bain Capital on its US$3.16 billion take private of Chinadata Group
- Advising The Carlyle Group in the US$1.8 billion sale of its stake in the strategic partnership that operates and manages McDonald's franchised businesses in China, Hong Kong and Macau to McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD)
- Advising Carlyle on the acquisition of HCP Global, a leading Chinese packaging firm, from Baring Private Equity Asia. This transaction was named “Deals of the Year 2022” by China Business Law Journal
- Advising The Blackstone Group on its acquisition of all of the issued share capital of Interplex Holdings Pte. Ltd., which was indirectly owned by funds managed by Baring Private Equity Asia, in a transaction valued at approximately US$1.6 billion
- Advising Bullish, a technology company focused on developing financial services for the digital assets sector, on its proposed agreement to go public on the New York Stock Exchange through a merger with Far Peak Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: FPAC), a special purpose acquisition company, for approximately US$9 billion
Prior Experience
Lipman Karas, 2012–2015
King & Wood Mallesons, 2009–2012
More
Thought Leadership
Speaking Engagements
Panelist, “Arbitrating audit claims in the wake of the PRC property downturn – winners and losers”, Hong Kong Arbitration Week 2024
Panelist, “Investment Exit Strategies”, joint seminar with WongPartners, 2024
Panelist, “Third Party Funding,” Legal 500 General Counsel Summit, Hong Kong, 2024
Speaker, HKICPA Insolvency Preparatory II Course, 2024
Speaker, HKICPA Insolvency Preparatory I Course, 2023
Panelist, “Insolvency Trends,” Burford Capital Webinar, 2023
Publications
“M&A Litigation,” Lexology, 2024
Recognition
“Future Star,” Commercial and Transactions, China and Hong Kong, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2024)
“Future Star,” Insolvency, China and Hong Kong, Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific (2024)
“Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators”, International Litigation & Arbitration, Lawdragon (2023–2024)
Memberships & Affiliations
INSOL Fellow, 2019
HKICPA
IWIRC
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2013, Hong Kong, Solicitor
- 2009, Victoria, Australia (non-practicing)
Education
- University of TasmaniaBachelor of Laws2008
- University of TasmaniaBachelor of Civil Engineering2005