Holman Fenwick Willan LLP

05/26/2023 | Press release | Archived content

HFW further strengthens global construction practice with Singapore partner hire

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has continued to grow its international construction practice with the hire of Helen Lee. Helen joins from international contractor SK Ecoplant, an affiliate of SK, South Korea's second largest conglomerate, where she was General Counsel and Head of Global Legal (Vice President). Helen will join HFW in Singapore, after completion of local regulatory approvals.

Helen has very extensive experience of the negotiation, project support, and dispute resolution, of major international engineering projects, and in particular EPC/PPP contracting. Her experience has been global, but with a particular focus on the Middle East, and across Asia-Pacific. Helen's work has involved the risk management of arbitrations, litigation and the formulation and negotiation of claims. As General Counsel of a major conglomerate, Helen also developed very significant experience of managing global M&A transactions, and supporting successful post-merger integration.

Helen's recruitment is the latest in a number of recent additions to the global construction team, including the recruitment of Partner Ken Hickman in Melbourne in May, and Partner Slava Kiryushin in Dubai in April.

Michael Sergeant, Global Head of Construction, HFW:

"We are very pleased to welcome Helen to the firm. This is a very exciting period of growth for our international construction group, which is an integrated team of over 70 Lawyers. Helen's background, and her immense experience of the commercial drivers and requirements of international contractors, is perfectly aligned with the approach and direction of the HFW team."

Helen Lee, Partner, HFW:

"I am delighted to open a new chapter in my career at HFW Singapore after working as a Head of Global Legal and Contract at the top-ranked Korean construction company for the past 12 years. I am very excited about combining my "hands-on" experience and expertise as an in-house Counsel with the strength of HFW's global construction practice."

HFW's international construction team now comprises 16 partners and more than 70 lawyers, advising on procurement, risk management and dispute avoidance and resolution for a wide range of clients, including contractors, project sponsors, consultants, and insurers.

This latest hire continues a period of sustained growth across HFW's sectors and international network, following the recent arrivals of aviation partner Peter Coles, Paris corporate partner Thomas Forin, and London insurance partners Bob Haken and Mark Meyer.

HFW's Brazilian cooperation firm also recently merged to create Brazil's leading aviation and insurance practice, CAR.

About HFW

HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance, and shipping sectors. The firm has more than 600 lawyers, including 185 partners, based in offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture.