Beijing based Chau Ee Lee, a recognised expert in contentious and non-contentious construction with experience advising on procurement, structuring project development and implementation and dispute resolution is the latest new partner to join Addleshaw Goddard's (AG) burgeoning global Construction, Energy and Infrastructure (CEI) practice, one of the firm's key investment priorities. Chau Ee, who will be based in our Singapore office, was most recently a Beijing-based partner in the Chinese arm (and when he was based in Singapore, a Mallesons’ partner) of King & Wood Mallesons. Prior to that, he was a director of Singapore “Big Four” law firm Drew & Napier LLC and headed up its construction practice.

His appointment to the firm's Real Estate division follows the arrival in September of Hong Kong based Vivien Yang, a recognised M&A expert in the oil and gas, LNG and infrastructure sectors, as well as project power development, who joined from Simmons & Simmons. Earlier this year Ton van Den Bosch joined our Singapore practice from Ince & Co where he headed its Energy and Projects team and Aberdeen-based oil and gas specialist David McEwing from Pinsents joined AG's Aberdeen office. In 2018, the firm also appointed eight partners from DWF's construction practice including national head, Paul O'Kane. AG's newly opened office in Hamburg also offers a strong capability in the CEI space. AG's multi-disciplinary CEI practice has in combination around 30 partners and more than 130 further fee earners across the firm's offices in the UK, Germany, Asia and the GCC.

Bob Charlton, head of AG's Asia region said: 

"Chau Ee is outstanding in his specialist field and in combination with Vivien Yang and Ton van den Bosch will add an exciting new dimension in contentious and non-contentious projects across the firm's global CEI business, and will be a key partner in driving our internationalisation with his experience and network of contacts across Asia-Pacific. More generally, Chau Ee's arrival adds significantly to our regional disputes capability and I am delighted he recognises our ambition in the CEI space and has chosen to join us."

Jonathan Tattersall, joint head of the firm's CEI practice added: 

"Our plan to assemble by 2021 one of the strongest global CEI practices in the market and this is really gathering momentum. Chau Ee will focus on all aspects of construction in relation to all business sectors for our Asia based and non-Asian based clients in relation to their regional based projects and contracts. Chau Ee has a wealth of experience in contentious and non-contentious construction projects across multiple geographies and this international spread and cultural awareness and experience across a range of construction centres will add real value to our clients."

Chau Ee Lee commented: 

"I am delighted to be joining AG's global CEI practice, to be part of a focused and ambitious team that is gaining significant traction and momentum. This naturally complements my cradle to grave international construction experience serving Asian and non-Asian based clients in the construction, energy and infrastructure supply chain." 

Chau Ee Lee is AG's fifth new Asia partner hire in the last 12 months and keeps the firm on track to be a double-digit partner team in the region in the near future. Alongside Vivien Yang and Ton van den Bosch, recent new appointments include Litigation head Ronald Sum from Locke Lord and corporate partner Lance Jiang from Great Wall AMC International Holdings. AG's Asia business totals eight partners and circa 35 other fee earners including M&A partner Andrew Yang and Head of Equity Capital Markets Hong Kong, Daniel Wan.