Law firms boost hiring for deal, restructuring lawyers

There’s also strong demand for aviation, shipping, and construction advice.

Hong Kong’s top headhunters expect steady demand next year for lawyers handling business deals and company restructuring, as law firms strengthen teams focused on specific industries to support growing cross-border work.

“Transactional and restructuring are definitely two areas where we have seen a need for more professional support in 2025,” Chris Lambert, managing partner at Hong Kong law firm Robertsons, told Hong Kong Business. He added that based on recent market trends, firms are preparing for similar hiring needs in 2026.

The outlook reflects broader deal and capital markets activity. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing ranked first globally for initial public offering (IPO) fundraising in the first half of the year, driven by secondary listings, technology companies and China-linked issuers, according to its 2025 interim report.

There was strong hiring momentum across IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, funds, and finance practices in 2025 — a trend expected to extend into the new year, according to a September report by global legal recruitment firm Major, Lindsey & Africa. Moreover, candidates with Mandarin skills, international training, and drafting experience were highly sought after.

Sector-specific demand is also rising. Peter Murphy, head of HFW (Holman Fenwick Willan) Hong Kong, cited increased activity in aviation, shipping, and construction.

“These appointments align with our strategy to grow our core sectors and respond to client needs in complex, cross-border matters,” Murphy said in an emailed reply to questions. HFW expanded its construction team last year, adding two partners and six lawyers to boost support for complex cross-border mandates.

Over the first ten months of 2025, Hong Kong International Airport handled more than 50 million passengers, whilst flight movements reached 325,330, up 15.1% and 8.9% year-on-year respectively. Cargo volumes rose 2.3% to over 4.12 million tonnes over the same period.

In addition, the city’s maritime ecosystem comprises more than 1,200 companies across port operations, ship management, broking and agency, ship finance, marine insurance, and maritime legal and arbitration services, according to the Transport and Logistics Bureau.

Despite the demand, law firms are hiring more selectively. Sonder Consultants Pty. Ltd. reported in September that firms are prioritising targeted recruitment to reinforce core practices instead of pursuing broad expansion.

Competition for experienced lawyers remains intense, but Hong Kong firms don’t match the aggressive compensation packages offered in markets like London or New York, Lambert said. Demand is also shifting towards career mobility and international exposure, Murphy added.

Newly qualified lawyers at top-tier firms in London had base salaries of $1.66m to $1.87m (£160,000 to £180,000) as of June 2023, according to UK recruiter Noble Legal Ltd.

Lambert said firms should offer more than pay to attract and keep talent. He pointed out that expectations amongst younger lawyers have shifted towards clearer career pathways and professional development, making mentoring a more important part of retention efforts.

“They have to offer a workplace where lawyers can feel that they are personally developing and are more than just another headcount,” Lambert added. Beyond technical skills, Robertsons has included initiatives related to physical and mental health in its internal training programmes.

Lawyers leaving private practice continue to move into in-house positions or transfer to other international firms. Murphy noted that former HFW lawyers have taken senior legal and compliance posts in insurance, shipping, commodities trading, and financial services, whilst others have continued their careers at global law firms.

Murphy said maintaining alumni relationships has become more important as former lawyers increasingly move into senior in-house legal and compliance roles. Meanwhile, the law firm has expanded graduate programmes to attract future talent.

HFW also offers overseas placements, giving lawyers the chance to work in different jurisdictions and handle major transactions alongside senior partners and clients, he added.