HKIAC Makes Key Changes to Its Organisational Structure

HKIAC Council has revised its organizational structure to further strengthen its services to users.  This reconstitution has been motivated by the principles of independence and expertise and the needs of the users.

An Executive Committee has been established to serve as the principal body directing the activities of HKIAC.  Members of the Executive Committee are:

• Teresa Cheng GBS SC JP (Chair of HKIAC)
• Lord Goldsmith QC, Debevoise & Plimpton (Newly Appointed Vice Chair of HKIAC)
• John Budge SBS MBE JP, Wilkinson & Grist (Newly Appointed Vice Chair of HKIAC)
• Matthew Gearing, Allen & Overy
• Justin D’Agostino, Herbert Smith Freehills
• Kathryn Sanger, Clifford Chance

Three standing committees, established by the HKIAC Council, will also operate under the auspices of the Executive Committee, being the Arbitration Proceedings, Appointments, and the Finance and Administration Committees.  These committees will deal with matters concerning the business operations of HKIAC as well as the functions entrusted to HKIAC under its arbitration rules and in accordance with its role as appointing authority under the Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance (Cap 609).

To provide guidance and advice to HKIAC on a policy level, HKIAC has also appointed 8 eminent international dispute resolution practitioners to its International Advisory Board.  Having such distinguished experts join the Board at this important juncture increases the depth of dispute resolution expertise which HKIAC can call upon when performing its relevant functions.

The new members of the International Advisory Board include:

• Karl-Heinz Böckstiegel, Independent Arbitrator
• Gary Born, WilmerHale
• Emmanuel Gaillard, Shearman & Sterling
• Lord Hoffman PC, Brick Court Chambers
• Julian D M Lew QC, 20 Essex Street
• James Spigelman AC QC, One Essex Court
• Tao Jingzhou, Dechert
• Albert Jan van den Berg, Hanotiau & van den Berg

HKIAC has also added a new generation of dispute resolution practitioners to its Council membership.  In addition to being drawn from different jurisdictions and sectors, these Council members also reflect our increased focus on addressing the users’ needs and gaining direct input from in-house counsel. These new practitioners include:

• Nils Eliasson, Mannheimer Swartling
• Fei Ning, Beijing Hui Zhong Law Firm
• Jim Jamison, Deloitte
• Jun Hee Kim, Hyundai Heavy Industries
• Robert S. Pé, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
• Joseph Wan, Harvey Nichols

Stepping down from the Council are Neil Kaplan CBE QC SBS, Philip Yang BBS, Michael Moser JP and Huen Wong JP who will however continue to support the work of HKIAC as Honorary Chairmen.  Neil Kaplan welcomes these changes and says, “I am delighted that HKIAC has revamped its committee structure and has injected new and younger members. As someone who has been involved in the setting up of HKIAC, as well as being an original Council member and Chair for 13 years, I confirm the need for all institutions to make room for new ideas and new people. Shortly after its foundation HKIAC established itself as the premier arbitration centre in Asia. Since then other centres have developed such that all centres face challenges which are a spur to innovation. We should all be taking an Asian perspective and, rather than isolating our endeavors parochially, we should be ensuring that Asia generally has the dispute resolution system and practices that its economies deserve and require.  I will continue to lend my services and support to HKIAC whenever required and I am sure that under its new Chair, Teresa Cheng SC, HKIAC has an even brighter future.” 

In response, Teresa Cheng notes, “I am delighted to welcome the new members who will bring vibrant diversity and new perspectives to HKIAC as it moves towards its 30th anniversary in 2015. We would not have reached this era without the leadership and support of our past chairmen for which we are deeply grateful.”  As new members of the International Advisory Board, James Spigelman “look(s) forward to making a contribution to the further development of Hong Kong as a global centre for international commercial arbitration.” Gary Born comments that “it is a privilege to join the HKIAC International Advisory Board. The Centre is an exciting and rapidly-rising institution and any equally vibrant region.  With its excellent new rules and impressive leadership, the Centre is poised for further successes”

HKIAC’s caseload continues to reflect the strength and growth of dispute resolution in Asia. Although a majority of HKIAC’s arbitration cases relate to ad hoc arbitrations, the greatest increases have been seen in the number of administered arbitration cases.  Such cases can only be enhanced by the recent 2013 revisions to the Administered Arbitration Rules, which cater to the growing complexity of commercial disputes, and yet maintain the highly popular “light touch, full service” approach to administering arbitrations.  The changes in the organisational structure will similarly enable HKIAC to provide a more focused approach to serving its users efficiently and effectively. 

Media Contact
Karen Tan  
Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
Tel: (852) 2525 2381
Fax: (852) 2524 2171
Email: karen@hkiac.org