This will be conducted in English and according to Hong Kong local time.

UP TO 6 CPD POINTS TO BE APPLIED

Legal Plus annual CPD event is back in Hong Kong on Wednesday 31 July 2024. The Asia Forum: 4th International Arbitration & Competition Law Summit — Hong Kong will be held from 9:15am to 5:30pm follow by an one-hour networking drink at Fangda Partner Hong Kong office. 

Discussing essential issues on arbitration, competition law, cyber crime and many other topics with experts from locally and internationally.  The event is aimed for general counsel looking to learn the latest in dispute avoidance, local and international competition issues and protecting your company with the latest regulatory & compliance rules as new dangers to our companies being targeted in Asia are found almost daily.

Registration is now open! Join us for this interactive networking event today and book your seat!  Contact us today or view the latest flyer for registration and program details. Download

If you are interested to sponsor or speak at the event, contact Jason at jason.sinclair@legalplus-asia.com for package details.  For registrations details, contact Bettina at legalpluseventsasia@legalplus-asia.com.

Program
The organiser reserves the right to change the program without prior notice.

• Welcome Message by Chairperson
  Sadaff Habib, Independent Arbitrator
• Update on Hong Kong Arbitration
  Howard Chan, Partner, Fangda Partners
• Keynote Session: Recent Developments Affecting Global International Arbitration and the Outlook for 2024
  William M.F. Wong, SC, Des Voeux Chambers
• 1st Grand Panel: Asia: Enforcement of Awards — Regional Focus and Important Updates in 2024
  Moderator: Julian Cohen, Arbitrator & Barrister, Resolution Chambers
  Panellists:
  • Norman Nip, S.C., Barrister — Senior Counsel, Rede Chambers
  • Joanne Lau, Secretary-General, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
  • Winnie Wat, Deputy Counsel, ICC Arbitration
  
• Managing JV & M&A Disputes
  Andrew Rigden Green, Partner, Stephenson Harwood
  
• Managing Financial Uncertainties with Litigation Risk Solutions in Arbitrations
  Cathryn Neo, Associate Director, Aon Asia Transaction Solutions Team
  
• 2nd Grand Panel: Med v Arb v Negotiation — The Arbitrators/Mediators Toolbox in 2024: Different Regions & Industries = Different Best Outcomes?
  Moderator: Stella Hu, Special Counsel, Karas So LLP in Association with Mishcon de Reya
  Panellists:
  • Gary Gao, Partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm
  • Ben Bury, Director, Group General Counsel Gammon Construction Limited
  • Peter Scott Caldwell, Independent Arbitrator & Mediator
• 3rd Grand Panel: Shareholders, Stakeholders & Director Disputes with Hong Kong & Foreign Companies: Best Practices to Protect the Company
  Moderator: Heidi Chui, Partner, Stevenson, Wong & Co
  Panellists:
  • Jon Nicklin, Director, Beijing, Accuracy
  • Jeremy Bartlett, S.C. Barrister, Princes Chambers
  • James Kwan, Partner, Hogan Lovells
• Navigating Legal Tech Advancements in the Digital Era — Key Trends to Watch
  Steven Wilkinson, Principal, Control Risks
  
• Keynote Session: What’s Coming! — Effects of EU Antitrust Law on Asian Companies: Economic Security & Trade Barriers
  Kaarli H Eichhorn, Partner, Jones Day
• 4th Grand Panel: Anti-Trust Law: Digital, Compliance & Regulatory Issues with Hong Kong & Foreign Companies: Trends in Enforcement & Leniency
  Moderator: Catrina Lam, Barrister, Des Voeux Chambers
  Panellists:
  • Carter Chim, Barrister, Denis Chang’s Chambers
  • Kaarli H Eichhorn, Partner, Jones Day
  
• Rise of Cyber Fraud & Abuse of Data Privacy in Hong Kong & the Region
  
• 5th Grand Panel: FRAUD — Risks in 2024 in China & Hong Kong Outbound Investment Risks, Technology’s Role (Good & Bad) & Internal Investigations
  Moderator: Dorothy Siron, Partner, Stephenson Harwood
  Panellist:
  • Howard Chan, Partner, Fangda Partners
  • Wayne Walsh SC, Head, Parkside Chambers
  • Susan Munro, Registered Foreign Lawyer, K&L Gates

Speakers

Sadaff Habib, Chairperson

Independent Arbitrator

Sadaff Habib is an independent arbitrator based in Dubai, UAE. Born and raised in Kenya with Indian roots, she is a qualified attorney in New York. Sadaff has extensive experience in international arbitration, including disputes involving construction, infrastructure, property, commercial, desalination plants, and solar power projects. Prior to going independent, Sadaff worked with international law firms such as Beale & Co and Fenwick Elliott. Sadaff is recognized as a Future Leader by Who’s Who Legal and is also ranked in Who’s Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader. She also holds a ranking in the Legal 500 Middle East Construction, where she is acknowledged for building a reputable presence in international arbitration as an arbitrator.

Biography

Howard Chan, Welcome Message

Partner, Fangda Partners

Howard’s practice spans a number of areas including complex commercial disputes before the Hong Kong court and arbitral tribunals, contentious regulatory and corporate compliance matters, alternative dispute resolution including mediation, and anti-corruption investigations in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan. Howard also regularly acts as coordinating counsel in cross-border disputes, particularly those involving court proceedings in China. Howard is experienced in acting for corporations, financial institutions, investment funds, and high net worth individuals. Howard has been recognized by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Asialaw for his contentious regulatory and internal investigations practice.

Biography

William M.F. Wong, Keynote Speaker

SC, Des Voeux Chambers

Dr. Wong has been in practice in Hong Kong since 1997. In 2010, he was also called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands. In 2013, Dr. Wong was appointed as a Senior Counsel in Hong Kong. He is also presently an Non-Executive Director of the Airport Authority and one of the Vice Chairmen of the Board of Review of the Inland Revenue. Dr. Wong’s practice covers a wide spectrum of contentious commercial litigation. He has a special focus and substantial experience in the areas of company, insolvency and securities law. He frequently represents clients in contentious shareholders and/or investors disputes and disputes in liquidation. He is the first Hong Kong barrister to be admit, on an ad hoc basis, in the Bermudian courts to conduct trials and appeals. He is experienced in offshore litigation. He also acted as an expert witness on HK company law in the People’s Republic of China, and international arbitration. Dr. Wong also sits as an arbitrator in a substantial number of international commercial arbitration. Dr. Wong also specializes in contentious trusts and probate matters. His case of Chow Siu Po v. Wong Ming Fung [2003] 1 HKC 146 establishes the burden of proof in propounding a will. He has also given legal opinion on various trust and probate matters. He was instructed to advise and work on a number of substantial trusts litigation and related matters.

Biography

Kaarli Eichhorn, Keynote Speaker

Partner, Jones Day

Kaarli Eichhorn is an antitrust partner at Jones Day. Kaarli has acted on a significant number of high-profile and politically sensitive merger and antitrust matters globally for more than 20 years. Kaarli is vice-chair and member of the board of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union. Prior to joining Jones Day, Kaarli was global executive counsel of competition law & policy at General Electric Company (GE). During his 10-year tenure at GE he advised on hundreds of international transactions and led the merger review clearance processes with government agencies globally. He is a prior member of the board of European Justice Forum, a former vicechair of the In-House Competition Counsel Association, and member of the Business Europe Competition Committee. He is a non-governmental advisor at the International Competition Network. Kaarli has authored numerous articles and a textbook on competition law. He is a frequent speaker at conferences.

Biography

Julian Cohen, Moderator – 1st Grand Panel

Arbitrator & Barrister, Resolution Chambers

Julian has 30 years of specialist experience of heavyweight international, and domestic, disputes. Sums in dispute in his cases vary from small to in excess of USD 2 billion. In addition to acting as counsel, he also regularly sits as an arbitrator. Julian has over 10 years’ experience in the MENA region, including 2 years based full time in Dubai, and an ongoing long-term commitment to the region. Julian has been involved in projects and disputes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Mali. Julian was called to the Bar in England & Wales in 1990. He was with Pinsent Masons’ Construction Disputes practice in London and Hong Kong from 1993 to 2009. He left Pinsent Masons as a partner in 2009, and was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 2010. Julian is particularly well known for his heavy weight practice in relation to the Construction and Engineering sectors, the Energy, Oil and Gas sectors and International and domestic arbitrations.

Biography

Stella Hu, Moderator – 2nd Grand Panel

Special Counsel, Karas So LLP in Association with Mishcon de Reya

Stella Hu specialises in cross-border dispute resolution. Having worked in Mainland China and Hong Kong, she has extensive experience in resolving complex commercial disputes between Chinese and foreign parties in sectors including oil and gas, international sales of goods, M&A, joint venture, investment, and hotel management. Stella has represented clients in HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, LCIA, SCC and CIETAC arbitrations in both English and Chinese language proceedings as well as in Hong Kong litigations. Stella is an arbitrator under the HKIAC List of Arbitrators, the eBRAM Panel of Arbitrators, the eBRAM Panel of APEC Neutrals and the Panel of Arbitrators of the Langfang Arbitration Commission. She is recognised by Legal 500 Asia in 2020 as Rising Star in China Dispute Resolution. Who’s Who Legal named her Future Leaders of International Arbitration between 2020 and 2023. She is a committee member of the ERA Pledge APAC subcommittee since 2022. She is also a Young Experienced Practitioner under Delos and has served in the HK45 committee (HKIAC young practitioner group) between 2018 and 2020.

Biography

Heidi Chui, Moderator - 3rd Grand Panel

Partner, Stevenson, Wong & Co.,

Heidi Chui is a partner at Stevenson, Wong & Co., heading the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, and Banking and Finance Department. She is also co-head of the FinTech practice group and was previously, seconded to serve as an in-house legal advisor of several Chinese banks. She is a panel arbitrator of HKIAC, CIETAC, BIAC, SCIA, SCIAHK, SHIAC and mediator of HKIAC, HKMAAL and various other arbitral institutions. She is also a GBA lawyer and China Appointed Attesting Officer. Heidi specializes in commercial litigation, international arbitration and dispute resolution. She assists financial institutions, insurance companies, funds and listed companies on high stake matters involving cross border or international elements. She has been a guest lecturer for LLB and LLM students of the Peking University and The University of Hong Kong for arbitration courses. She is also frequently invited to act as a judge in various international arbitration mooting competitions. Heidi is a Council Member of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Vice-Chairperson of Greater China Legal Affairs Committee of The Law Society of Hong Kong, Council Member of the Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers, Vice President of Executive Committee of the University of Hong Kong Law Alumni Association, Specially Appointed Mediator of Hong Kong and Macao by the High People’s Court of Guangdong Province, Specially Appointed Mediator, Shenzhen Qianhai Cooperation Zone People's Court, Member of the Panel of Arbitrators, Mediators and Panel of Neutrals under eBRAM APEC Rules. She has been recognized as “ALB Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyers 2024”, “Recommended Lawyer of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific - Greater China - 2024”, “Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year” at the 2023 ALB Hong Kong Law Awards and “ALB Top 15 North Asia Litigators 2023”. She also received various accolades and recognitions by “Asialaw Profiles”, “Asian Legal Business” and “China Business Law Journal”.

Biography

Catrina Lam, Moderator - 4th Grand Panel

Barrister, Des Voeux Chambers

Catrina is recognized as a leading senior junior barrister whose practice spans all aspects of contentious commercial disputes (including domestic and international arbitrations), administrative and constitutional law, competition (antitrust), securities and regulatory litigation. She is ranked as a Band 1 junior in the Commercial Dispute Resolution section of Chambers & Partners, a Band 1 junior in both the Competition and Commercial Disputes sections of The Legal 500 and a leading junior in the Administrative and Public Law section of The Legal 500. She has represented domestic and multinational clients operating in a wide range of industry sectors, including banking and financial services, technology, telecommunications, real estate and construction, energy, media and entertainment, manufacturing, education, aviation and gambling. She is experienced in handling highly complex commercial disputes, many involving novel legal issues and/or technical evidence, and has been described as being “great for matters which concern very difficult facts and evidence”. She is in demand for her “sharp legal mind”, “quickness on her feet”, “strong legal literacy” and as a practitioner who “thinks outside the box and always tests the limits of the evidence”. She appears at all levels of court, as well as other specialist and disciplinary tribunals, including the Competition Tribunal, Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal, Insider Dealing Tribunal and the Board of Review. In her public law and judicial review practice, Catrina has advised and represented many public bodies and officials, including acting for the Secretary for Justice intervening in the public interest, as well as private individuals. Catrina is “held in particularly high esteem for her accomplished competition law practice” and is “widely identified as Hong Kong’s front runner for competition matters”. She “stands out” for her “depth of knowledge in competition law”.

Biography

Dorothy Siron, Moderator - 5th Grand Panel

Partner, Stephenson Harwood

Clients call partner Dorothy Siron their “go-to” for asset tracing and recovery in Hong Kong and the PRC and note her counsel as outstanding for the breadth of her commercial litigation practice and the depth of her globe-spanning litigation strategies. She is recognized internationally for her wealth of experience which includes Fraud, White Collar Crime and cyber and other financial crimes and asset recovery. She also has expertise in banking litigation, international trade and commercial disputes.

Biography

Steven Wilkinson

Principal, Control Risks

Steven Wilkinson is a Principal in Control Risks’ Asia Pacific practice, based in Hong Kong. He is the regional practice leader for Control Risks’ technology group in the Asia Pacific, and leads on large and complex matters involving investigations and technology in the region. He has particular expertise in leading internal and independent investigations for companies subject to investigation by authorities across multiple jurisdictions. Steven has been recognised in the Who’s Who Legal’s Digital Forensics Experts Guide for 2024. The listing recognises the world’s foremost experts when it comes to matters such as e-discovery, computer forensics, and data recovery and analysis. Before joining Control Risks, Steven has been employed in a number of Digital Forensic and Information Security roles within the EU and the MENA area. He also served in the UK Royal Air Force Police as a Counter Intelligence Operative with responsibility for Information Security, Physical Security and Counter Terrorist activities. In addition, he led the Royal Air Force Computer Crime team which investigated criminal and high level security incidents both domestically and internationally. Steven is a qualified computer forensic and e-discovery specialist and is certified in the conduct of mobile telephone forensics and the operation of general forensics equipment. He has over 20 years’ experience of criminal and security investigations and has led teams in hostile environments, carrying out both investigative and digital forensic activities.

Biography

Gary Gao

Partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm

Mr. Gary GAO is the Partner and the Head of Compliance & Regulatory Department of Zhong Lun Law Firm. Gary is a skilled litigator and arbitrator with over 28 years experiences handling complex, cross-border arbitration, litigation as well as sophisticated commercial disputes. He has represented clients in commercial arbitration before the ICC, HKIAC, SHIAC and other arbitral institutions. He has rich experience in international arbitration, litigation and mediation, familiar with the strategic planning of dispute resolution in multiple jurisdictions, the collection, screening and rules of proof of cross-border evidence production. In particular, Gary is good at dealing with disputes involving corporate equity, partnership private equity investment, procurement contracts, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, insurance claims, etc., and often acts as an expert witness on Chinese law in international litigation or arbitration proceedings. Furthermore, Gary also provide legal advice on Chinese substantive and procedural law to foreign clients or international law firms. In addition, Gary has served as arbitrator in arbitrations conducted under HKIAC, SHIAC, SHAC and other arbitral institutions, and is included in the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s List of Arbitrators, the LCIA Database of Arbitrators, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board’s Panel of Arbitrators, the List of WIPO Mediators and Arbitrators, the Shanghai International Arbitration Center’s List of Arbitrators and the Shanghai Arbitration Commission’s List of Arbitrators.

Biography

Andrew Rigden Green

Partner, Stephenson Harwood

Andrew is head of international arbitration for Asia at Stephenson Harwood. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and the Hong Kong and Singapore Institutes of Arbitrators. He has particular experience in dealing with shareholder disputes, joint venture disputes, asset financing disputes, international sale contracts, trade and commodity finance, marine disputes, shipbuilding and offshore oil & gas. He is also an expert in decarbonization.

Biography

Jon Nicklin

Director, Beijing, Accuracy

Jon is a Director in Accuracy’s Beijing office specialising in litigation support and forensic accounting. He initially trained at a top 10 accounting firm in the UK. He then spent time at a boutique consulting firm in London before joining the forensic accounting team of a Big 4 accounting firm in Shanghai.

Biography

Norman Nip, S.C.,

Barrister — Senior Counsel, Rede Chambers

Norman Nip, S.C. has a broad civil practice with an emphasis on commercial and securities litigation. He has been described as “incredibly clever and hardworking” (Chambers & Partners 2023) and a “very user-friendly barrister” who is “extremely good on his feet” (The Legal 500 2023). He has acted for the Securities and Futures Commission and parties under investigation in a number of cases before the courts and the specialist tribunals (Market Misconduct Tribunal and Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal) and is “regularly singled out for his expertise in securities-related cases” (Chambers & Partners 2023). He has also testified as an expert witness on securities laws in offshore proceedings. His expertise also spans other practice areas, including banking, company and shareholder disputes, competition, insurance, professional liability, land, trusts, employment, matrimonial, bankruptcy, PRC and international crossborder disputes, public law as well as white-collar crime. In the arbitration sphere, Norman is currently serving as the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Arbitration of the Hong Kong Bar Association. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the HKIAC List of Arbitrators and has sat as an arbitrator in various commercial disputes. As counsel, Norman has acted in a number of domestic and cross-border commercial disputes. He has also acted in court proceedings in aid of arbitration proceedings as well as applications to set aside the enforcement of arbitral awards. As a mediator, Norman has conducted a number of mediations involving a wide variety of civil disputes (using English, Cantonese and/or Mandarin). He qualified as a CEDR accredited mediator in 2010. Prior to joining the Bar, Norman had served as the tipstaff to the Honourable Justice Sperling of the New South Wales Supreme Court and practised as a solicitor with Clayton Utz in Sydney and Linklaters in Hong Kong.

Biography

Jeremy Bartlett, S.C.

Barrister, Princes Chambers

Prior to joining the Hong Kong Bar in 1999 Jeremy was in private practice at Herbert Smith and from 1994 to 1999 an international equity partner with Coudert Brothers where he was Head of the Litigation Department and Co-Head of the firm’s Asia Region Arbitration Practice Group (9 regional offices).Following upon his extensive experience as advocate/counsel in arbitrations, Jeremy acts as arbitrator (sole, co-arbitrator or and presiding arbitrator) in international commercial arbitrations and has accepted appointments under the rules of various institutions as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. Jeremy acts in a broad range of commercial litigation, including company and shareholder disputes, insolvency, trusts and estates, international trade and shipping, conflict of laws, defamation, employment/restraint of trade, professional negligence and securities regulatory matters. His practice has involved numerous appearances in the appellate Courts, including in the Court of Final Appeal [1] . He has been a contributing editor to Hong Kong Civil Procedure. Jeremy has received rankings in successive editions of Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 (Commercial Disputes: Tier 1 leading silk; Family and Private Client : Tier 2 leading silk), Legal 500 Arbitration Power List and Who’s Who Legal as well as in Euromoney’s Guide to Experts in Commercial Arbitration. He regularly speaks at international conferences and gives lectures at Mainland Chinese universities and law firms on arbitration topics.

Biography

Carter Chim

Barrister, Denis Chang’s Chambers

Carter is a distinguished barrister in competition law at Denis Chang’s Chambers. Recognised as a Tier 1 Leading Junior in Competition Law by The Legal 500 (Legalease) since 2021, Carter has demonstrated exceptional prowess in this field. In 2015, Carter joined the Competition Commission (Hong Kong) as a Legal Counsel, where he played the role of the first case manager in the Commission’s inaugural public enforcement action, Competition Commission v Nutanix Hong Kong Ltd v Others (CTEA 1/2017). Upon returning to private practice in 2016, Carter has been consistently retained by leading law firms to advise on complex competition matters. His extensive client portfolio features prominent cases such as Competition Commission v W Hing Construction Co Ltd and Others (CTEA 2/2017), Competition Commission v TH Lee Book Co Ltd and Others (CTEA 2/2020), Competition Commission v Linde HKO and Others (CTEA 3/2020), and Competition Commission v Multisoft Ltd (CTEA 1/2023). Carter is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association’s Committee on Competition Law and was a non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network (2018-2022).

Biography

James Kwan

Partner, Hogan Lovells

James Kwan is an International Arbitration partner who leads the International Arbitration practice in Hong Kong. He is a member of Hogan Lovells’ International Arbitration Global Steering Committee leadership team. He specialises in technology, private equity, energy, and life sciences disputes. He has a range of international experience, having represented clients in arbitrations in Asia, the U.S., Middle East, and Europe under the major institutional and ad hoc rules, such as ICC, HKIAC, SIAC, CIETAC, LCIA, AAA, DIAC, and UNCITRAL. James has also sat as arbitrator and rendered awards in HKIAC, ICC, and DIAC arbitrations, and in addition is on the CIETAC, LCIA, SHIAC and KCAB and AIAC panels. James is a solicitor advocate with Higher Rights of Audience before the Hong Kong courts. James sat as a Temporary Judicial Registrar in the High Court of Hong Kong in 2023 and will be sitting as a District Judge in 2024. James is widely recognised as a leading individual in International Arbitration by major legal directories, such as Legal 500, Chambers Asia Pacific, Chambers Global, Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Arbitration Lawyers, Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer?, Benchmark Asia Pacific: Arbitration, Global Law Expert and named one of Asian Legal Business’ Hot 100 Lawyers of 2008 and 2011. James was also recognised as one of Asian Legal Business’ Asia Super 50 Dispute Lawyers of 2023. He was named in the 2024 edition of Who’s Who Legal (WWL): Arbitration, and in the Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist - Hong Kong Region. James is the author of a chapter in The Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance Commentary and Annotations, Sweet & Maxwell, 2015 (2nd edition); Arbitration in China: A Practical Guide, Sweet & Maxwell, 2004; and co-editor of Construction Arbitration in Hong Kong: A Practical Guide, 2015, Wolters Kluwer.

Biography

Wayne Walsh, S.C.

Head, Parkside Chambers

Wayne Walsh SC is Head of Parkside Chambers. He is known for his specialist and redoubtable skill set in the courtroom particularly in the context of cross-border litigation. He is a prominent barrister in Hong Kong known for being tactically astute and for being user-friendly. He brings to bear 25 years of experience as a prosecutor with the Department of Justice and 3 years as a former Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force giving him a distinct edge and unique perspective in public international and criminal law. At the DOJ, he led cases relating to white collar crime and corruption, extradition, mutual assistance, proceeds of crime and asset recovery. He has established for himself a stalwart reputation as a prosecutor. Wayne moved to the Bar in 2018, and has since represented persons and entities facing financial crime and regulatory compliance investigations and prosecutions. He was a lead advisor to the Government on implementation of the criminal justice standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Locally, he has a practice acting for high-net-worth individuals in high profile cases and additionally for financial institutions. He is also frequently instructed by the Hong Kong Government, and on a regional level, he has been asked to represent foreign governments in transnational crime cases and in nuanced anti-money laundering cases and complex policy work. Wayne is noted for his analytical and persuasive manner and his particular attention to detail and distinguished advocacy skills. He is consistently listed as a leading silk in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for White Collar Crime, WWL for Business Crime Defence and Doyles Guide as a Leading Criminal Law Barrister. In his capacity as a leading silk he has authored “Cross-Border Crime in Hong Kong: Extradition, Mutual Assistance, Financial Sanctions” LexisNexis, 3rd edition 2024 . Additionally, he is a Lecturer in Law for the LLM programme, University of Hong Kong.

Biography

Ben Bury

Director, Group General Counsel Gammon Construction Limited

Ben joined Gammon in 2023. For more than 18 years, Ben has worked on the legal aspects of major construction projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and across the globe. He is qualified in Hong Kong, England and Wales and was a Registered Foreign Lawyer in the Singapore International Commercial Court. Prior to joining Gammon, Ben was a Partner in the construction team at a large international sector-focused law firm. He has been based in Asia since 2011 and has been involved in complex assignments across the region. Ben is highly commended in the legal directories and, in 2021, at the age of 38, Ben was named by Asia Legal Business on their list of the 40 best lawyers in Asia under 40. Ben oversees the Legal Department covering governance, legal advice, compliance, insurance, and company secretarial services.

Biography

Cathryn Neo

Associate Director, Aon Asia Transaction Solutions Team

Cathryn leads the litigation and contingent risk solutions offering in the Aon Asia Transaction Solutions team. She has a broad commercial disputes practice with experience in international arbitration, litigation, insolvency and restructuring, and mediation. Prior to joining Aon, she practiced at a leading international law firm and a boutique disputes firm in Singapore. She also assisted arbitral tribunals as tribunal secretary for leading arbitrator, Dr Michael Hwang SC. An accredited mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre, she is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb). She was recently shortlisted as a finalist in Euromoney’s APAC Women in Business Law 2022 and 2023 awards under the category of Rising Star (Arbitration). She is qualified in Singapore, England & Wales, and Australia.

Biography

Joanne Lau

Secretary-General, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre

Joanne is the Secretary-General of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. As HKIAC’s principal officer, she leads the Secretariat and is responsible for the overall management of the centre, including overseeing its international dispute resolution services and operations across its Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul offices. She also works closely with the HKIAC Council and committees in the development and implementation of HKIAC’s strategies and initiatives. Prior to joining HKIAC, Joanne was a Partner at Allen & Overy, specialising in international arbitration. As counsel, she represented clients in both international commercial arbitrations and investment treaty arbitrations in a wide variety of cases, across multiple sectors, jurisdictions and arbitral rules. She also regularly advised on arbitration-related court matters and sat as arbitrator. Joanne is a past co-Chair of the HK45 Committee. She has been recognised in leading legal directories, including Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.

Biography

Peter Scott Caldwell

Independent Arbitrator & Mediator

Peter Scott Caldwell is regularly appointed as arbitrator, mediator, dispute board member and adjudicator on a wide variety of disputes or projects in various Asian jurisdictions involving parties from around the world. Peter is a chartered engineer with many years’ experience in managing major civil engineering works. He is also a Chartered Arbitrator and accredited mediator. Peter was a member of the working party which drafted the first edition of the IBA Rules for the Taking of Evidence in International Commercial Arbitration. He is board member of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation Region 2, an Arbitrator Member of the Society of Construction Arbitrators and a member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR. He is a former Secretary-General of Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and a founder member and past chair of the Society of Construction Law Hong Kong, a past chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) regional branch and was involved in founding the Thai Branch of CIArb.

Biography

Winnie Wat

Deputy Counsel, ICC Arbitration

Ms. Winnie Wat is the Deputy Counsel of the Secretariat of the International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration. She is accredited as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) in 2021 and a mediator of the Center for Dispute Resolution (CEDR). Before joining the ICC, Ms. Wat was an international arbitration lawyer in a well-known international law firm, handling arbitration cases concerning aviation, construction and international trade. She assisted in the research work of the Third Party Funding for Arbitration Subcommittee of the Hong Kong Law Reform Commission. She is also a current member of the Appeal Panel of the Housing Bureau of the Hong Kong S.A.R. Government and was a member of The Jockey Club CPS Limited Advisory Committee for the overall management of the Tai Kwun, the revitalized historic Central Police Station Compound in Hong Kong.

Biography

Susan Munro

Registered Foreign Lawyer, K&L Gates

Susan Munro is based in Hong Kong and Beijing with the law firm K&L Gates. She has represented clients in connection with regulatory compliance, investigations (both internal and SEC) and disputes in mainland China, Hong Kong and the rest of the Asian region for more than 25 years. From 2001 to 2010, she was based in Shanghai, where she worked on U.S. SEC and internal investigations, regulatory compliance, cross-border disputes, fund formation, U.S. IPOs, and M&A transactions. From 2010 to 2020 she was based in Beijing, where she was Managing Partner of the office of a Washington DC headquartered firm and represented Chinese state-owned enterprises, financial institutions, U.S. listed companies, and large global investment funds in connection with investigations, regulatory compliance, cybersecurity and data privacy, investments, and cross-border disputes. Her current practice focuses on cross border arbitration and compliance and investigations with a focus on anticorruption, economic sanctions and money laundering in Asia. She has near-native Chinese language capabilities, has earned degrees and diplomas in Chinese from institutions in the UK and Shanghai and is regularly ranked by Chambers for Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption in the region.

Biography

Alexander Lee

Counsel, Slaughter and May

Alexander is a Counsel in the Slaughter and May Competition Practice in Asia. He advises on all aspects of competition law and foreign direct investment in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for digital and tech clients in recent years. Alexander is repeatedly recognised as a “Rising Star” by Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Antitrust and Competition Hong Kong. He is also named as one of China Business Law Journal's “2023–2024 A-List: Rising Stars” for the China practice. He has extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional matters, often taking the lead in merger control and foreign investment aspects of Asia-Pacific and global transactions. He is also deeply experienced in antitrust investigations. In Hong Kong, he has been advising international and local clients in a wide range of highly contested antitrust investigations, including cases involving the First and Second Conduct Rules, and in the first litigated enforcement case. Before joining Slaughter and May, Alexander served as Legal Counsel, Secretary to the Enforcement Committee and Special Advisor to the CEO in the Hong Kong Competition Commission. He was previously an associate in a global competition practice at a Magic Circle firm in Hong Kong, and has a background in litigation.

Biography

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Registration Details
To register, please complete the registration form and return to events@legalplus-asia.com 
Includes refreshments, networking lunch and cocktail reception.  CPD points will be given upon approval from Law Society of Hong Kong

Special Price for In-house/ General Counsel: HKD 450
To register under this special price, please complete the registration form and email to events@legalplus-asia.com
Offer only applicable to In-house/ General Counsel from non law or consulting firms. 

Registration Fee for Law/Risk Management Firms 
Early Bird Rate: USD 359 / HKD 2,817 (on or before 31 May 2024)
Normal Rate: USD 429 / HKD 3,366 (from 16 May 2024)