The Hong Kong Government plans to conclude an arrangement with the Macao Special Administrative Region for the mutual service of judicial documents in civil and commercial cases in December 2017. The proposed arrangement is designed to overcome existing limitations in the current civil procedure rules (namely the Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A) and … Read more

Click here for a preview Surprise inspections by governmental authorities are on the rise. Any company in any sector may be on the receiving end and obstructing a lawful raid is a criminal offence. Therefore, it is essential to be prepared. Front line staff such as Reception and Security, through to the IT team, business … Read more

Supreme People’s Court Monitor has published a highly informative article on proposals by the SPC relating to China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.  These include establishing a dedicated court, along the lines of the Singapore International Commercial Court, to hear Belt & Road disputes.  Click here to read the piece. Our thanks to Susan Finder of … Read more

On 12 September 2017, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) signed the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements (Convention).  The Convention, in force since 1 October 2015, seeks to provide certainty in cross-border litigation by allowing parties to choose the exclusive court in which any disputes arising under a commercial agreement will be resolved.  … Read more

Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed three partners to its Mainland China team, specialising in projects and projects-related disputes. Hew Kian Heong is one of the leading international construction and infrastructure disputes lawyers in China, regularly acting for Chinese and international clients in complex cross-border disputes. Ellen Zhang is one of the leading lawyers in the … Read more

The Apology Ordinance has been gazetted today and will come into force on 1 December 2017.  The law was passed on 13 July and is intended to facilitate the resolution of civil disputes in the territory. Hong Kong is the first jurisdiction in Asia to enact apology legislation and its Apology Law is the broadest … Read more

We are delighted to share with you the sixth edition of our well-regarded Guide on Dispute Resolution and Governing Law Clauses in India-related Commercial Contracts.   The Guide is intended to assist in-house counsel who handle India-related commercial contracts on behalf of non-Indian companies and who need to have a practical understanding of the nuances … Read more

On 13 July, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council passed a law (the Apology Law) intended to facilitate the resolution of civil disputes in the territory. The Apology Law, which is expected to be gazetted and come into force shortly, reforms the legal consequences of making any sort of apology (written, oral or by conduct). An apology … Read more