Hogan Lovells is strengthening its International Arbitration (IA) practice in Hong Kong with the hire of partner James Kwan.
James is a well-known IA practitioner, whose work focuses on international commercial arbitration across a wide range of industries including energy, infrastructure, life sciences & healthcare, and technology.
His appointment will grow the Hogan Lovells’ well-established IA practice in the region – an important part of the firms’ IA team, this year ranked 4th in the world in the high-profile Global Arbitration Review GAR 30 list of the most active international arbitration practices.
Commenting on the hire, partner Timothy Hill, said:
“With investment and trade rising in Asia as a result of globalisation, international arbitration is an increasingly important issue for companies doing business in the region.
“James’ extensive practice across a wide range of industries will be a tremendous asset to our International Arbitration team in Hong Kong and Asia, which counts some of the world’s largest companies in many sectors as its clients.”
James Kwan said:
“Hogan Lovells’ highly-regarded international arbitration practice in Hong Kong and across multiple sectors globally provides the ideal platform for me to further grow my practice.
“I am very much looking forward to working with the team in Hong Kong and around the world.”
Michael Davison, Head of Litigation and Arbitration, said:
“James is an experienced practitioner and very well regarded by the arbitration community in Asia.
“We look forward to James strengthening our well-established International Arbitration team still further, and we warmly welcome him to Hogan Lovells.”
James has represented clients in arbitrations in Asia, the U.S., the Middle East, and Europe under the major institutional rules such the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the China International Economic Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and in ad hoc arbitrations. He was the former co-chair of the Australasian Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA) and an inaugural Asia regional committee member of the ICC’s Young Arbitrators Forum (ICC YAF).
Recent cases include acting for a U.S. medical equipment manufacturer against its distributor in a US$200 million ICC arbitration in relation to the termination of a distribution agreement for the promotion and sale of radiosurgery equipment, a medical devices manufacturer in Asia in a US$50 million HKIAC arbitration concerning the termination of an agreement for the production of auto disable syringes, a U.S. medical devices manufacturer in a post M&A UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the adjustment of net working capital and claims for breaches of representations and warranties, a U.S. company in a US$170 million post M&A HKIAC arbitration, and an Indian solar technology company in a US$285 million HKIAC arbitration involving the sale and purchase of solar wafers.
James acted in a US$90 million DIAC arbitration concerning a shopping centre dispute which involved one of the first applications for injunctive relief arising out of the DIAC rules. He also represented a Korean gymnast in a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) arbitration for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
He recently represented a Hong Kong listed company where for the first time the Hong Kong courts stayed a petition to wind up a solvent company so that the underlying dispute could be resolved in accordance with an arbitration agreement providing for AAA arbitration in California between the company’s shareholders.
James was formerly a partner of Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong, where he led their Hong Kong International Arbitration practice. He was a member of Baker & McKenzie’s Global International Arbitration Steering Committee.
