10 December, 2015
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 focusses on international commercial arbitration across a wide range of industries including energy, infrastructure, life sciences & healthcare, and technology.
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 (YAF).
His appointment will strengthen and grow the Hogan Lovell's 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 GAR 30 list of most active international arbitration practices.
Commenting, partner Timothy Hill, said:
"With investment and trade rising in Asia as a result of globalisation, international arbitration is an increasingly important disputes resolution practice 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 arbitration practice in Hong Kong and across multiple sectors globally provides the ideal platform for me to further grow the scope of my work.
"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 was formerly a partner of Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong, where he led the Hong Kong International Arbitration practice. He was a member of Baker & McKenzie’s Global International Arbitration Steering Committee.
