In its judgment of 23 January 2026 in SJ and another v A Limited (“Judgment”), the Hong Kong Court of First Instance (“Court”) set aside an arbitral award ordering payment of USD 481,603,937.80 plus interest (“Award”). The Court held that the arbitral tribunal (“Tribunal”) had failed to address an essential aspect of an estoppel defence: […]
Notice of Arbitration by SMS: Efficiency vs. Fairness
Arbitral institutions and rules are increasingly adapting their procedures to reflect how parties actually communicate in this digital age. The Hong Kong Arbitration Society (HKAS) Online Arbitration Rules are a prime example. They expressly provide that written communications, including a Notice of Arbitration, may be transmitted electronically – whether by e-mail, SMS, instant messaging, or […]
Arbitration and Winding Up: Diverging Approaches
Winding up is “[a] type of external administration (also referred to as liquidation) in which a liquidator is appointed to a company to take control of the company and its property, and wind up its affairs in an orderly way for the benefit of creditors”.[1] This process can be initiated voluntarily by a company’s shareholders or […]
2024 HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules
The Hong Kong International Arbitration Center (HKIAC) has launched an updated set of Administered Arbitration Rules (the “HKIAC Updated Rules”), effective as of 1 June 2024.[1] They will thus apply to arbitrations commenced from 1 June 2024 unless otherwise agreed by the parties.[2] The new Rules are available in English and Chinese (a simplified Chinese […]
Pre-Conditions to Arbitration Are A Question of Admissibility: Hong Kong Decision C v D [2022] HKCA 729
In a recent decision, C v D [2022] HKCA 729, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal held that pre-conditions to arbitration are a question of admissibility, instead of jurisdiction. Hence, it refused to set aside a partial arbitral award for lack of jurisdiction. Multi-tiered arbitration clauses, containing pre-conditions to arbitration, such as mandatory cooling-off periods, […]