Allen & Overy Partner Takes the Helm at Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
Allen & Overy Partner Takes the Helm at Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre
Joanne Lau, a partner specialising in arbitration at Allen & Overy (A&O), has been named the new secretary general of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).
Having been a partner at A&O since 2021, Lau will assume her new role at the end of February. She brings with her 11 years of experience at the UK Magic Circle firm, having undergone training and qualification in both London and her base in Hong Kong.
Lau is set to take over the position from Mariel Dimsey, who, after a brief tenure of 18 months, is returning to CMS to assume the role of local managing partner at its Hong Kong office. Dimsey successfully led the resurgence of Hong Kong Arbitration Week in 2023, achieving higher attendance levels than the pre-Covid-19 pandemic.
Rimsky Yuen SC, the co-chair of HKIAC and former justice secretary, expressed gratitude to Dimsey for her commitment, dedication, and contribution. Yuen mentioned that Dimsey would continue to support HKIAC in her new position. Upon welcoming Joanne Lau, he commended her experience and leadership, expressing confidence that HKIAC would persist in establishing new standards for excellence and innovation.
“We received many strong applications to replace Mariel, but we were thrilled that Joanne expressed a desire to become our secretary-general. Her extensive experience leading a major international arbitration practice, close ties to the Hong Kong community, intellectual ability and language skills make her uniquely qualified to lead HKIAC,” David W. Rivkin, fellow co-chair of Arbitration Chambers, said.
Similar to Dimsey, who joined CMS's partnership in 2019, Lau is also a relatively recent addition as a partner. However, Lau distinguishes herself as a Hong Kong native and is notably trilingual, proficient in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Her prior engagements at the HKIAC involved serving as the co-chair of its HK45 committee, representing young arbitrators, and being a part of its proceedings committee, which has immersed her in Hong Kong's arbitration culture.
This transition occurs in anticipation of Allen & Overy's merger with Shearman & Sterling, set to be finalised in May. The impending merger provides Lau with a fitting occasion to embrace the challenge of assuming leadership at HKIAC. Notably, both Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling maintain a substantial presence in Hong Kong.
Lau is recognised for her proficiency in international arbitration, with a track record covering commercial and investor-state arbitrations in diverse sectors and jurisdictions. Her extensive regional expertise supports the evolving landscape in Hong Kong, where there is a growing emphasis on fostering connections with mainland China. This is evident through judicial cooperation agreements and strengthened relationships with lawyers in the Greater Bay area.
One of Lau's initial responsibilities will involve contributing to the coordination of Hong Kong's hosting of the 2024 International Council of Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) Congress. This event holds significant importance for international commercial arbitrators, aiming to build upon the achievements of the preceding year's Edinburgh event, which marked the first Congress since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
