The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s caseload has become more international, with rising numbers of cases connected to the Middle East, Russia and Africa, co-chair Victor Dawes SC said. He also said the centre’s case numbers had shown a positive trend over recent years.
The centre manages arbitration cases and helps parties choose arbitrators to resolve disputes outside court. Dawes said it had also handled recent cases from South American countries including Brazil. Most cases have no connection to Hong Kong and often concern disputes arising in mainland China, Africa, the Middle East or elsewhere overseas.
Dawes said case numbers from traditional European and US markets had not significantly declined.
At Hong Kong Arbitration Week 2026, Dawes said representatives came from about 51 jurisdictions, including Korea, the Middle East and Africa. An African law firm took part for the first time.
Dawes said Hong Kong could find opportunities amid geopolitical disruption. Fellow co-chair Domitille Baizeau focused on the movement of commercial activity towards Asia: she said more business activity in the region was likely to bring more disputes, including contract and trade disagreements.
Baizeau said Hong Kong offered parties a bridge to mainland China, a well-developed common-law arbitration system and a judiciary with strength and independence. She also pointed to the local legal sector’s experience handling international matters as an advantage for companies choosing where to resolve disputes.