The Emergency Arbitrator Procedures Under The New HKIAC Rules

Shareholder derivative action, unfair competition claims and challenges to validity of HKIAC arbitration agreements, some brought against affiliates of contractual party, held to be vexatious, abusive and oppressive.

The HKIAC broke new records for the total amount in dispute and the number of new administered arbitrations in 2025, according to the institution's statistical report for 2025 (published on 12 February 2026).

In Joint and Several Liquidators of Hsin Chong Construction (Asia) Limited v Wong Po Kee Limited & Others [2026] HKCA 1656, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal has handed down a recent decision clarifying the scope...

When substantive proceedings unfold in one jurisdiction while key assets sit in another, can courts preserve those assets without determining ownership? The Hong Kong Court of Appeal's decision in Jacky Zong v Kelly Fuli Zong addresses this critical question in cross-border family wealth disputes, examining whether preservation orders under section 21M require proof of dissipation risk, whether applicants must first seek relief from foreign courts, and how disclosure orders can ensure effective asset preser

Pursuit of Xiamen court proceedings by Hong Kong award debtors constituted vexatious and oppressive attempt to frustrate enforcement of CIETAC award in Hong Kong and relitigate matters already decided by Hong Kong courts...

Hong Kong's commercial litigation landscape in 2026 is poised for significant developments across fraud-related claims, cryptocurrency disputes, and insolvency matters. The courts are expected to enhance cross-border judicial collaboration while accelerating digital transformation initiatives to streamline dispute resolution processes.

The Hong Kong Court of First Instance set aside a USD 481.6 million arbitral award after finding that the tribunal failed to address the actual estoppel defence presented by the respondents. The court distinguished between a tribunal rejecting arguments on their merits versus failing to determine the essential issue actually advanced, emphasizing that tribunals must address the specific case presented rather than a materially different question.

Three decisions handed down within 15-day period grant security as condition for delaying enforcement pending determination of award challenges; allegations of arbitrator bias in two cases robustly rejected.

International Arbitration Comparative Guide for the jurisdiction of Hong Kong, check out our comparative guides section to compare across multiple countries

The Mainland Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (Cap. 645) (the "Ordinance") and the Mainland Judgments...

The USPTO has released its latest economic impact report on IP-intensive industries, announced a new community engagement office in North Carolina, and issued several administrative updates including relief for Japanese applicants affected by a severe earthquake. The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has also designated new precedential and informative decisions addressing obviousness-type double patenting and Markush groupings.

The SEC has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of transfer agent regulations that would formally recognize distributed ledger technology and blockchain-based recordkeeping systems within the existing regulatory framework. This modernization effort imposes enhanced operational, safeguarding, and compliance obligations while establishing technology-neutral standards that could significantly impact tokenization initiatives and digital asset market infrastructure.

California's Air Resources Board has released significant modifications to its greenhouse gas emissions reporting regulation, deferring the first reporting deadline to November 10, 2026, and clarifying key requirements for companies doing business in California with over $1 billion in annual revenue. The updates provide additional flexibility for 2026 reporting while enforcement of the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act remains paused pending federal litigation.

The US International Trade Commission has opened a rare public comment period on how it should fulfill its data collection and reporting obligations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a long-dormant authority recently invoked by the Trump Administration to impose restrictions on Canadian imports. This presents a unique opportunity for companies and stakeholders to shape from the ground up how the Commission interprets discriminatory foreign trade practices, evaluates allegations, and reports findi

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown released the state's first Data Privacy Report, examining how the modern data economy incentivizes personal information collection and retention. The report catalogs resulting harms and recommends that lawmakers strengthen privacy protections, enforcement, and public education while highlighting Washington's continued lack of a comprehensive consumer privacy statute despite inspiring other states' privacy laws.

The sports and gaming industries are evolving faster than existing legal frameworks can accommodate, creating unprecedented jurisdictional battles, regulatory shifts, and commercial opportunities. From the escalating fight over prediction markets between federal regulators and states to the emergence of responsible gaming as a standalone policy priority, the first half of 2026 has reshaped the legal landscape governing these sectors while raising fundamental questions about innovation, consumer protection

As discussed in previous client alerts, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and digital services has dramatically increased demand for data centers.

As investment in data center infrastructure accelerates globally, disputes are emerging from contractual and investment-related risks that commonly accompany large-scale infrastructure projects. This analysis examines the growing wave of contractual claims among owners, contractors, and subcontractors, as well as investment treaty claims that may arise when governmental actions impact overseas data center developments.

The US Department of Justice has signaled a potential expansion of enforcement under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and Section 951, despite earlier indications of limited criminal enforcement. Recent regulatory developments, policy announcements, and high-profile prosecutions of US officials suggest a renewed focus on foreign agent disclosure requirements and potential criminal liability for undisclosed relationships with foreign governments.

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced three major settlements totaling over $558 million against healthcare providers partnering with Medicare Advantage plans for allegedly submitting false diagnosis codes. These enforcement actions reveal DOJ's intensified scrutiny of risk-sharing payment arrangements between Medicare Advantage plans and healthcare providers, while demonstrating the significant benefits that self-disclosure and cooperation can provide to companies facing potential False Claims Act l