Prince's Chambers

Damien is a barrister who focuses on international arbitration in Hong Kong, Mainland China, the region, and internationally. He also practices Australian law as a barrister from William Forster Chambers in Darwin and English law and international arbitration from Outer Temple Chambers in London. Prior to joining the bar, Damien was an international arbitration partner and registered foreign lawyer with Fangda Partners in Hong Kong (2014 to 2019) and a senior associate with Herbert Smith Freehills in London, Shanghai, and Beijing (2006 to 2013). Damien commenced his legal career in Australia, where he trained and practised with Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King and Wood Mallesons) in Melbourne and Cridlands Lawyers in Darwin (2000 to 2005). Damien is also a CEDR and HKMAAL-qualified mediator. He is on the Hong Kong Bar List of Mediators and the Northern Territory Supreme Court List of Mediators.

Edward Alder

Edward Alder is regularly instructed in international arbitrations as counsel and arbitrator. His High Court practice involves commercial trials, injunctions, asset freezing and arbitration-related applications, jurisdictional challenges and ship arrests, often in the trade and transport and insurance sectors, including a growing aviation and luxury yacht practice. Edward is also regularly instructed in international insolvency, financial services, shareholder, directorship and senior executive employment disputes. In the IT / IP space, Edward acts in software / IT project, confidential information and trade mark and copyright disputes. He has been instructed in three recent IT project disputes and a lengthy telecoms network trial. He previously appeared in several telecom related competition cases as sole advocate and led by London competition silk. From 2000 to 2006 he was a partner of Bird & Bird Hong Kong and from 1997 to 2000 a partner of Holman Fenwick Willan Hong Kong. The first five years of his career were at (what is now) Allens Linklaters in Sydney, Australia.

Eric Ng

Eric Ng maintains a broad civil litigation and arbitration practice, with a specific focus on international commercial and investor-state arbitration. He accepts instructions in all areas of work. Eric was previously Deputy Secretary-General at HKIAC, where he oversaw arbitration, mediation, and domain name dispute resolution matters. He has significant experience in matters of arbitral procedure and arbitration case management. In addition to his work at HKIAC, Eric has acted as both counsel and tribunal secretary in major international commercial and investor-state arbitrations. Prior to his career at the Bar, Eric worked in the field of Information Systems and Marketing, which gives him a wealth of experience in business matters and technological developments. Eric is a Fellow of CIArb and is a listed Arbitrator on the CIETAC Panel of Arbitrators

Eric Chim

Eric joined Chambers after completing his pupillage with Mr Jonathan Ah-Weng, Mr Jeffrey Chau, Mr Julian Lam, Ms Theresa Chow, and Mr Lee Yee Hung. Prior to joining the Bar, Eric was a trainee solicitor at Withers and qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong, gaining substantial experience in matrimonial, trusts, and commercial disputes. Eric has been involved in cases concerning a wide range of areas, including commercial, trusts, injunctive relief, company and shareholder disputes, arbitration, family and matrimonial, Chinese customary law, land law, and conveyancing. During his studies, he received various scholarships and awards, including the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme for his LLM studies at the University of Cambridge.

Eugene Kwok

Eugene is a Barrister and Arbitrator based in Hong Kong with Prince’s Chambers.

Fergus Chan

Fergus is developing a broad civil and criminal practice. Since coming to the Bar, he has accumulated experience in a wide range of cases, including but not limited to, company, commercial, chancery, probate, land and property, white-collar crime, personal injuries, and employment litigations. Fergus has particular experience in matrimonial litigations where he advises on all aspects of matrimonial finances and children matters. Fergus joined Chambers after completing his pupillage with Mr. Joseph Tse SC, Mr. Robert Pang SC, Mr. Osmond Lam, Mr. Enzo Chow, Mr. Felix Li, and Mr. Thomas Wong. Prior to joining the Bar, he also served as a court marshall in the Family Court. Fergus is fluent in both English and Chinese, and has been regularly instructed to draft legal documents in both languages. He accepts instructions in all areas of work.

Jeremy Bartlett SC

Prior to joining the Hong Kong Bar in 1999 Jeremy was in private practice at Herbert Smith and from 1994 to 1999 an international equity partner with Coudert Brothers where he was Head of the Litigation Department and Co-Head of the firm’s Asia Region Arbitration Practice Group (9 regional offices). Following upon his extensive experience as advocate/counsel in arbitrations, Jeremy acts as arbitrator (sole, co-arbitrator or and presiding arbitrator) in international commercial arbitrations and has accepted appointments under the rules of various institutions as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. Jeremy acts in a broad range of commercial litigation, including company and shareholder disputes, insolvency, trusts and estates, international trade and shipping, conflict of laws, defamation, employment/restraint of trade, professional negligence and securities regulatory matters. His practice has involved numerous appearances in the appellate Courts, including in the Court of Final Appeal. He has been a contributing editor to Hong Kong Civil Procedure. Practice profile Prior to joining the Hong Kong Bar in 1999 Jeremy was in private practice at Herbert Smith and from 1994 to 1999 an international equity partner with Coudert Brothers where he was Head of the Litigation Department and Co-Head of the firm’s Asia Region Arbitration Practice Group (9 regional offices). Following upon his extensive experience as advocate/counsel in arbitrations, Jeremy acts as arbitrator (sole, co-arbitrator or presiding arbitrator) in international commercial arbitrations and has accepted appointments under the rules of various institutions as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. Jeremy acts in a broad range of commercial litigation, including company and shareholder disputes, insolvency, insurance, trusts and estates, international trade and shipping, conflict of laws, defamation, employment/restraint of trade, professional negligence and securities regulatory matters. His practice has involved numerous appearances in the appellate Courts, including in the Court of Final Appeal[[1]]. He has been a contributing editor to Hong Kong Civil Procedure. Rankings Legal 500: Leading Silk- Commercial Disputes and Arbitration – Tier 1 ''KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers” “Jeremy is a formidable, articulate advocate with a clear and focused mind with an ability to distil complex issues in a comprehendible and comprehensive way, and to lead the court with clarity and precision. He is a meticulous researcher, and a bold, courageous, calm and courteous opponent in court.” Legal 500-2024 Edition (Commercial Disputes and Arbitration) 'Brings a genuinely unique perspective, a real value add. Not afraid to deliver hard truths which elevate the work to the next level.” Legal 500-2025 Edition (Commercial Disputes and Arbitration) “Jeremy Bartlett SC holds particular expertise in insolvency and arbitration.” Legal 500-2025 Edition (Commercial Disputes and Arbitration) Jeremy has received rankings in successive editions of Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 (Commercial Disputes: Tier 1 leading silk; Family and Private Client: Tier 2 leading silk), Legal 500 Arbitration Power List and Who’s Who Legal as well as in Euromoney’s Guide to Experts in Commercial Arbitration. Academic and memberships 1983 LLB, University of Auckland, Hons dissertation, G Davies Memorial Prize, JP Campbell Memorial Prize (highest aggregate advanced law subjects in final year) and Senior Prize in Law Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators CEDR Accredited Mediator Hong Kong Bar Association Council – Member (2018-2021) Hong Kong Bar Association Arbitration Committee - Member IDRA (International Dispute Resolution Academy) - Vice-President Hong Kong Higher Rights of Audience Assessment – Statutory Board Member ICC – HK (Member of Standing Committee on Arbitration & ADR) ECAA (European Chinese Arbitrators Association) – Member Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group - Member INSOL International (International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Professionals) - Member HKICPA Restructuring and Insolvency Faculty - Member HILA (Hong Kong Insurance Law Association) - Member ACTAPS UK (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) - Member Speaking engagements and article Jeremy has regular speaking engagements at conferences, symposiums and webinars on arbitration issues, most recently: - HKIAC: The Arbitrator’s Duty of Impartiality and Disclosure - The Application and Practice of Interim Measures and Emergency Arbitration -Procedures in International Commercial Arbitration - ALAM: Investor/State Arbitrations: ICSID v non-ICSID Pros and Cons - ASEAC/ECAA: Conference on Arbitration in Asia - AALCO: 2023 Annual Arbitration Forum, Resolving Differences in a Changing World; ESG Disputes - HKU/IDRA Roundtable I : The Role of Peaceful Dispute Resolution in Achieving the Objectives of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) - HKU/IDRA Roundtable II :The Role of Peaceful Dispute Resolution in Achieving the Objectives of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) - Kluwer Arbitration Blog: Arbitration Topics - Beijing Normal University: Conflict of Interest in the Arbitration Context - ICCA 2024 Hong Kong: Collaborative Practices in Dispute Resolution - Asian Dispute Review: Collaborative Arbitration - Legal Plus Asia Forum: 4th International Arbitration & Competition Law Summit (Seoul) : Developments in Arbitration Law

Joshua Baker

Josh was called to the Bar in 2019 having worked in litigation in Hong Kong with solicitors’ firms for seven years. He practices in commercial, public and family law. Josh graduated first in his year from the LLM in Human Rights at the University of Hong Kong in 2016. He read law as an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge. Josh is ranked as a 'Leading Junior' for Public Law by Legal 500 2023. He acts for individuals, NGOs and corporates, and often advises on matters with a civil liberties and fundamental rights dimension and where international law is material. He is very familiar with discrimination law in the private and public law contexts, immigration, asylum claims and administrative detention. Josh has experience across a range of commercial matters, and is comfortable handling heavy work as part of a team as well on urgent and ex parte applications. He has a particular knowledge of civil fraud, asset tracing and recovery, and has advised in the banking and financial services context. He frequently advises on strategy and the preparation of evidence. Josh is building a commercial arbitration practice. He is the author of the new chapter on agency in Chitty on Contracts: Hong Kong Specific Contracts and a contributor to the White Book. Josh works in all areas of family law including matrimonial finance, private law children's matters and child protection at public law. He is co-author of Atkins’ Court Forms in family law and a contributor to Duxbury, Etc. In March 2019 he served as marshall to Her Honour Judge S D Melloy. Josh serves on the Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights Committee and the Legal Aid Reform Committee of the Bar Association.

Julian Chan

Julian grew up in Hong Kong and was educated at German Swiss International School before going to Charterhouse in England. Julian went on to Brasenose College, University of Oxford, first obtaining a degree in Physics before completing a second degree in Jurisprudence. Julian enjoys a broad civil practice including experience in commercial and company law, employment law, matrimonial law and ancillary relief, conveyancing, land disputes and building management, probate and trusts.

Kevin Lee

Kevin Lee’s practice covers all aspects of commercial litigation and international arbitration. He has particular experience of advising on, and acting in, disputes involving banking and financial services, company law, competition law, public law, shipping and international trade, insurance and reinsurance, securities regulatory, and conflicts of law. In 2023, he was listed as a leading commercial disputes barrister (Legal 500).

Lavesh Kirpalani

Lavesh has a broad civil litigation and arbitration practice and accepts instructions in all areas of work. He was recommended in Legal 500 Asia Pacific in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 for Commercial Disputes, and a Leading Employment & Labour Law Barrister in Doyles Guide 2023 and 2024. Lavesh won the Willem C. Vis East Mooting Competition in International Commercial Arbitration as a law student. He later then went on to receive a Master of Laws from the London School of Economics, with a specialism in International Business Law and a focus on international arbitration. Upon finishing his studies and before joining Prince’s Chambers, Lavesh clerked at both the Court of Final Appeal and the Court of Appeal. While working as a Judicial Assistant and Judicial Associate at both Courts,he assisted in a wide range of matters. He still assists at the Court of Appeal on a part-time basis. Lavesh has counsel experience in civil and arbitration matters, including construction, company, corporate insolvency, commercial, fraud, regulatory, harassment, shipping, employment, intellectual property, and matrimonial law. He has appeared in his own right at the Court of Appeal, Court of First Instance, District Court and Magistracy. Lavesh is a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law (Hong Kong Campus) and a member of the HK45 Committee. He just recently ended a 3-year stint as a Committee Member of the CIArb (East Asia Branch) Young Members Group from 2020 to 2023. He also completed the HKIAC Tribunal Secretary Training Programme in 2022.

Paul Carolan

As an advocate, Paul has a broad civil and commercial practice, (appearing mainly in High Court trials, interlocutory hearings, appeals and injunction matters involving over 190 written judgments) including in general commercial litigation, corporate law, insolvency, arbitration, banking, intellectual property, employment, securities regulatory work, professional disciplinary matters, defamation and professional negligence. After qualifying as a solicitor in London with a City firm Paul joined Deacons in Hong Kong and was then an associate with Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong and Sydney from July 1986 to April 1991 and a partner in the Hong Kong office thereafter until January 1997.

Philip Rompotis

Phillip has over 30 years’ experience as a disputes lawyer, arbitrator, mediator and adjudicator across a range of commercial practice areas including arbitration, construction, infrastructure & engineering, financial services, joint venture & shareholders agreements, technology, winding-up and bankruptcy proceedings, trusts, property and landlord & tenant (including rating). Phillip graduated with LLB/Arts (Hons) degrees from the University of Melbourne, where he was awarded the Gadens Ridgeway Law of Security & Security Transactions Prize for leading student, and listed as a member of the Honours Degree Class List. Phillip joined Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons), working in their Melbourne and Hong Kong offices. Phillip then worked at Herbert Smith (now Herbert Smith Freehills) and CMS Cameron McKenna in Hong Kong until 2001, prior to returning to Melbourne where he practiced as a barrister in Melbourne until 2012. Phillip returned to Hong Kong in 2012, joining Stephenson Harwood, where he was a Partner in the Litigation Group (Construction and International Arbitration) before being called to the Hong Kong Bar in 2019 He is ranked in the leading directories, including Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2024) – Leading Junior in both “Commercial Disputes” and “Construction and Property”: Commercial Disputes: “Phillip leaves no stone unturned. His advocacy is better than many senior counsel in Hong Kong and the witnesses of his opponents are rendered speechless in response to his questions in cross examination. Phillip is patient and calm to lay clients and instructing solicitors.” Construction and Property: “Phillip is A-class and one of the very best advocates in construction arbitration in Hong Kong. He is a trusted adviser.” Legal 500 Asia 2024: Leading Junior: “Phillip is hard working and meticulous in his preparation, leaving no stone unturned. He is an excellent advocate and communicator and is always on point with his strategy and advice.” Who’s Who Legal 2023: “Thought Leader: Construction”, the only non-silk barrister to be so recognised; and “Global Leader – Construction 2023” for China & Hong Kong Global Law Experts 2023 Sole construction lawyer from Hong Kong Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2021, 2023) – Leading Junior ”Deep knowledge of arbitration law in Hong Kong and globally” “Sharp intellect and tenacious'' Doyles – Leading Barrister (Construction) 2020. Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2017) – Leading Individual – “never fails to meet the needs of clients” (Construction); “adopts an extremely detailed approach and is a good tactician” (dispute resolution). Chambers Asia Pacific (2016) – “valued for his ability to understand the technicalities of the legal situations and guide you through the matter”. Leading Individual for Dispute Resolution: China Litigation (2016, 2017, 2018)

Sebastian Hughes

“Sebastian is able to digest voluminous authorities and educate the court on the correct law, where opponents have attempted to mislead the court. He has the rare ability to change the mind of judges” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide 2025 (Hong Kong Bar – Commercial Disputes) “An advocate who always grabs the judge’s attention and never fails to sell the case in the most persuasive manner possible” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide 2021 (Hong Kong Bar – Commercial disputes) “Excellent: user-friendly and diligent, he is responsive and tech-savvy” – The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide 2021 (Hong Kong Bar – Intellectual property Recognised as a Leading Junior, Commercial Disputes and Intellectual Property (The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide) Sebastian has a broad civil litigation, arbitration and mediation practice, including intellectual property, commercial, white collar fraud, insolvency, company, employment, matrimonial finance, and costs/taxation matters. Sebastian is a Fellow of CIArb and a WIPO Approved Neutral. He is an Arbitrator and Mediator with WIPO, HKIAC (Panel of Arbitrators for Intellectual Property Disputes; Panel of Emergency Arbitrators; List of Arbitrators), SCIA, SHAC and AIAC. Sebastian is a Domain Name Panelist with WIPO, FORUM, HKIAC, ADNDRC and AIAC, rendering decisions in both English and Chinese. Sebastian was admitted to practice as a solicitor in Victoria, Australia in 1998 and in Hong Kong in 2003. Prior to being called to the bar, he was a partner in an international law firm. Sebastian is a fluent Putonghua speaker.

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