Rede Chambers

Kim M Rooney is a barrister, international arbitrator and mediator. Her practice focuses on serving as an arbitrator in complex and high value disputes in the aviation, commercial, construction energy, finance, infrastructure, IPR investment Information and  Communications Technologies (ICT)  sectors. She is regularly appointed as an emergency arbitrator and  as an arbitrator in expedited proceedings.

An ICC International Court of Arbitration member, Kim chaired the Hong Kong Law Reform Commission’s Subcommittee on Third Party Funding for Arbitration, co-drafting Part 10A of the Arbitration Ordinance Cap 609 and the Hong Kong Code of Conduct for Third Party Funding for Arbitration which implemented third party funding of arbitration in Hong Kong. Before moving to become a Hong Kong barrister in late 2009, Kim was a partner of White & Case LLP, heading its Asian dispute resolution practice. She has been practicing in Hong Kong  since July 1990 when she worked on contentious insolvency at Baker & McKenzie. Kim is also admitted as a Western Australia Barrister and Solicitor and a Solicitor in England and Wales.

Kim’s work as an arbitrator is regularly recognized in international directories. Who’s Who Legal Arbitration 2023 includes the following quotes:

“As arbitrator you are left with total confidence that Ms Rooney has got to grips with the case right down to the minutiae”

“She has a rigorous intellect, which is carried lightly and coupled with a very diligent approach”

“Ms Rooney is incredibly organised and thorough”

Kim is also a board member of eBRAM Online International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (serving  on its executive committee), a member of the Rules Steering Committee of the Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation, a member of the Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association and chair of its Arbitration Committee. She  is the editor of the IBA’s “Dispute Resolution International”, co-author of “ ICCA’S Guide to the Interpretation of the 1958 New York Convention: A Handbook for Judges” (2012) and ADR Contributing Editor for “Hong Kong Civil Procedure”. Kim led an arbitration law reform project in Laos in 1998 (World Bank funded) and a project in the Indonesian public sector reviewing alternatives to litigation and arbitration for investor state disputes from  2013 to 2016  (EU funded).

Call 2010

English, French (reading)

APPOINTMENTS AND MEMBERSHIPS Appointments ICC International Court of Arbitration – Member (2018 to present) ICC International Court of Arbitration – Alternate Member (2016-2018) Belt & Road Commission of the ICC International Court (approx. 2019-2022) Co-moderator of ICC Asian Advanced Arbitrators’ Academy (2018-2020) Chair, Law Reform Commission Subcommittee on Third Party Funding for Arbitration (2013-2016 to its conclusion) Member, Department of Justice’s Working Group on Checklist for Outcome Related Fee Structures (June 2023 to present) Member of the Hong Kong Government’s Advisory Committee on  Promotion of Arbitration in Hong Kong (2015 to approx. 2019) Department of Justice’s Committee on the Provision of Space in the Legal Hub (2015 to approx. 2020) A Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal (Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123)) (Hong Kong) [ to present] Executive Committee Member and Member of the Board of Directors of eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (eBRAM) (2020 – Present) Inaugural Vice Chair of eBRAM (2018-2020) Senior ADR expert in an EU-funded project in the Indonesian public sector on alternatives to litigation and arbitration for investor state disputes (2013-2016). ADR Expert leading World Bank-funded project advising the Ministry of Justice of the Lao PDR on the reform of its international arbitration law (1998-1999) Arbitration Panels/Lists AAA/ICDR AIAC CIETAC Hainan International Arbitration Court Hangzhou Arbitration Commission Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation HKIAC JCAA KCAB International Shanghai Arbitration Commission Shenzen International Arbitration Court SIAC Xi’An Arbitration Commission Mediation and Adjudication HKMAAL Accredited General Mediator CEDR Accredited Mediator AIAC Accrt’d Adjudicator Memberships Chair of Arbitration Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce – Hong Kong (approx. 2008-2013) Member /ex officio member of the Executive Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce – Hong Kong (present) Member, Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association (2014-2020; 2022 to present) Chair, Committee on Arbitration, Hong Kong Bar Association (2020 – Present) Inaugural Chair, Committee on International Relations (later renamed International Practice), Hong Kong Bar Association (2012– 2018 ) Member of the ICCA/Queen Mary Taskforce on Third Party Funding of Arbitration (2016-2017) Member of the Rules Committee of the Hague Aviation Court of Arbitration (2022 to present)