The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) has opened a representative office in Shanghai, making it the first offshore arbitration body to formally establish a presence in mainland China.

Located inside the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the new office is led by HKIAC Deputy Secretary-General Liu Jing.  The opening of the Shanghai office comes two years after HKIAC set up its first overseas presence in Seoul, which was launched in May 2013.  

Initially, the Centre’s Shanghai branch is not expected to provide case-management services, and all the HKIAC arbitrations will be handled by the Secretariat in Hong Kong. Parties should secure legal advice prior to requesting HKIAC to administer arbitral proceedings seated on the mainland. Another option would be to arbitrate instead in Hong Kong, which is the preferred venue for China-related disputes. 

The HKIAC is also looking to forge closer ties with mainland China’s arbitration commissions to boost international arbitration best practices as well as help develop an overall pro-arbitration policy.