Upcoming Mallesons seminarsDavid Bateson and Paul Starr, two partners in our Hong Kong office, have recently been enrolled in the Panel of Arbitrators kept by CIETAC, China's principal arbitration regulator. There are very few non-Chinese CIETAC panellists making their appointment both an honour and a significant achievement.
Parties facing a contractual dispute in China may now ask CIETAC to appoint David or Paul either as their own arbitrator (on a panel of three), or as Chairman of the arbitration panel. CIETAC can make similar appointments if it so chooses.
David and Paul jointly head the Construction Group in the Mallesons' Hong Kong office and have extensive experience in international arbitration. As well as acting as arbitrators, they have also participated as parties' lawyers in many of Asia's largest infrastructure disputes, either in court, arbitration or mediation/conciliation.
A source close to CIETAC informs us that David and Paul's appointment is not only in recognition of their knowledge and expertise, but also their commitment to China and the region since the early 1980s.