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Joanne Lau

Partner

Hong Kong

Image of Joanne Lau
Joanne Lau

Partner

Hong Kong

Joanne Lau is a Partner in Allen & Overy’s Global Arbitration Group based in Hong Kong. She represents clients in international commercial arbitrations and investment treaty arbitrations, including as an advocate.

She has extensive experience acting in arbitrations under major institutional rules, including HKIAC, ICC, SIAC and UNCITRAL Rules, involving various jurisdictions such as Hong Kong SAR, England, India, Singapore and, in particular, Mainland China. She also regularly advises on arbitration-related court matters. She has experience in a range of complex cross-border disputes, including disputes relating to post-M&A matters, joint ventures, private equity, complex financial products, shareholder disputes and disputes in the energy and infrastructure sectors. She also sits as arbitrator.

Joanne publishes and speaks regularly on arbitration-related topics. She served as the co-chair of the HK45, the HKIAC’s young arbitration practitioner body, for its 2020-2022 term and is an Executive Committee Member of the Rising Arbitrators Initiative and a member of the Proceedings Committee of the HKIAC.

Joanne is qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong and England and Wales, and speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

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Office

Hong Kong

9th Floor, Three Exchange Square, Central
Hong Kong

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Qualifications

Professional

Admitted as a Solicitor, Hong Kong, 2014

Admitted as a Solicitor, England & Wales, 2023

Academic

BA (Hons), Jurisprudence, Oxford University, 2011

PCLL, The University of Hong Kong, 2012

Experience highlights

Other noteworthy experience 

Advising:

  • An investment bank and a Chinese private equity firm in relation to a dispute arising from an investment in a coal processing company in the PRC under HKIAC rules.
  • A geo-thermal energy producer on a construction dispute concerning a power plant in the Philippines, with arbitration under the ICC Rules. 
  • A Japanese multinational company concerning the termination of an exclusive distribution agreement in a large Asian country under the SIAC Rules.
  • A Chinese company in two HKIAC arbitrations against a US investment firm in relation to a shareholders dispute in the media and entertainment industry. 
  • A US technology company in relation to a competition law enforcement action in Hong Kong. 
  • A US private equity firm in a HKIAC arbitration relating to amounts owed by PRC individuals and offshore entities under multiple transaction documents.
  • A group of private equity investors in two HKIAC arbitrations in relation to a shareholders dispute concerning an investment in the energy sector in the PRC. 
  • An international bank in a post-merger dispute in Taiwan concerning breaches of representations and warranties, with arbitration under the ICC Rules. 

Recognition