Governance Structure
The current membership of eBRAM’s Board of Directors is:
Dr Thomas So JP (Chairman)
Dr Thomas So is a partner of Grandall Zimmern Law Firm. He advises on shareholders- and equity-related disputes, property-related litigation, libel litigation and media-related litigation work, and litigation and arbitration in the PRC. He represents banks and financial institutions, property developers and corporations as well as Mainland China enterprises on securities- and equity-related disputes.
Thomas has acted as Arbitrator and Mediator in shareholders and other disputes and is on a number of panel of arbitrators in Asia. He has also acted as Deputy Judge at the District Court (18/11/2002-13/12/2002) and Temporary Deputy Registrar at the High Court (8/12/2003-10/1/2004). He is a China-Appointed Attesting Officer (appointed by the Ministry of Justice of PRC). He was the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong (6/2016 – 6/2018) and is a solicitor-advocate with rights to appear in the higher courts in Hong Kong.
Thomas was praised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2010/2011 for providing "sound knowledge" and "practical solutions" to clients. Chambers Asia Pacific 2011 describes Thomas is "instrumental in many cross-border cases". Thomas speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Ronald Sum JP (Vice Chairman)
Ronald is qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong, England and Wales and Australia. He is a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is the immediate past chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce: Arbitration and ADR Sub-Committee. He is also the council and appointments committee member of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. In addition to being a member of the panel of arbitrators with various institutions, Ronald has acted both as counsel and arbitrator in administered arbitration proceedings including the ICC, HKIAC, LMAA, CIETAC, SCIA, SIAC, THAC, GAFTA/FOSFA etc. He has conducted arbitration matters in Hong Kong, China, London, United States, Australia and Singapore. Ronald is also an accredited mediator of HKMAAL, CIETAC and the Law Society of Hong Kong. Ronald has recently be appointed as an Investor State Mediator under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). Ronald is a council member of the Hong Kong Mediation Council. He also sits on the Hong Kong Government Advisory Committee on the Promotion of Arbitration and the Hong Kong Steering Committee on Mediation. He is a member and chairman of the Public Education and Publicity Sub-committee. Ronald recently passed the examination for Hong Kong legal practitioners to practise law in the Greater Bay Area in the People’s Republic of China. Ronald is also the Vice-Chairman of the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre. He has extensive experience in handling digital and commercial disputes.
Adrian Lai JP
Adrian maintains a predominantly civil practice and has been engaged as Counsel on matters relating to arbitration, banking, commercial, company, construction, professional accountants/auditors’ negligence and professional disciplinary proceedings.
Through practice Adrian has developed a wealth of experience and expertise on arbitration matters. He is on the Panel of Arbitrators of Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre and has been appointed as sole or co-arbitrator on international commercial arbitrations. Apart from sitting as an arbitrator, Adrian has been engaged as Counsel to advise or appear in international or domestic commercial arbitration, investor-State arbitration and State-State arbitration. He is often invited to speak on topical issues of arbitration.
Adrian maintains an academic interest in international law. He graduated with a Master’s degree on Public International Law and also attended The Hague Academy of International Law. He also spoke on the topics of “Jurisdictional Immunities and Chinese State-Owned Enterprises” at the Colloquium on International Law and international investment dispute resolution etc. on other occasions.
Horace Wong SC JP
Horace Wong is a Senior Counsel with a substantial legal practice in Hong Kong. He is the Co-Head of Rede Chambers, and an experienced arbitrator and mediator. Mr. Wong is a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and a member of its Proceedings Committee. He is also a member of the Panel of Arbitrators, Mediators and APEC Neutral, eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (eBRAM), a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Beijing Arbitration Commission, Beijing International Arbitration Centre and the Brazillian Centre of Mediation and Arbitration. He is appointed by the Hong Kong Government as an arbitrator under the Labor Relations Ordinance, and an appointed Mediator in respect of the Investment Agreement under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). Mr. Wong has served as a Deputy Judge and Recorder of the High Court of Hong Kong, and as Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of many statutory authorities and tribunals, including the Town Planning Appeal Board, Administrative Appeals Board, Buildings Appeal Tribunal, Unsolicited Electronic Messages (Enforcement Notices) Appeal Board, and the Inland Revenue Board of Review. He is the Honorary Lecturer of the University of Hong Kong and a Visiting Professor of Peking University, School of Transnational Law, and has lectured in many universities, including the Hong Kong University, the Peking University, and the University of International Business and Economics. He was appointed as a Justice of the Peace in 2014.
Tom Fu
Tom Fu is a partner of international law firm Mayer Brown. He has extensive experience advising on issues arising from construction projects. Tom has been named as one of the leading individuals in China Real Estate and Construction (Foreign Firms) in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2020-2022), and he is also named in the construction chapter of the Who’s Who Legal list (2014-2015, 2020-2022) and the Chambers Asia Pacific guide (2012-2021). He has been appointed by the China Association of International Engineering Consultants (CAIEC) as a member of its committee of experts in 2019.
Tom has extensive experience handling cross-border disputes. He is a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (HKIArb), and is listed on various panels of arbitrators. He has also been appointed by the China International Council for the Promotion of Multinational Corporations (CICPMC) as a committee member of its international legal affairs Committee of Experts since 2010. Tom also frequently counsels MNCs on investigation work in China.
Raymond Ngai
Mr. Raymond Ngai is a freelance IT consultant who has over 25 years of experience in IT strategy, governance, operations and implementation of IT systems, a mentor for the start-up companies from Cyberport Hong Kong, and angel investor and advisor for a number of start-up companies in US, China and Hong Kong.
Before retiring from the Hong Kong Jockey Club after 16 years of service, he was the Head of IT Infrastructure and Operation Services responsible for all IT systems and Infrastructure to deliver world-class horseracing and betting services to the Hong Kong Public.
Before joining the Club, he worked in a number of business and sales management positions of multinational companies in China and Hong Kong. He also served as a member of the Information Technology Technical Advisory Subcommittee of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority for more than 10 years before retiring in November 2021.
Raymond graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and earned his Master of Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. He completed the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA Program in April 2006.
Peter Kung
Dr Frank C.H. Tong
Dr Johnny Ng Kit Chong, MH
Dr Johnny is currently one of the Legislative councilors, elected from Election Committee and and also member of CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference)
Johnny obtained his Bachelor Degree in Engineering and PHD in Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and his Post Doctor degree from Tsing Hua University.
He is committed in various social services and take up key roles in serving the community, such as Council Member of the Baptist University, member of Advisory Committee of Arts Development, member of Employees Retraining Board, member of Private Columbaria Licensing Board, Past Chairman of Hong Kong Youth United Association, Honorary Chairman of YELITES. He has been devoted and much contribution in information technology, cultural performance and youth development.
Dr. Winnie Tang MH JP
Dr. Winnie Tang, MH, JP, is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). She is one of the locally-bred IT entrepreneurs of Hong Kong. Dr. Tang has over 20 years of experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. Dr. Tang is the Founder and Chairman of Esri China (Hong Kong) Limited, an international office of Esri which specializes in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. Esri is the global market leader in GIS industry.
Over the years, Dr. Tang promotes technological and social developments by writing articles and serving the society. She also shares her views regarding conservation, smart city and entrepreneurship to instil in positive attitudes to the community. She has published fifteen Chinese and English books and over 600 research papers, newspaper articles and journals. Some of her current major appointments include Founder and Honorary President of the Smart City Consortium; Member of the Common Spatial Data Advisory Committee, Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government; and Board Member of AeHIN (Asia eHealth Information Network) etc.
In recognition of Dr. Tang’s work, she has been awarded the Honorary Fellow by Lingnan University in 2020, the Distinguished Alumni by the Faculty of Science, HKU in 2009, the Ten Outstanding Young Persons by Junior Chamber International Hong Kong in 2006, the Women of Influence – Young Achiever of the Year Award by the American Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and the Ten Outstanding Young Digi Persons Selection in 2001.
Olivia Kung
Olivia Kung is an experienced litigation solicitor who has practised in both the United
Kingdom and Hong Kong. She enjoys the buzz of litigation, and her practice focuses on
contentious work. Prior to joining ONC Lawyers, Olivia was a co-founding partner of another
Hong Kong law firm and had practised in several top tier firms in the UK before her return to
Hong Kong in 2010.
Olivia has acted in litigation matters covering a wide variety of areas, including complex
property ownership disputes; director and shareholder disputes; oral and written contract
disputes; fraud cases; injunction proceedings; debt recovery; insolvency and bankruptcy.
She is a Fellow member of Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators and has acted as counsel in
arbitration. She was appointed as an Arbitrator of Guangzhou Arbitration Commission in
September 2020.
Olivia is also experienced in personal injury and fatal accident claims. She was a
contributing author for LexisNexis Advance Practical Guidance and editor for Wolters
Kluwer’s PrimeLaw Hong Kong Tort Cases.
For criminal defence, Olivia successfully defended cases which attracted media attention.
In September 2018, Olivia was appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Beijing Normal
University.
Olivia is currently an Officer and Chair of Publications Committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar
Association (IPBA). She was also the Chair of its Women Business Lawyers Committee in
2018-2022. She has acted as judge for various moot and debate competitions and has also
been a mentor for a number of tertiary institutions.
Norman Nip SC
Norman Nip SC has a broad civil practice with an emphasis on commercial and securities litigation.
He has acted for the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and parties under investigation in a number of cases before the courts and the specialist tribunals. He has also served as an expert witness on securities laws in offshore proceedings.
His expertise also spans other practice areas, including banking, company and shareholder disputes, insurance, professional liability, land, trusts, employment, matrimonial, bankruptcy, competition, PRC and international cross-border disputes as well as white-collar crime.
In the arbitration sphere, Norman has acted as counsel in a number of domestic and cross-border commercial disputes. He is currently serving as the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Arbitration of the Hong Kong Bar Association. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has experience sitting as an arbitrator in commercial disputes.
Ms Hin Han Shum
Hin Han Shum is a solicitor advocate, able to be heard in the High Court and Court of Final Appeal. She has conducted various litigation cases and has represented clients in interlocutory applications in the District Court and High Court. She has practiced matrimonial law in her previous firm and has handled cases for high-net-worth individuals and famous personalities. Prior to joining this firm, she was on the legal aid panel to serve matrimonial clients. She currently has particular interest in handling legal compliance on the use of technological tools, and often advises clients on data privacy laws, drafts privacy policies and website terms, and provides practical solutions to clients in relation to cybersecurity incidents.
Having previously served as solicitor in various civil litigation proceedings and qualified as an accredited general mediator, Hin Han is familiar with the common fundamental issues leading to disputes and aims to prevent those risks at the earliest stage, be it the contract preparation stage for commercial agreements or settlements of family disputes. She is admitted as an associate member of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrator, and formerly sat on the Steering Committee on Mediation under the Department of Justice. She is empaneled as an arbitrator of Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, an inter-governmental organization that has 48 member states.
She has been seconded to an international securities firm and international telecommunications companies, to assist their in-house legal teams with day-to-day operations and major legal transactions. These experiences have allowed her to develop a pragmatic approach to solve business operation issues.
Hin Han has experience with handling a range of criminal cases, including white-collar investigations. She is also qualified as a prosecutor on fiat for the Department of Justice.
She has been appointed as a Chairman of the Appeal Tribunal Panel (the Buildings Ordinance) since 1 December 2021 and Hin Han has been appointed by the Chief Justice of HKSAR to sit on the Costs Committee. The Costs Committee makes rules, inter alia, providing for the remuneration of solicitors in respect of non-contentious business..
Hin Han is currently sits on the Council of the Law Society of Hong Kong and serves as a member of various committees, including the Standing Committee on Compliance and External Affairs, Anti-Money Laundering Committee, Sports Law Committee, Arbitration Committee and Mediation Committee. She also is an officer of the International Bar Association (IBA) Anti-corruption Committee and the Young Lawyers Committee. Formerly, she was an officer of the IBA Online Services Committee and Professional Ethics Committee.
Hin Han publishes widely on topics including data privacy, cybercrime, blockchain, artificial intelligence, technology, anti-money laundering rules, and labour and discrimination matters. She has also authored data privacy practical guidance content for LexisNexis, and has contributed to the Annotated Ordinances of Hong Kong: Business Registration Ordinance (Cap 310) (third and fourth editions, published by LexisNexis Hong Kong), and to the Butterworths Hong Kong Partnership Law Handbook (second and third editions, published by LexisNexis Hong Kong).
She is often invited to speak at international conferences, community events, and universities on topics as data privacy and blockchain, cybercrime, anti-money laundering issues, artificial intelligence in businesses, and family law. She is currently a part-time risk management tutor for Hong Kong lawyers.
Apart from work engagements, she enjoys contributing to the community and has been awarded the 4th Leadership Bauhinia Award, the Gold Award of the Hong Kong Law Society Pro Bono Community Work Recognition and the Professional Volunteers Accreditation Recognition Programme Leadership Award and the Gold Award.
She was also a finalist of the Asia Legal Business Hong Kong Law Award 2023 for the Taylor Root Award Young Lawyer of the Year.
eBRAM established two functional committees, five standing executive committees and an advisory committee, headed by Directors of the Board.
Functional committees -
Staff and Finance Committee - The Staff and Finance Committee is mandated to oversee matters regarding finance, human resources and general administration, as well as to advise the Board with regard to the eBRAM’s business, finance objectives.
Audit Committee – The Audit Committee is mandated to formulate policies relating to regulatory performance, corporate governance and risk management; and to report to the Board, identifying and making recommendations on any matters where action or improvement is needed.
Standing executive committees –
Appointments Committee – The Appointment Committee is mandated to advise the Board in respect of the matters and procedures in the discharge and performance of functions by the eBRAM under any arbitration rules or procedures in relation to the appointment of neutrals, arbitrators and mediators, and the matters associated therewith.
Challenges Committee – The Challenge Committee is mandated to handle challenges arisen out of the arbitration and mediation appointments, processes and results; and to decide on the procedure and applicable rules for handling challenges to appointments of neutrals, arbitrators and mediators.
Rules Committee – The Rules Committee is mandated to formulate rules and procedures for online dispute resolution proceedings and deal making administered by eBRAM Centre; and to decide on the applicable schedules of fees under the rules and procedures adopted by eBRAM Centre, etc.
Panel Listing Committee – The Panel Listing Committee is mandated to handle vetting and listing of arbitrators and mediators onto the respective panels of the eBRAM Centre; to establish, keep under review and safeguard the professional standards of training for inclusion on the panels established and maintained by the Committee; and to assess the suitability of training courses for panel members in light of the standards established from time to time by the Committee for persons to be included on the panels established and maintained by the Committee.
Information Technology Committee – The Information Technology Committee is mandated to provide advice on internet security and other internet/software issues of the eBRAM system, the requirements and compliance in its continued development; advise on eBRAM’s technology roadmap; and make recommendations to the Board on eBRAM’s technology development projects and deals with technical matters in relation to eBRAM platform.
Advisory committee -
Technology Advisory Committee - The Technology Advisory Committee will provide advice to the Information Technology Committee (“ITC”) on eBRAM’s technology and LawTech matters; support ITC’s goals to enhance the quality and efficiency of eBRAM’s IT systems; provide guidance and oversight in planning, prioritizing, and implementing IT-enabled initiatives; and raise awareness of technological breakthroughs and recommend opportunities to proactively incorporate advancements into our IT infrastructure.
Mr Albert Leung
Chief Technology Officer
Mr Leung brings over 30 years of experience in the Information Technology industry, with a solid background in I&T development and innovation in telecommunications, media, FSI, transportation, and public projects. In the past 2 more years, Mr Leung led the software development team to develop an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform for eBRAM, and received a Bronze Medal at the “Special Edition 2022: Invention Geneva Evaluation Days”.
Mr Leung currently serves as a Professional Review Interviewer and International Professional Registration Advisor of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET); he is also the Vice Chairman of the IET Hong Kong Management Section this year. Moreover, he was elected as Vice President of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Hong Kong Chapter.
He holds Master's degree in E-Commerce and Internet Computing from the University of Hong Kong, Master of Business Administration and a number of certifications in cyber technologies. He is also qualified as professional engineer with Royal Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the UK, registered Project Management Professional (PMP) and E-Commerce Consultant (CEC) in the US, Senior Certified Commercial E-Business Specialist of the China General Chamber of Commerce and a fellow member of Chartered Institution of Arbitrators (FCIArb) in the UK.
Ms. Wenny Huang
Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General
Ms. Huang brings a wealth of experience and expertise in international dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, to eBRAM’s leadership team.
Before joining eBRAM, Ms. Huang was the Director & Head for International Partnership and Arbitration Development Department of Shanghai Arbitration Commission (SHAC). She holds LLM degree specializing in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution from City University of Hong Kong and LLB degree from East China University of Political Science and Law. She also holds the Fellowship of Chartered Institute of Arbitrator (FCIArb) since 2016.
Ms. Huang had also worked for the leading dispute resolution institutions such as the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). She also previously worked as legal counsel in several Fortune 500 companies.
Ms. Huang is experienced on the international dispute resolution (including arbitration and mediation) and is on the panel of several international arbitral and mediation institutions.