Over the past year, the mediation and arbitration industry in Hong Kong ushered in new opportunities. eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre has actively responded to the policies of the SAR Government and vigorously promoted online dispute resolution services to help enhance Hong Kong’s legal stature internationally.

Established a service platform with LawTech, eBRAM held a series of events to promote industry development

eBRAM continued to focus on innovation and technology. A one-stop "eBRAM Deal-Making Portal" has been launched to facilitate cross-border cooperation among enterprises. Thus far, 260 enterprises have registered as members of the platform. In addition, eBRAM took the lead in creating the “GBA Online Collaborative Platform”, with the aim of leveraging the advantages of "One Country, Two Systems and Three Jurisdictions" to promote the integration of legal services. In terms of people’s livelihoods, eBRAM worked with the Agency for Volunteer Service to launch the “Pro-Bono Online Mediation Scheme for Water Seepage Disputes” with strong support from the Joint Office established by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Buildings Department, breaking through the limitations of time and space, efficiently solving seepage disputes in the community, and promoting community inclusiveness.

eBRAM also actively organised several exchange activities to promote progress and innovation in the industry. This included workshops and lunch seminars, sharing information on the application of LawTech, and helping local legal professionals improve service efficiency with the technology. In addition, eBRAM organised a T-BOX seminar for SMEs so that they are introduced to the platform and can make good use of it to enhance the potential of their business. Furthermore, eBRAM corresponded with key national authorities and departments/organisations, and showcased advanced LawTech products in order to explore cooperation opportunities.

Additionally, eBRAM held a seminar during Hong Kong Arbitration Week to explore the prospects of resolving cross-border disputes through online dispute resolution proceedings under APEC rules. eBRAM also successfully held its first Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) conference in Hong Kong this year, using its online dispute resolution platform’s video conferencing system and real-time machine transcription and translation functions to overcome communication barriers and bring together speakers from Hong Kong and overseas for in-depth discussions on related topics, such as artificial intelligence and ODR, to promote the development of ODR in the legal profession in Hong Kong.

Deepened domestic and overseas cooperation to open a new chapter in LawTech

An active player in the LawTech sector, eBRAM is dedicated to taking part in various local and global activities, creating valuable practical experience for global legal professionals and facilitating the development of Hong Kong enterprises and professional services, thereby solidifying Hong Kong’s position as a leading international dispute resolution centre. The activities include:

• Dr. Thomas So, Chairman of eBRAM, served as a committee member of the Expert Advisory Group on Legal and Dispute Resolution Services (EAG) of the Working Group on Mediation Regulatory System, established by the Department of Justice;

• Dr. So and Mr. Ronald Sum, Vice Chairman of eBRAM, shared details on the application of AI in handling dispute resolution and sports dispute resolution during Hong Kong Legal Week;

• Supported the Department of Justice and the Law Society of Hong Kong in organising large-scale events by adopting LawTech, including AI voice/speech recognition and real-time translation;

• Actively promoted the "eBRAM Deal-making Portal" at FUND Fair plus Tech Sourcing 2024, organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council;

• Joined a delegation led by the Secretary for Justice that visited members of ASEAN, including Vietnam and Malaysia, and signed a supplementary memorandum of understanding (MOU); 

• Mr. Albert Leung, Acting CEO and CTO, spoke at the seminar, titled "Shaping the future of dispute resolution - how technology is changing Arbitration", held jointly by the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).

• Ms. Wenny Huang, Deputy CEO and Secretary General of eBRAM, was invited to attend the Hainan Free Trade Port Legal Week and delivered a keynote speech at the International Commercial Mediation Exchange Conference.

• Invited to participate in a nine-day Hong Kong legal community African delegation, organised by AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre.

• Signed a MOU on “International Dispute Resolution in the Film and Television Industry” with Hengdian Film and Television Industry Association and Dongyang Law Society to provide new international dispute resolution solutions for the global film and television industry.

Looking ahead to the Year of the Snake, eBRAM will continue to explore the application of LawTech in the areas of cross-border dispute resolution and sports dispute resolution so as to provide more efficient and smarter solutions for global legal services.