Preview

Kutafin Law Review

Advanced search

Russia Turns East: the Use of Hong Kong Arbitration for Russian Disputes

https://doi.org/10.17803/2313-5395.2017.2.8.458-480

Abstract

Faced with the Western sanctions, Russia has launched its “pivot to Asia” policy, which has prompted many Russian companies to look for business opportunities and funding resources in the East. Russian businesses’ growing commercial activity in Asia accelerates a potential shift way from their traditional preference for arbitration in Europe. Against this background, Hong Kong has emerged as a viable alternative to host Russian-related disputes. Hong Kong’s premier arbitral institution, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, has also taken active steps to develop a system that provides a fair, sophisticated and sanctions-free framework to arbitrate Russian parties’ disputes.

About the Authors

Teresa Cheng Gbs Sc Jp
Honourary Chairperson, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre; Senior Counsel & Arbitrator, Des Voeux Chambers
Russian Federation


Joe Liu
Managing Counsel, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre; Wuhan University (LLB); London School of Economics and Political Science (LLM); New York University (LLM)
Russian Federation


References

1. Barnashov, A. (2015). Is Western commercial arbitration still sanctioned for Russia? Commercial Dispute Resolution. 3 November. Available at: https://www.cdr-news.com/categories/expert-views/5938-is-western-commercial-arbitration-still-sanctioned-for-russia (accessed 17 February 2017).

2. Boltenko, O. (2014). Hong Kong Emerges as Russia’s Refuge while the EU’s Sanctions Cripple Major Russian Businesses. Kluwer Arbitration Blog, 24 November. Available at: http://kluwerarbitrationblog.com/2014/11/24/hong-kong-emerges-as-russias-refuge-while-the-eus-sanctions-cripple-major-russian-businesses/ (accessed 17 February 2017).

3. Fortier, Y.QC and Boltenko, O. (2014). Hong Kong - Trouver le pot aux roses. Asian Dispute Review.

4. Russian Arbitration Association Survey on the Impact of Sanctions on Commercial Arbitration. Available at: http://arbitrations.ru/upload/medialibrary/e1e/2016-raa-survey-on-sanctions-and-arbitration.pdf (accessed 17 February 2017).

5. Aju Business Daily (2016). Hyundai-led consortium wins $ 5.1 bln fertilizer project in Russia. Yonhap. 5 September. Available at: http://www.ajudaily.com/view/20160905084508451 (accessed 17 February 2017).

6. ASEM Connect Vietnam (2016). Imports from Russia increased sharply in 8 months. 27 September. Available at: http://asemconnectvietnam.gov.vn/default.aspx?ZID1=8&ID8=55295&ID1=2 (accessed 17 February 2017).

7. Guide to Regional Arbitration (volume 5. 2017) White List: Asia, Hearing Centres Survey. Global Arbitration Review, 2 November 2016. Available at: http://globalarbitrationreview.com/benchmarking/guide-to-regional-arbitration-volume-5-2017/1070149/hearing-centres-survey (accessed 17 February 2017).

8. Hong Kong Department of Justice. Provision of Space to Law-related Organisations in the Legal Hub. 9 August 2016. Available at: http://www.doj.gov.hk/eng/public/legalhub.html (accessed 17 February 2017).

9. HKTDC. China-Russia Joint Statement. Available at: http://china-trade-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/The-Belt-and-Road-Initiative/China-Russia-Joint-Statement/obor/ en/1/1X000000/1X0A6LDW.htm (accessed 17 February 2017)

10. Paton, J. and Aibing Guo (2014). Russia, China Add to $ 400 Billion Gas Deal with Accord. Bloomberg. 10 November. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-11-10/russia-china-add-to-400-billion-gas-deal-with-accord (accessed 17 February 2017)

11. Fion Li and Gismatullin, E. (2015). Russian Banks Turn to Hong Kong for Cash. Bloomberg. 29 July. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-28/russian-banks-turn-to-hong-kong-as-117-billion-global-debt-due (accessed 17 February 2017)

12. Pettersen, T. (2016). Russia loses $ 600 billion on sanctions and low oil price. The Independent. Available at: http://thebarentsobserver.com/en/industry/2016/02/russia-loses-600-billion-sanctions-and-low-oil-prices (accessed 17 February 2017)

13. Queen Mary University of London and White & Case 2015 International Arbitration Survey. Improvements and Innovations in International Arbitration. Available at: http://www.arbitration.qmul.ac.uk/docs/164761.pdf (accessed 17 February 2017)

14. Reuters. Russian state bank VEB opens subsidiary in Hong Kong. 19 May 2014. Available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/russia-veb-china-idUSL1N0O508720140519 (accessed 17 February 2017)

15. ICC, LCIA and SCC. The potential impact of the EU sanctions against Russia on international arbitration administered by EUbased institutions. 17 June 2015. Available at: http://sccinstitute.com/media/80988/legal-insight-icc_lcia_scc-on-sanctions_17-june-2015.pdf (accessed 17 February 2017)

16. TASS Russian News Agency. Russian authorities to motivate Russian companies list shares on Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Press article dated 21 September 2014. Available at: http://tass.com/russia/750579 (accessed 17 February 2017)

17. VOA News. Russia, China Signs Energy Deals at APEC Summit. 9 November 2014. Available at: http://www.voanews.com/a/russia-china-sign-energy-deal-at-apec-summit/2513909.html (accessed 17 February 2017)

18. Xiao Anna Wang (Dezan Shira & Associates). Assessing the Hong Kong - Russia Double Taxation Agreement: Another Step Towards Amplifying China’s Eurasian Connection. China Briefing. 19 August 2016. Available at: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2016/08/19/assessing-hong-kong-russia-double-taxation-agreement-another-steptowards-amplifying-chinas-eurasian-connection.html (accessed 17 February 2017)

19. World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Reports for year 2015-2016. Available at: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/gcr/2015-2016/Global_Competitiveness_Report_2015-2016.pdf (accessed 17 February 2017)

20. Xinhua (2015). Sino-Russia trade expands in digital age. China Daily Asia. 9 November. Available at: http://www.chinadailyasia.com/business/2015-11/09/content_15341719.html (accessed 17 February 2017)

21. Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. HKIAC Tops Prestigious Global Arbitration Survey. HKIAC News. 7 October 2015. Available at: http://www.hkiac.org/news/hkiac-tops-prestigious-global-arbitration-survey (accessed 17 February 2017)


Review

For citations:


Teresa Cheng Gbs Sc Jp , Joe Liu  Russia Turns East: the Use of Hong Kong Arbitration for Russian Disputes. Kutafin Law Review. 2017;4(2):458-480. https://doi.org/10.17803/2313-5395.2017.2.8.458-480

Views: 296


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2713-0525 (Print)
ISSN 2713-0533 (Online)