Firms move arbitration hearings to Singapore from Hong Kong amidst protests

Maxwell Chambers has seen a few cases from Hong Kong in recent months.

Companies are moving their arbitration hearings out of Hong Kong into Singapore as ongoing demonstrations diminish its appeal as an international hub, according to a Reuters report.

The report said that Maxwell Chambers, the main arbitration venue in the Lion City, has seen a “few hearings” move into there from Hong Kong in recent months.

“There are some cases - some hearings - that have shifted just for short-term practical reasons,” Singapore-based lawyer Toby Landau said, although the bigger question is whether or not companies are choosing arbitration venues other than Hong Kong “because of a view about long-term instability.”

Hong Kong and Singapore are amongst the top five leading arbitration hubs in the world, citing data from Queen Mary University of London.

Here's more from Reuters. 

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.