eBRAM Appointed by DoJ as Technology Provider for Hong Kong’s First-Ever Dedicated Sports Dispute Resolution Pilot Scheme

(Hong Kong, 25 November 2025) The arbitration and mediation institution eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”) announced today that last week, it has been appointed by the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR Government (DoJ) to jointly administer the city’s first-ever Pilot Scheme on Sports Dispute Resolution (“the Pilot Scheme”) in collaboration with the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (AALCO-HKRAC), serving as the technology provider and the administering body of the Pilot scheme respectively. This pioneering initiative, a key pledge announced in the Policy Address, establishes a dedicated, world-class framework for resolving sports-related disputes in Hong Kong, marking a new milestone in local sports dispute resolution. The Pilot Scheme will run for two years and is slated to launch before the end of this year.

The first-of-its-kind Pilot Scheme will provide athletes, coaches, sports bodies, and commercial partners with a professional, fair and efficient mechanism to settle sports disputes, further enhancing Hong Kong’s position as an international centre for dispute resolution. eBRAM will be responsible for delivering the technological infrastructure and support required for the operation of the Pilot Scheme, promoting a wider use of LawTech and online dispute resolution (ODR) services. This will contribute to establishing Hong Kong as a forward-looking hub for international sports dispute resolution. Meanwhile, AALCO-HKRAC will be responsible for the overall administration and institutional support of the Pilot Scheme, including compiling specific mediation and arbitration rules, recruiting and appointing mediators and arbitrators, devising fee structures with the mediators and arbitrators and the parties, and administering the mediation and arbitration proceedings.

As the technology provider, eBRAM will leverage Hong Kong’s strengths in LawTech and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) to support the Pilot Scheme.

eBRAM has already had its self-developed one-stop online dispute resolution platform, which integrates advanced features such as AI-powered multilingual instant translation, blockchain-secured tamper-proof recordkeeping, real-time video hearings, and secure electronic document management. These functions are designed to support the efficient resolution of cross-border sports disputes while ensuring that proceedings comply with international arbitration standards. During the “Speed and Justice – Technology × Sports Arbitration” forum held in February 2025, eBRAM showcased how technology drives innovation in arbitration mechanisms. Its self-developed online dispute resolution platform is specifically designed to meet the highly specialised and time-sensitive nature of sports disputes, offering a full range of online services including online mediation, arbitration applications, document submission, and evidence exchange. It is particularly well-suited for resolving new types of disputes involving athletes’ image rights, broadcasting agreements, and esports sponsorship contracts. Through this platform, athletes, coaches, and sports organisations from different regions can overcome geographical and time constraints, and complete the entire dispute resolution process — from case submission and document exchange to mediation and arbitration hearings — entirely online, significantly enhancing procedural efficiency and stakeholder participation.

Mr. Ronald Sum, JP, Vice-Chairman of eBRAM, Council Member and Chairman of Sports Law Committee, The Law Society of Hong Kong, Panel of Arbitrator of Court of Arbitration for Sports (China, Hong Kong), and Panel of Arbitrator of China Commission of Arbitration for Sport (China, Hong Kong) said, “Hong Kong needs to develop a comprehensive sports dispute resolution mechanism to protect the athletes’ rights and foster the sustainable growth of the sports industry. In particular, the legal sector continues to explore innovative sports arbitration solutions, including online arbitration, to enhance the efficiency and flexibility in sports dispute resolution, laying a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s further development as a global leader in sports arbitration. eBRAM is delighted that our self-developed online dispute resolution platform can assist Hong Kong SAR Government's policy direction on sports arbitration.”