eBRAM Chairman Dr Thomas So JP and Chief Technology Officer Albert Leung continue eBRAM’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) journey and signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with Foshan Arbitration Commission today. This collaborative agreement signifies our shared commitment to work together to promote online dispute resolution and increasing access to justice in Hong Kong SAR and Foshan, the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

This is the second MOU signed this week, eBRAM has the vision of joining dispute resolution industry forces in the Greater Bay Area by creating a collaborative platform for legal and dispute resolution professionals, to exchange ideas and work together seamlessly on cross border disputes.

Today eBRAM Chairman Dr Thomas So JP and Chief Technology Officer Albert Leung signed a Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with Zhaoqing Arbitration Commission. This collaborative agreement signifies our shared commitment to work together to promote online dispute resolution and increasing access to justice in Hong Kong SAR and Zhaoqing, the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

This is a one step closer to eBRAM’s vision of joining dispute resolution industry forces in the Greater Bay Area by creating a collaborative platform for legal and dispute resolution professionals, to exchange ideas and work together seamlessly on cross border disputes. eBRAM continues to strengthen ties with local institutions and extending this initiative to cover the entire GBA.

On 21 February 2024, Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM; and Jacob Sin, ODR Director of eBRAM, welcomed delegates from the East China University of Political Science and Law, to the eBRAM office for an introduction and live demonstration of eBRAM’s Online Dispute Resolution Services (ODR), Deal-making Portal (DMP) and LawTech Services.

Our heartfelt thanks to the delegates for sharing valuable insights and experiences on the Legal Tech development, and to the Department of Justice Treaties and Law Unit for the visit arrangement.

eBRAM representatives introduced the Hong Kong Legal Cloud Portal to Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) students at the City University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and The University of Hong Kong.

The eligible subscription criteria for the Hong Kong Legal Cloud Portal have been recently expanded to include Trainee Solicitors and Pupil Barristers registered in Hong Kong, and PCLL students studying at CityU, CUHK, or HKU.

Registered Legal Cloud subscribers can enjoy these features within the portal:
➡️ Legal research platform powered by LexisAdvance® Hong Kong (https://www.lexisnexis.com.hk/products-and-services/online-solution/lexis-advance-hk)
➡️ Document storage and exchange
➡️ Secure machine-learning-enabled translation by RWS (https://www.rws.com/)

eBRAM representatives from left to right in the first photo:
Albert Leung, Freda Ng, Carmen Ko, and Charles Lam

On 22 January 2024, Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM; Amirali Nasir, MH JP, member of the Board of Directors; and Jacob Sin, ODR Director of eBRAM, welcomed international guests from the Bahamas, Japan, and Poland, to the eBRAM office for an introduction and live demonstration of eBRAM’s ODR and Deal-Making Platforms.

Our guests from left to right in the first photo:
Mr Takayuki Usui, Mr Hisao Sasaki, Ms Murasaki Yamashita, Ms Magdalena Witkowska, Dr Marta Dargas-Draganik, Ms Maria Slazak, and Mr Peter D. Maynard KC.

On 22 January 2024, Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM, conducted an informative presentation on the ODR and Deal-Making Platforms at the 37th Hong Kong SME Economic and Trade Promotional Association Anti-Covid 19 Seminar.

A live demonstration of the Deal-Making Platform illustrated how to do cross-border businesses efficiently and securely with these features:
➡️ Exploring potential business partners
➡️ Initiating a deal
➡️ Using eBRAM’s contract templates
➡️ Negotiating business terms via video conference
➡️ Signing business contracts with e-Signing
➡️ Advanced Cybersecurity measures for data protection

From left to right in the first photo:
Dr Benny Cheung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM

On 17 January 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the ODR Africa Network and eBRAM to promote the benefits of ODR and its adoption among legal professionals and businesses, exchange best practices and information in the areas of law and technology, and establish a small business dispute resolution process and a panel of neutrals for China/Africa related disputes.

From left to right in the screenshot of the MOU e-signing Ceremony via video conference:
Ms Emmanuelle Ta, CEO of eBRAM
Mr Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM
Mr Juwon Adenuga, Trustee of ODR Africa Network
Ms Morenike Obi-Farinde, Director of ODR Africa Network

On 5 January 2024, the Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM, Albert Leung, welcomed the members of the Association of Motion Picture Post-Production Professionals (AMP4) to the eBRAM office for an introduction and live demonstration of eBRAM’s Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and Deal-Making Platforms.

The AMP4 is committed to mastering the latest film/new media audio and video post-production technology, actively providing value-added services for Hong Kong film post-production work, promoting the professional capabilities and advantages of local film post-production services overseas, providing the necessary resources for the cultivation of post-production talents in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, etc.

eBRAM and AMP4 are looking ahead to exploring the possibility of collaboration by leveraging the ODR and Deal-Making Platforms to achieve AMP4’s business objectives.

In the first photo from left to right:

Ms Chau Ting, Director – Marketing & Business Development of AMP4

Ms Kari Kong, Vice President and Secretary of AMP4

Mr Mak Chun-hung, President of AMP4

Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM

Mr Stephen Ma, Vice Present of AMP4

Mr Jacky Chu, Vice President of AMP4

It was an eventful fourth quarter for eBRAM!

Last week, we launched our Deal-making Portal, and today our Chairman Dr Thomas So JP and CTO Mr Albert Leung signed an MOU with the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) Sundra Rajoo. Through this partnership, we could work together towards promoting online dispute resolution and increasing access to justice in ASEAN countries.

As a LawTech forerunner, our goal is to contribute to the development of the dispute resolution industry in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) by creating a collaborative platform for legal and dispute resolution professionals to exchange ideas and work together. We are excited to have the support of five legal and arbitration institutions: the Dongguan Arbitration Commission (DGAC) 潘长河 东莞仲裁委员会主任, Guangzhou Arbitration Commission (GZAC) 陈思民 广州仲裁委员会主任, Zhuhai Court of International Arbitration (ZCIA) 王瑞森 珠海国际仲裁院院长, Macau Lawyers Association (MLA) Oriana Inacio Pun 澳門律師公會仲裁中心秘書長, and World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center (WTCMAC) Sok Hei Rosita Vong, MCIArb. AHKIArb 澳門世界貿易中心仲裁中心秘書長. All of these organizations have signed MOUs with eBRAM.

Dr So shared that eBRAM has a vision of extending this initiative to cover the entire GBA and strengthen ties with local institutions.

On 21 December 2023, eBRAM representatives visited the Robinsons, Lawyers Law Firm to introduce and showcase a live demonstration of the following LawTech platforms:

Deal-Making Portal

An online portal with e-directory for Hong Kong lawyers to do GBA business with chatroom, videoconferencing, e-signing of agreement/contracts. PRC credit report, Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) and digital certificates can also be provided through this portal.

https://dealmaking.ebram.org/

Hong Kong Legal Cloud

One year free subscription for solicitor, barrister, mediator, arbitrator, trainee lawyer and PCLL students.

https://hklegalcloud.ebram.org/

From right to left in the photo below:

Dr James K H Lau, Partner of Robinsons, Lawyer

Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications of eBRAM

Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM

eBRAM was honoured to be part of a seminar organised by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of CEPA on 15 December 2023.

CEPA (“Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong”) is one of the country’s important policies to benefit Hong Kong by enabling Hong Kong’s business community to explore the vast mainland market and deeply integrate into the country’s economic and trade development.

During the event, Dr Thomas So JP, Chairman of eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre, highlighted that CEPA enables lawyers from Hong Kong to take professional exams in Mainland China. It also relaxes restrictions on partnership associations of law firms in the two regions and has arrangements such as mutual recognition on enforcement of court judgments and mutual enforcement of arbitration. All these provisions enable Hong Kong to offer cross-border dispute resolution services.

Dr So hopes that the legal and dispute resolution profession will further collaborate with Mainland institutions to foster exchanges and create more opportunities for practitioners in Hong Kong.

eBRAM launches Deal-making Portal to aid SMEs on cross-border transactions
16 organisations vow to promote Hong Kong’s Deal-making hub role

We are thrilled to announce the official launch of our Deal-making Portal (“DMP”), designed to facilitate enterprises, particularly SMEs, seeking to expand their horizons and explore new opportunities through a secure, end-to-end, and accessible avenue.

Mr Horace Cheung, SBS JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice, graced the event and delivered a speech.

Dr Thomas So JP, Chairman of eBRAM, and Mr Ronald Sum JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM, shared the symbolic meaning of DMP to eBRAM, that is, “Determination”, “Meticulousness” and “Professionalism and Proficiency” and from a deal-making ecosystem perspective as “Developer”, “Matchmaker” and “Pathfinder” respectively.

We were joined by 15 Strategic Partners and a Supporting Organisation who celebrated this key milestone with eBRAM. Together, we vow to promote Hong Kong's advantages and consolidate its role as an ideal deal-making hub.

Thank you for the support of our Strategic Partners and Supporting Organisations. They are
Asian Academy of International Law (Founder Member)
Hong Kong Bar Association (Founder Member)
The Law Society of Hong Kong (Founder Member)
Association of China-Appointed Attesting Officers Limited
Certizen Technology Limited
China Legal Service (HK) Ltd.
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Coalition of Professional Services
Hong Kong Cyberport Management Limited
Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre
Society of Chinese Accountants and Auditors
Taxation Institute of Hong Kong
AND
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

This is the video for the "一邦推交易促成平台 助香港企拓跨境業務"
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Insurance companies provide their clients with protection, peace of mind and a way to manage and mitigate risks. eBRAM collaborated with The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) and Technic Essential respectively in two events this month where case studies of insurance-related arbitration and mediation cases were discussed.

eBRAM shared in practical terms what ODR and LawTech means for insurers, brokers and their clients and how eBRAM’s set of rules provide an efficient and affordable dispute resolution option for the insurance industry.

The eBRAM Management Team visited the Hong Kong Cyberport to share the benefits of using LawTech services such as the Deal-making and Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platforms. The two sides also discussed the potential for collaborative opportunities in the coming year.

In the photo from left to right:
Mr Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM
Ms Emmanuelle Ta, CEO of eBRAM
Mr Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport
Mr Henry Li, Head of Ecosystem Development of Cyberport

In collaboration with HKSTP - Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, eBRAM jointly organised a lively session on navigating the legal landscape for start-ups.

Establishing a strong legal foundation is equally as important as start-up growth plans. As technology and innovation develop, founders enter contracts with multiple stakeholders which may increase the likelihood of disputes.

Chan Roberta, partner at Baker McKenzie, Claudia Kwok, associate at Gallant and Jacob Sin, ODR Director at eBRAM had an interactive discussion with the audience of start-up founders and management on navigating through shareholder agreements and joint venture agreements and the management of disputes that might arise out of them.

eBRAM participated in the Legal Forum on Interconnectivity and Development as part of Hong Kong Legal Week. Chairperson, Dr Thomas S.T. So JP shared how Hong Kong plays a strategic role in offering legal safeguards for all parties along the Belt and Road.

➡️ Hong Kong’s sophisticated legal framework provides legal guarantee and protection for businesses and individuals. This in turn, promotes a vote of confidence for economic, trade and investment as part of the BRI.

➡️ Hong Kong is proud to lead as a deal-making and international dispute resolution hub, offering a safe and secure forum for business deals and resolution of disputes arising from Belt and Road projects.

Throughout the week, representatives of eBRAM showcased the deal-making portal and demonstrated the lifecycle of a case through the ODR platform to legal professionals in Hong Kong, GBA and beyond.

Organiser: The Department of Justice

As part of the Thailand ADR Week 2023, CEO of eBRAM, Emmanuelle Ta spoke on the panel session “Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Virtual ADR in a Post-Pandemic World. Is it sustainable?”

Sharing the stage with Emi Rowse Igusa, Eddy Lee, Roger Chin, Rouven F. Bodenheimer, and Pariyapol Kamolsilp, the panellists explored opportunities and challenges of virtual ADR and assessed the sustainability of the shift towards virtual ADR. Emmanuelle Ta shed insights on how technology can be leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of dispute resolution and why online arbitration and mediation are here to stay.

On 8 November 2023, the Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM, Mr Albert Leung, attended the 2023 Dispute Resolution in the Digital Economy Forum: Asia and Beyond, held by the UNCITRAL Secretariat and co-organised with the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) and the South China International Arbitration Center (Hong Kong).

In the photo below, as one of the Keynote speakers, Ms Teresa Cheng, GBM, GBS, SC, JP, Co-Chairman of the Asian Academy of International Law, Adjunct Professor at Tsinghua University, and the former Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong introduced the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) as an integrated, end-to-end solution where the entire mediation or arbitration procedure is digitally supported, from submitting a claim, to exchange of documents and holding a hearing, to getting a settlement agreement or an arbitral award.

Ms Cheng elaborated that the ODR can be distinguished from merely Zoom plus email as the ODR contains the following features:

• A central repository for all the information, communications, submissions, and evidence related to a particular case, so that such information is not easily mixed up with other emails;
• An on-demand 24/7 video conferencing system integrated with machine transcription and translation so that there is no need to separately engage multiple service providers during a virtual hearing session;
• Integration with other useful tools such as an online, real-time-editable procedural timetable, machine document translation capabilities, and e-signature functions.

Details of the event and the video recording can be found at the following link:

https://uncitral.un.org/en/DRDE_Forum

In the photo below from right to left:
Mr Huen Wong, SBS, BBS, JP, Executive Chairman and Council Member of the SCIA
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM
Professor Shahla Ali, Associate Dean (International Affairs) and Director of LLM in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution at the University of Hong Kong
Mr Takashi Takashima, Legal Officer UNICITRAL

On 1 November 2023, the CEO of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), Mr Stephan Wolf, Head of Business Development - Asia Pacific, Ms Xue Tan and Country Representative Mr Yanzhao Zhang visited eBRAM to share their expertise and insights on LEI with our Management Team.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, GLEIF is a supra-national not-for-profit organisation that is tasked to support the implementation and use of the LEI with global governance by the Regulatory Oversight Committee.

GLEIF is the provider of the Global LEI Index which enables individuals and businesses to exercise open and reliable judgment when choosing who to do business with economically.

eBRAM’s newly launched Deal-Making Platform is an all-inclusive portal that facilitates cross-border transactions using advanced technologies to identify and collaborate with potential business partners. Included as one of the features within the portal, we assist companies in applying for LEI to identify legal entities, and thus, greatly enrich business transparency and credibility in the global marketplace.

In the first photo from left to right:
Dr Frank Tong, Chairman of the Information Technology Committee of eBRAM
Mr Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM
Mr Stephan Wolf, CEO of GLEIF
Ms Emmanuelle Ta, CEO of eBRAM
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM
Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications of eBRAM

On 19 October 2023, members of the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission and eBRAM convened to exchange insights and expertise in dispute resolution where eBRAM provided a live demonstration of the ODR platform and the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission related their experiences in dispute resolution in China. The two organisations are eagerly looking ahead to further collaborating and engaging in reciprocal training visits.

In the first photo from right to left:
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM
Dr Frank Tong, Chairman of the Information Technology Committee of eBRAM
Mr Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM
Mr Tianxi Wang, Vice President of the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission
Ms Minyi Li, Director of Case Management of the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission
Ms Yuyi Feng, Case Manager of the Guangzhou Arbitration Commission

eBRAM’s Hong Kong Arbitration Week 2023 event “The Resolution Revolution - How Technology is Changing Dispute Resolution in Asia” was successfully held.

It was indeed a wonderful afternoon to hear distinguished speakers Sharyn Ch'ang, Robert Rhoda, Matthew Secomb, Jane Willems, Jennifer Wu and Raymond Ngai share their anecdotes in using technology in dispute resolution.

Under the excellent moderation by Robert, Matthew and Jennifer made observations on the growth of LawTech tools in the past two decades from counsel’s perspective, while Jane shared her experience in using the eBRAM ODR Platform components in an arbitration where she chaired as presiding arbitrator. Sharyn, founding director of PwC's Asia Pacific NewLaw team gave her views on the LawTech industry and latest trends.

Event participants also heard the speakers express their views on the future development of ADR after hearing an introduction and live demonstration of ODR from eBRAM CEO, Emmanuelle Pui-Ki Ta (謝珮琪) and ODR Director, Jacob Sin, respectively.

On 16 October 2023, members of the Beijing Arbitration Commission / Beijing International Arbitration Center (BAC/BIAC) and eBRAM coordinated to share insights and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration where eBRAM showcased a live demonstration of the ODR platform and the BAC/BIAC recounted experiences in dispute resolution in China.

In the photo from left to right:
Mr Jacob Sin, ODR Director of eBRAM
Dr Fuyong Chen, Deputy Secretary General of BAC/BIAC
Ms Emmanuelle Ta, Chief Executive Officer of eBRAM
Mr Wei Guo, Chairperson of BAC/BIAC
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM
Mr Haoliang Zhang, Division Chief International Case Management & Business Development Division of BAC/BIAC
Mr Gerard Lin, International Case Management & Business Development Division Senior Knowledge Manager of BAC/BIAC
Ms Yiting Chen, International Case Management & Business Development Division Counsel of BAC/BIAC

eBRAM participated in a webinar alongside Melissa Pang, Dr Le Net, Jason Lin, Anh Bui, CM Chan, Amirali Nasir MH JP to discuss various aspects of investment into Vietnam. With Vietnam's increasing prominence as key player in international trade, the risk of cross-border disputes is high. eBRAM's ODR Director, Jacob Sin demonstrated how eBRAM supports and increases access to international arbitration through its APEC Rules and ODR platform.

Webinar organised by LAWASIA (The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific)

On 13 September 2023, eBRAM participated in the Hong Kong International Biotechnology Convention (BIOHK2023) as a strategic partner of Certizen Technology, which is the provider of electronic certification services for eBRAM’s Deal-making Portal.
Hong Kong, at the center of key regional and global industries, finance, academia, research, and innovation sectors, is a prime location to capitalise on its position as a global strategic hub for Biotech.

The BIOHK23 Strategic Pillars include:
1. Pioneer Hong Kong’s emergence as a leading technology and innovation hub in Asia and beyond
2. Empower local Biotech startups and foster local innovation to support the growing Greater Bay Area scene
3. Attract international Biotech companies and foreign capital to serve as a bridge connecting the Mainland and the world
4. Foster a strong Information & Technology culture in Hong Kong through public awareness and education

In the photo from left to right:
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM
Ms Eva Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Certizen Limited
Hon Ms Yung Hoi-yan, JP, member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and Deputy Chairman of the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services
Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications of eBRAM

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Bar Association, eBRAM organised an interactive discussion to explore the practical usage of online dispute resolution and tech tools available for barristers.

An in-depth look at the Hong Kong Legal Cloud and ODR Platform demonstrated how these were unique LawTech offerings from eBRAM.

Topics covered:
➡️ ODR Platform
➡️ Hong Kong Legal Cloud
➡️ Video conferencing features
➡️ Security and Data Privacy

Participants took advantage of the onsite sign up for the Hong Kong Legal Cloud. For more information and to apply for a free subscription, please visit https://lnkd.in/gVDE4VyS

eBRAM would like to thank the Hong Kong Bar Association, as one of its founding members, for its support and participation in this event.

Speakers and representatives: Victor Dawes SC, Kim Rooney, Martin Wong, Bonnie Chiu, Sabrina Ho, Emmanuelle Pui-Ki Ta, Jacob Sin

At the Belt and Road Summit, eBRAM’s Chairman, Dr Thomas S.T. So shed light on the use of online dispute resolution as an effective mechanism for resolving disputes arising from Belt and Road projects and elaborated on how eBRAM can be part of an effective dispute resolution strategy.

By digitising the dispute resolution process, parties involved in a dispute can access the platform from anywhere in the world, eliminating the need for costly travel and enabling individuals, states and businesses to resolve their conflicts in a timely and cost-effective manner.

The ODR Platform includes abilities to translate documents and also translate in real-time from transcripts of a hearing. For document translation, we currently support Arabic, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and English. This helps bridge linguistic differences between parties, especially parties from jurisdictions along the Belt and Road.

Organiser: Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Thematic Breakout Session: International Legal Cooperation

Speakers: The Hon Paul T K Lam SBS SC JP, Dr Christophe Bernasconi, Dr Tony Neoh SC JP, Ms Si Yanli, Dr Sun Jin, Dr Thomas So JP

eBRAM organised a training on the practical usage of ODR. Participants were taken through the lifecycle of a dispute from commencement of proceedings to virtual hearings and settlement on eBRAM’s ODR platform.

➡️ Case management – case dates, status and financial information

➡️ Document management - secure document sharing, embedded machine translation and e-signing

➡️ Video conferencing - document presentation, break-out rooms, mediate remotely

On 28 August 2023, Dr Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM, welcomed members of the Legislative Council and the Panel members on the Administration of Justice and Legal Services to the eBRAM office for an overview of the ODR, LawTech, and Deal-Making portals followed by a live demonstration of the ODR platform with the functional features on AI machine translation, e-signing, videoconferencing which supported by data encrypted secured storage and blockchain on file management.

From the far right to left in the photo:
Dr Hon Junius Ho, JP
Hon Mr Ambrose Lam, JP
Hon Mr Paul Tse, JP
Dr Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM
Ms Emmanuelle Ta, CEO of eBRAM
Mr Albert Leung, CTO of eBRAM
Mr Jacob Sin, ODR Director of eBRAM

As part of the Advanced Training Programme for Lawyers for Foreign-Related Legal Affairs and China – AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law, delegates learned of eBRAM’s all-in-one dispute resolution service.
 
➡️ Introduction to eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited: An Institution and a LawTech Provider
➡️ Demonstration of LawTech services showcasing the ability to facilitate the resolution of disputes, reduce costs and improve accessibility.
➡️ Key component of ODR platform: Secured by design and bank-grade encryption capabilities enabled. 
➡️ eBRAM's APEC Rules bring to the table a combination of mediation and arbitration that is competitive in terms of fees and expedited in terms of procedure.

eBRAM representatives: Vice Chairman, Ronald Sum, JP, Chief Technology Officer, Albert Leung and ODR Director, Jacob Sin

Ronald Sum, JP, Vice Chairman of eBRAM, was among 30 delegates recently led by Chief Executive of Hong Kong, John Lee on a visit to Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. The week-long trip was aimed at fostering stronger ties, exploring new opportunities and promoting Hong Kong as a place for business and professional services.

With tailor-made dispute resolution services available and a pro-arbitration landscape in place, Ronald Sum showcased and promoted the city’s strengths as a leading arbitration and LawTech hub.

eBRAM is a next-generation arbitration/mediation institution infused with LawTech. eBRAM provides a full range of services, from the provision of institutional rules, panels of experienced arbitrators and mediators, case administration services to centrally located hearing facilities alongside its flagship online dispute resolution platform (eBRAM ODR Platform).

eBRAM’s Chief Technology Officer, Albert Leung and ODR Director, Jacob Sin conducted an informative presentation to a group of visiting computer engineering students from Tsinghua University on the application of technology for online dispute resolution in mediation and arbitration. This was followed by an explanation of the design of the software architecture and cloud-based infrastructure of the eBRAM systems, for which emphasis was placed on the need to ensure confidentiality, cybersecurity, disaster recovery, and general robustness of the systems.

eBRAM’s ODR Director, Jacob Sin conducted an informative presentation to the Chartered Institute of Housing Asian Pacific Branch on the benefits of online mediation to resolve property management disputes. The benefits of online mediation for property owners and tenants include:

➡️ Avoid further confrontation: In certain circumstances, mediating remotely may be more comfortable for certain parties
➡️ Convenience: Mediate from the comfort of your own office or home and reduce travel time (but optionally mediate at eBRAM’s physical facilities)
➡️ Cost-effective: Use of virtual break-out rooms which reduces the cost of hiring multiple rooms
➡️ Flexibility: Schedule and block calendar
➡️ Efficiency: Streamline the entire mediation process by communicating, sharing documents and reviewing relevant information in real-time

eBRAM and the Financial Dispute Resolution Centre jointly organised an ODR training for general and financial disputes for respective panel mediators. The workshop featured a mock case and participants were guided through the mediation process from commencement of proceedings to responding to a case to attending a joint mediation session using the VC system and finally, signing a settlement agreement.

Participants left the session equipped to use eBRAM's ODR platform for mediation.

eBRAM had the honour of hosting an engaging fireside chat with Dr Michael Hwang SC who shared highlights of his impressive career and experience in arbitration. eBRAM’s CEO, Ms Pui-ki Emmanuelle Ta chaired the conversation and Dr Hwang enlightened the audience with his insights on confidentiality protocols, explained how he as counsel would argue a case in front of himself as arbitrator, as well as shared his views on the use of technology in arbitration. We also heard a few anecdotes from a lunch event that Dr Hwang had shared with one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Roger Federer.

eBRAM’s Director, Mr Iu Ting-kwok, MH kick-started the evening welcoming the guests who enjoyed networking with the dispute resolution community.

Stay tuned for upcoming events from eBRAM. 

On 5 May 2023, eBRAM participated in the “Mediate First” Pledge Event 2023 organised by the Department of Justice to promote and develop the wider use of mediation to resolve disputes.

Under the theme “Mediate First – Let’s Do This Together”, the event comprised a full-day forum with speakers from different expertise to illustrate the use of mediation in our everyday disputes, a drama to show how mediation can be used to resolve community, family, and peer disputes, a Star Logo Award Presentation and “Mediate First” Pledge Signing Ceremony, and a Mediation Information Fair.

In the photo from left to right:
Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM
Mr Iu Ting-kwok (TK), MH, member of the Board of Directors of eBRAM
Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications of eBRAM

The webinar organized by The Law Society of Hong Kong on "Enhancing legal services through LawTech” held on 18 January 2023 attracted over 140 participants.

Moderated by the Vice President of the Law Society and Director of eBRAM Mr Amirali Nasir MH JP, Ms Emmanuelle Pui-Ki Ta, CEO of eBRAM, and Mr Albert Leung, Chief Technology Officer of eBRAM, apprised the participants of the latest development of LawTech services that eBRAM offers to streamline the daily work of legal professionals and the benefits of using the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform.

“Tele-everything” is no longer fictitious after the COVID-19 epidemic, which changed our mode of living.

Our Chief Technology Officer, Mr Albert Leung, was invited to share the update of eBRAM and the benefit of LawTech services at the seminar organized by Cyberport Hong Kong entitled “A Word From The Experts Speakers Series: Digital Marketing access to GBA” on 16 January 2023. Audiences expressed great interest in the benefits of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) services and the upcoming Deal-making platform offered by eBRAM.

Participants were glad to know more about ODR and the role played by eBRAM at the post-COVID era.

The webinar organized by Hong Kong Trade Development Council entitled “How to Resolve Cross-Border Business’ Disputes Effectively” was concluded with great success on 12 January 2023. The audiences shown keen interest in the benefits of the Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platforms offered by eBRAM.

Our speakers, Mr Ting-kwok (TK) Iu, MH and Ms Rachel So, shared their invaluable insights on how our ODR platforms can resolve cross-border business disputes effectively and efficiently, and the crucial tactics to deal with business disputes.


Mr Iu Ting-kwok, MH, member of the board of directors of eBRAM and Ms Rachel So, director of Marketing and Communications, shared at the joint event with HKTDC T-Box.

eBRAM was proud to be the technical partner by providing our home-grown video conferencing system and e-Signature platform at the virtual signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding for the administrative arrangements for collaboration relating to private international law and international commercial law between the Department of Justice and International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) at the Former French Mission Building on 27 May 2022.

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, signed a MoU with UNIDROIT at a Virtual Signing Ceremony supported by eBRAM's LawTech services

Organised by the Department of Justice and Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Mediation Conference 2022 has given a perfect closing to the Mediation Week 2022 on 6 May 2022.

Titled "Mediate First: Harmony from Now to Beyond", Ms Emmanuelle Pui-Ki Ta, CEO of eBRAM, was privileged to join the conference with distinguished speakers including Mr Adrian Lai, Mr Ronald Sum and Mr Dieter Yih for a panel discussion on "Mediating Disputes during Covid-19" and shared how to harness LawTech in Financial Disputes under the Digital New Normal.

Ms Emmanuelle Pui-Ki Ta in the panel discussion on "Mediating Disputes during Covid-19" and shared how to harness LawTech in Financial Disputes under the Digital New Normal.	Ms Emmanuelle Pui-Ki Ta in the Mediation Conference with distinguished speakers Mr Ronald Sum, Mr Adrian Lai and Mr Dieter Yih (from left to right).

Jointly organised by eBRAM and The Law Society of Hong Kong, the webinar “Transforming the Legal Profession Through Technology” was successfully concluded on 7 March 2022 with the support of the Department of Justice.

In the webinar, Ms Pui-Ki Emmanuelle Ta, CEO of eBRAM, shared our latest LawTech services, including the just-launched Hong Kong Legal Cloud Portal, and how they could help legal professionals build agility in the digital new normal.

eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (“eBRAM”) successfully concluded its first-ever Virtual Open Day entitled “Building Agility in the Digital New Normal” on 13 December 2021.

Dr Thomas So, JP - Chairman of eBRAM giving Welcome Remark	Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, the Secretary for Justice, giving Keynote Speech through video recording

Ms Kim M. Rooney (left), and Mr Nick Chan, MH, JP (right) in the first-panel discussion	(From Left) Ms Pui-ki Emmanuelle Ta , Dr James Ding, and Prof. Zhao Yun attended the second-panel discussion

eBRAM is honored to be one of the organisers, alongside with the Department of Justice and Asian Academy of International Law, of the Side Event of the 59th Annual Session of The Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) Annual Meeting on Dispute Settlement – Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) held on 30 November 2021.

Video interview with Prof. Dr Mohamed Abdel Wahab (left) and Mr. Robert Rhoda (right) on ODR development	Ms Pui-ki Emmanuelle Ta, CEO of eBRAM, shared her insights on ODR and eBRAM’s ODR development in the event	(From left) Distinguished speakers Mr John Rhie, Ms Pui-ki Emmanuelle Ta and Mr Robert Rhoda in the panel discussion

With the eBRAM’s technical support and advanced video conferencing technology, the 19th Red Cross International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot, organized by International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and Hong Kong Red Cross, had been held successfully on 11-14 March 2021 and completed with an online prize presentation ceremony on the final day. Judges awarded the winning team, Victoria University of Wellington - Te Herenga Waka, for their outstanding performance among 26 teams in the competition and their efforts to promote International Humanitarian Law, which is a set of rules that seeks humanitarian reasons to limit the effects of armed conflict on non-combatants.

eBRAM is proud to be the technology partner of the 15th ICC Mediation Competition hosted by International Chamber of Commerce - Hong Kong (ICC-HK) and the Department of Justice of the HKSAR Government from 11 to 14 November 2020.

The online platform supported by eBRAM accommodated 20 teams of 7 jurisdictions. An opening ceremony was held on 11 November 2020 at eBRAM’s Central office, where Mr Ronald Sum, Co-Chairmen and ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition - Hong Kong Organising Committee, delivered an opening remarks to all participating students, followed by a video welcoming speech from Honourable Ms Teresa Cheng GBS, SC, JP, the Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR government. 

The Hon Mr Justice Coleman, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court, and Mr J.P. Lee, SBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce – Hong Kong were also present to share their joy and affirmations to the competition and Hong Kong as a leading hub of mediation and arbitration in Asia Pacific region, attributed by the world-acclaimed rule of law system under the Basic Law implementing in Hong Kong.

Organiser: Vis East Moot Foundation Ltd

Role of eBRAM: Technical partner

The eBRAM team technically supported the virtual format of the 17th Willem C Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VEM) amidst the COVID-19 epidemic.

The trusted online platform supported by eBRAM accommodated 71 teams of 21 jurisdictions and about 250 arbitrators of 52 jurisdictions to take part in the moot.

Organiser: The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (East Asia Branch)

Role of eBRAM: Presenter

Mr Daniel Lam, SBS, JP, delivered a presentation to about 50 members CIArb on the latest progress of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in Asia and the inception of eBRAM, highlighting unique features of the eBRAM Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform which is set to launch in 2020.

Mr Lam also responded to questions raised from the CIArb members and elaborated how the eBRAM Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) process works and its rules, fees, and selection criteria of the eBRAM panels of neutrals.

Organiser: The University of Macau

Role of eBRAM: Presenter

The conference explored the way forward in promoting alternative dispute resolution, especially in the context of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as the fast-growing digital economy. The eBRAM representatives joined the event and presented on the future of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and how the new eBRAM online platform can enable an efficient and legally binding approach for MSMEs to resolve business-related disputes.

Mr Daniel Lam, SBS, JP, CEO of eBRAM delivered a speech at the 3rd UNCITRAL Asia Pacific Judicial Summit 2019 jointly organised by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the Department of Justice of HKSAR, and the Asian Academy of International Law Limited (AAIL).

Mr Daniel Lam, SBS, JP, CEO of eBRAM visited the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and exchanged ideas on various topics relating to Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) with Dr Li Hu, Deputy Secretary-General of CIETAC, in particular on how to promote together the use of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) in the region.

The eBRAM delegation visited the Beijing Internet Court and had a meeting with Mr She Guiqing, Deputy President of the Beijing Internet Court.

The eBRAM delegation visited City Development Law Firm in Shanghai.

The eBRAM delegation joined the APEC Business Advisory Council Meeting held in Hangzhou during 22-25 July 2019.

Mr Daniel Lam, SBS, JP, delivered a presentation on the key advantages of conducting arbitration and mediation in the cyber space and how Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) facilitates MSMEs’ access to justice. His presentation was warmly received by business leaders from APEC economies.

Mr Daniel Lam, SBS, JP, CEO of eBRAM, attended the workshop on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) organised by the APEC Economic Committee's Friends of the Chair on Strengthening Economic and Legal Infrastructure (SELI).