(Hong Kong, 14 December 2023) eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”) held the official launch of the Deal-making Portal (“DMP”) today with the support of 15 Strategic Partners, and one Supporting Organisation vowed to promote Hong Kong’s advantages to consolidate its role as an ideal deal-making hub.

eBRAM has developed an inclusive online deal-making platform, in line with the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the digital economy. This platform is designed to facilitate enterprises, particularly SMEs, seeking to expand their horizons and explore new opportunities through a secure, end-to-end, and accessible avenue. It also provides access to a range of professional services, such as legal, accounting, and tax advisory support, to address any potential challenges that may arise during cross-border transactions.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Dr Thomas So JP, the Chairman of eBRAM, thanked the Department of Justice, Strategic Partners and Supporting Organisations for their support of the DMP and said that “Hong Kong's geographical advantages, world-class professionals, free economic system, and sound rule of law foundation make it a unique place to serve as a Super Connector, a Super Value-adder, a Value Creator and also a Deal-maker. As a pioneer in LawTech, eBRAM is committed to supporting the work of the legal and dispute resolution industry by using technology and creating a safe, secure and cost-effective platform to facilitate transactions. In designing the platform, eBRAM considered the needs of professional service providers and hoped that they could use the platform to connect with their counterparts in the Mainland and around the world and facilitate collaboration.” 

eBRAM Vice Chairman and Deal-making Working Group Chairman Mr Ronald Sum JP noted that “this initiative represents a significant step forward in supporting the growth and development of local businesses and professional services, which would benefit the long-term economic development. As such, we are excited to work with chambers of commerce and professional bodies to contribute to strengthening Hong Kong's status as an international financial and legal services centre.”

In terms of the development of dispute resolution, Dr So shared that eBRAM has signed a memorandum of understanding with five dispute resolution institutions in the Greater Bay Area (“GBA”) to jointly establish a collaborative platform to provide an avenue for information exchange and collaboration, with an aspiration to extend the initiative to cover the whole GBA.

About the DMP -

Designed to facilitate cross-border transactions, the DMP is equipped with functions such as a directory of business organisations, deal flow management, legally binding e-signature services, and e-signatures with mutual recognition certificates applicable to transactions with Mainland companies.

eBRAM DMP Strategic Partner:

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

Supporting Organisation：

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce

About eBRAM

eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (“eBRAM”) is committed to enhancing Hong Kong’s arbitration and mediation services while building capacity to meet the growing demand for online dispute resolution and deal-making services across borders. eBRAM achieves this by leveraging innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cloud.

Our primary objective is to establish Hong Kong as centre for LawTech and for international dispute resolution. To accomplish this goal, eBRAM actively collaborates with global organisations and participating economies, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Belt-and-Road countries and others.

(Hong Kong, 27 October 2023) eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”) welcomes new initiatives outlined in the Policy Address 2023 to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international legal services platform for deal-making and dispute resolution and in Asia Pacific Region (“APAC”) and support Small and Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”) in exploring e-commerce business opportunities, particularly in the Mainland.

These initiatives include extending the adoption of Hong Kong law, encouraging Mainland enterprises to utilise Hong Kong’s dispute resolution services,  deepening the mediation culture within the local private sector, and setting up a dedicated fund for SMEs to apply for the implementation of e-commerce projects. This will equip SMEs with the necessary capabilities to expand their businesses effectively.

Furthermore, the Government aims to enhance cooperation with the Mainland, including facilitating cross-boundary data flow within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (“GBA”) and streamlining compliance arrangements for the flow of personal data from the Mainland to Hong Kong on a pilot basis. eBRAM supports these initiatives as part of its commitment to ensuring compliance with relevant regulations on cross-border data transfers, particularly from the Mainland to Hong Kong. eBRAM will closely monitor and adapt to the evolving compliance arrangements in the GBA, upholding the highest standards in data protection and privacy while facilitating effective dispute resolution services.

Dr Thomas So JP, Chairman of eBRAM, said, “eBRAM was founded to promote online dispute resolution for mediation and arbitration and a LawTech service provider to serve primarily the local community, the GBA and also the users in the region and beyond. eBRAM is working on a collaborative platform to provide a venue for dispute resolution centres to exchange intelligence and promote collaborations. We are delighted to see the support from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to the legal and dispute resolution sectors. In response to the support to SMEs, eBRAM launched a Deal-making Portal (“DMP”), an all-inclusive e-commerce platform tailor-made to facilitate cross-border transactions and assist SMEs in exploring potential collaborations. eBRAM continues its efforts in developing LawTech services and advocating the advantages of ODR, supporting the local legal profession and SMEs.”

eBRAM appreciates the Government’s effort to develop Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre. It is worth mentioning that eBRAM’s DMP is exploring the feasibility of IP trading as part of its initiatives.

About eBRAM

eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (“eBRAM”) is committed to enhancing Hong Kong’s arbitration and mediation services, while building capacity to meet the growing demand for online dispute resolution and deal-making services across borders. eBRAM achieves this by leveraging innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and cloud.

Our primary objective is to establish Hong Kong as center for LawTech and for international dispute resolution. To accomplish this goal, eBRAM actively collaborates with global organisations and participating economies, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Belt-and-Road countries and others.

At eBRAM, we prioritise cybersecurity and data privacy, and take every necessary measure to ensure the security of information during its transfer and storage on our platform. Safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of user information is of utmost importance to us.

(Hong Kong, 28 October 2022) eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”) is pleased to announce the official launch of the eBRAM Online Arbitration platform and eBRAM Online Mediation platform on 24 October 2022, aiming to offer an affordable, reliable and secure platform for parties to resolve disputes amicably by mediation or by arbitration.

Mr Horace Cheung, SBS, JP, Deputy Secretary for Justice, said, “The launch of the eBRAM Online Arbitration and Mediation platforms brings a paradigm shift in the traditional dispute resolution practice and marks an important milestone for Hong Kong’s ODR development. The ODR platforms operated by eBRAM would not only enhance Hong Kong’s LawTech development capacity, but also further strengthen its position as an international hub for legal, deal-making and dispute resolution services.”

eBRAM’s Online Arbitration platform and Online Mediation platform provide end-to-end digital experience to parties by integrating the latest technologies, including blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), into the platforms. Other self-developed features and the expedited rules helped to streamline the dispute resolution process, significantly reducing time and costs.

Dr Thomas So, Chairman of eBRAM, said, “eBRAM has a clear vision to contribute to the consolidation of Hong Kong’s role as one of the world’s leading LawTech hubs as well as uphold the rule of law. With this in mind, we will continue to foster the development of the global ODR profession and support cross-border trade development in Greater Bay Area and beyond through various initiatives.”

As a LawTech centre and ODR provider, eBRAM will continue its efforts in developing LawTech services to support cross-border business trade and enhance work efficiency for the legal and dispute resolution communities. eBRAM plans to introduce an online deal-making platform towards the end of the year, to ensure that it is the leading one-stop-shop online platform for deal-making, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution.

(Hong Kong, 19 October 20222) eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”) welcomed new initiatives in the Policy Address 2022 to consolidate Hong Kong’s strengths as an international legal services platform for deal-making and dispute resolution and promotion of the wider use of LawTech.

These initiatives include attracting more international dispute resolution institutions to set up offices in Hong Kong, enhancing promotions to showcase Hong Kong’s rule of law and the diversified legal and dispute resolution services’ capacities through overseas visits led by the Department of Justice, and strengthening interaction with the GBA with one of the initiatives to establish an online mediation platform dedicated to dispute resolution in the GBA.

Dr Thomas So JP, Chairman of eBRAM, said, “as a forerunner of LawTech and an online dispute resolution provider, we are delighted to see the support from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in the development of legal and dispute resolution sectors. In response to the bourgeoning demands for LawTech services, eBRAM continues its efforts in developing LawTech services and advocating the advantages of ODR, supporting the local legal profession, and contributing to consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a LawTech hub and an international dispute resolution centre.”

eBRAM appreciates the Government’s effort to develop Hong Kong into a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre. It is noted that eBRAM is currently developing an end-to-end digital platform to facilitate deal-making, including IP trading, to be softly launched towards the end of the year.

Media enquiries:

Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: +852 9437 1646E
mail: rachel.so@ebram.org

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager
Phone: +852 3792 0981
Email: elaine.ching@ebram.org

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC (right), and the Chairman of the eBRAM, Dr Thomas So (left), sign a memorandum of understanding to engage eBRAM as a service provider of the Hong Kong Legal Cloud services.	(From left) The Commissioner of the Inclusive Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Office of the Department of Justice, Dr James Ding; The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC; Chairman of eBRAM, Dr Thomas So; and the Chief Executive Officer of eBRAM, Ms Pui-ki Emmanuelle Ta, at the signing ceremony

About eBRAM

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager
Phone: +852 3792 0981
Email: elaine.ching@ebram.org

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About eBRAM

Media enquiries:

Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: +852 9437 1646
Email: rachel.so@ebram.org

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager
Phone: +852 3792 0981
Email: elaine.ching@ebram.org

About eBRAM

Media enquiries:

Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: +852 9437 1646
Email: rachel.so@ebram.org

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager
Phone: +852 3792 0981
Email: elaine.ching@ebram.org

About eBRAM

Media enquiries:

Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications
Phone: +852 9437 1646
Email: rachel.so@ebram.org

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager
Phone: +852 3844 5230
Email: elaine.ching@ebram.org

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About eBRAM

Media enquiries:

Ms Rachel So, Director of Marketing and Communications

Phone: +852 9437 1646

Email: rachel.so@ebram.org

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager

Phone: +852 3844 5230

Email: elaine.ching@ebram.org

eBRAM strives to develop a state-of-the-art and comprehensive online legal platform by rolling out more Law Tech services, including smart contract, AI legal translation, and legal cloud, etc. to consolidate Hong Kong's position as a LawTech hub.


Photos:


The Hon Teresa CHENG Yeuk-wah, GBS, SC, JP, the Secretary for Justice gave an opening remark in the ceremony


Virtual signing ceremony of MoU between HKSAR Department of Justice and UNIDROIT

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About eBRAM

Media enquiries:

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager

Phone: +852 3844 5230

Email: info@ebram.org

(Hong Kong, 5 May 2021) eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (“eBRAM”) is pleased to announce the signing of the supplemental memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) with the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) on 4 May 2021 that affirmed the commitment of both organisations to support the development of online dispute resolution (“ODR”) and deal-making in Hong Kong.

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC, signed the supplemental MoU with Dr Thomas So JP, the Chairman of eBRAM, for supporting the development, enhancement and initial operation of eBRAM platform, enabling the provision of efficient, cost-effective and secure online deal-making and dispute resolution services for parties in any part of the world.

Dr So said, “Hong Kong is one of the few pioneers in LawTech development worldwide. With the support of DOJ, eBRAM will continue to optimise our ODR and deal-making platform and enhance our services to our users with higher price-performance ratio. Through these efforts, we believe that we can distinguish ourselves from our peers and continue to contribute to the reinforcement of Hong Kong's position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre and LawTech hub.”

eBRAM plans to roll out the dealing-making and APEC ODR platforms and more LawTech services later this year, including secured e-signing, AI legal translation, legal cloud, etc., to better capitalise on the opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Greater Bay Area Development Plan, and further promote Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services to APEC countries.

Photos:

The Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC and Chairman of eBRAM, Dr Thomas So JP, signed a supplemental memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday
Ms Teresa Cheng (second right), Dr Thomas So (second left), the Commissioner of Inclusive Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Office of the Department of Justice, Dr James Ding (first right), and member of eBRAM's Board of Directors Ms Kim Rooney (first left) at the signing ceremony

About eBRAM

eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (“eBRAM”) tasks itself to elevate Hong Kong’s arbitration and mediation services, and build capacity to meet the rapidly expanding demand for online dispute resolution and deal-making services across the borders, by utilizing innovative technologies to enable the city to become a LawTech centre and hub for international business dispute avoidance and resolution, and collaborate with global organizations and participating economies such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Belt-and-Road countries and beyond.

eBRAM has developed its platform leveraging latest technologies including artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud and soft robotics. Cybersecurity and data privacy are our top priority to ensure the protection of information in the eBRAM platform and communications.

Media enquiries:

Ms Elaine Ching, Marketing Manager

Phone: +852 3844 5230

Email: info@ebram.org

(Hong Kong, 21 April 2021) eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (“eBRAM”) today announced that it has conducted an open recruitment process, and that changes to its organisational structure and senior management will add strength to eBRAM as it commences the next phase of its development of LawTech and Online Dispute Resolution (“ODR”) operations.

With effect from 15 May 2021, four of the current “start-up phase” management team will step down upon completion of their fixed term contracts. The incoming team comprises seasoned professionals in dispute resolution, information technology and marketing and communications. They will continue to contribute to Hong Kong’s role as a leading ODR and deal-making hub, and LawTech centre.

Dr Thomas So, the Chairman of eBRAM acknowledged the contribution made by the outgoing members of the management team since 2019 in eBRAM’s initial phase and thanked them.

The Board of Directors will render their full support to the incoming management members and the current eBRAM management team to ensure a smooth transition.

For any enquiries, please contact Ms Erica Chan (Email: info@ebram.org or Phone: 9568-3709).

Dr. Thomas S.T. So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM

Recently, local media quoted from the news article “Companies consider writing Hong Kong out of legal contracts” published by Financial Times on 31 January 2021, claiming that lawyers at 10 international law firms received enquiries from companies on considering excluding Hong Kong as an arbitration venue from legal contracts over concerns China’s policy may affect the rule of law the Hong Kong SAR. The Secretary for Justice blogged and emphasized that Hong Kong will continue to serve as an international legal hub, and hoped we will join hands through concerned efforts to promote and explain any misconceptions and misunderstanding in Hong Kong’s arbitration and legal services.

As an arbitrator, a partner of an international law firm, and the Chairman of an online dispute resolution body, I believe that the article is not entirely accurate and misunderstands the development of Hong Kong’s legal services.

Hong Kong‘s return to stability facilitates the development of arbitration and legal services

With the resumption to stability from last year, more foreign companies started to resume economic activities with the Mainland and other areas through Hong Kong. As such, demands on Hong Kong’s legal services, including arbitration and mediation services, have been increasing day by day.

New opportunities for Hong Kong legal service

Hong Kong embraces an independent legal system and an advanced legal framework for arbitration and dispute resolution.  With the implementation of the “Belt and Road” initiative and development of the Greater Bay Area, interactions among the Mainland and other economies become highly active.  This has brought new and important opportunities for Hong Kong legal services including arbitration and mediation services.

In the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao GBA, Hong Kong is earmarked as the international legal service and dispute resolution service centre.

Investment arbitration cases usually require effective interim measures for the protection of assets and evidence. According to the “Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings by the Courts of the Mainland and of the HKSAR” which took effect on 1 October 2019, a party in a Hong Kong arbitral proceeding can apply for protection measures to the court of the Mainland before an arbitration award is rendered.  Hong Kong is currently the only common law jurisdiction globally which has signed such arrangement with the Mainland.  This unique advantage has further alleviated Hong Kong’s position as the bridge for investment activities for overseas enterprises in Greater Bay Area and the Mainland.  On the past few months, I have already received a number of enquiries from foreign investors on how to invest in the Greater Bay Area through Hong Kong.

In 2017, Hong Kong signed the “Free Trade Agreement” and related “Investment Agreement” with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  These agreements take effect from 2019, covering collaborations in service trading, investment, economy and technology, as well as dispute resolution and related areas. All members of ASEAN are economies along the “Road and Belt” route and play important roles.

Hong Kong’s impeccable commercial environment and well-established legal system attract many enterprises from ASEAN countries to establish their presence and start their business through Hong Kong.  All these new developments have brought new opportunities for Hong Kong’s legal services.

Develop Hong Kong’s LawTech services

The “Chief Executive’s 2020 Policy Address” has recognized the importance of law technology development.  Following the launch of the “LawTech Fund” and “COVID-19 Online Dispute Resolution Scheme”, the Department of Justice is actively exploring the development of the Hong Kong Legal Cloud service.   These visionary policies and measures are extremely important for alleviating Hong Kong’s legal service level and maintaining its leading position in Asia Pacific region, which are also widely supported and well-acclaimed among the legal and commercial sectors.

Hong Kong as the international legal services and online dispute resolution centre

To conclude, Hong Kong has been playing an important role in legal services provision in the country’s development policies.  Hong Kong continues to refine its well-established legal and advanced arbitration systems, and strives to developing online dispute resolution and LawTech services. These new developments further strengthen Hong Kong’s irreplaceable status as the dispute resolution and international legal service hub.

There had been rumours about companies considering excluding Hong Kong as an arbitration seat from legal contracts over concerns Hong Kong’s handover before and after the return of sovereignty to China in 1997.  Despite such rumours, Hong Kong has proved its strength and value through continuous enhancement in its arbitral system and legal framework in the past 20 years after the handover, and tops other key cities in Asia with its ranking in global judicial independence as well as the number of disputes handled.   In light of the above factors, I firmly believe that Hong Kong will continue to lead in the  international legal services and dispute resolution services space.

The eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre (“eBRAM”) welcomes and supports the initiative of the Chief Executive’s 2020 Policy Address to explore the development of the Hong Kong Legal Cloud (HKLC) and other LawTech initiatives.

With the advancement of technology, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) has undergone rapid development in recent years. The outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic has further accelerated the use of ODR globally. We observe that many ODR proceedings are conducted via common and open technologies, and data transmission and storage of these proceedings are generally difficult to be tracked and traced.

We are pleased to learn that the Government recognize the importance of data protection and decided to build a state-of-the-art HKLC with advanced information security technology. We believe that the HKLC will address the increasing needs for secure, reliable, and affordable data storage services for the local legal and dispute resolution sector.

Dr Thomas So, JP, Chairman of eBRAM said, “as a stakeholder in ODR community, eBRAM, with its current team, will fully support the Government’s initiatives in developing the Hong Kong Legal Cloud. We believe that it will reinforce Hong Kong as a hub for international legal services.”

As an ODR service provider, we emphasize data protection in the provision of our ODR services. Thanks to the Government’s generous support, eBRAM has become the first and currently the only institution in Hong Kong that has the capacity to develop technologies locally dedicated to online deal-making and dispute resolution platform, including video-conferencing technology dedicated to online mediation meeting and arbitration hearing.  All information submitted to the eBRAM platform is stored in a secured and private cloud in Hong Kong managed by eBRAM and protected by Hong Kong law. Our platform addresses the concerns of those who wish to have a higher level of security of data protection in ODR proceedings.

We have applied our ODR platform for the implementation of COVID-19 ODR Scheme under the anti-epidemic fund 2.0, and it operates very well, serving parties inside and outside of Hong Kong and with enhanced cyber security and privacy protection measures.

eBRAM looks forward to working closer with the Government in developing the HKLC and other initiatives for enhancing Hong Kong’s status as a leading hub for LawTech and dispute resolution services.

About eBRAM

eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre Limited (“eBRAM”) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2018 under the laws in Hong Kong, supported by the Asian Academy of International Law Limited, Hong Kong Bar Association, Law Society of Hong Kong, and Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre Limited.

We are committed to provide a secure, innovative and comprehensive ODR platform, which is low-cost and affordable for MSMEs, thereby facilitating their business operation and also achieving “better access to justice”.

eBRAM has also been actively participating in seminars and workshop organised by APEC Economic Committee, contributing to the development of the ODR Framework and the workplan for promoting the adoption of ODR for or developing an APEC-wide cooperative ODR framework for MSMEs in B2B transactions and using modern technology for dispute resolution and electronic agreement management.

eBRAM headquarters in the West Wing of Justice Place which is part of the Legal Hub where houses a number of reputable international and regional organisations specialising in legal or dispute resolution services. eBRAM also has a branch office in Cyberport which is an innovative digital community in Hong Kong.

For further information of eBRAM, please visit www.ebram.org.

Media Contact:

Ms Elaine Ching

Email: pr@ebram.org