Chiann BAO

Chiann is a Chartered Arbitrator and CEDR-accredited mediator with over 20 years of experience working in London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. Qualified in New York, Hong Kong and England and Wales, Chiann has served as arbitrator in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations in nearly 100 arbitrations with a total value of over 40 billion US dollars in dispute.

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Chiann’s arbitration experience covers various sectors, including general corporate, joint venture and shareholder disputes, private equity, intellectual property and licensing, pharmaceutical, crypto disputes (assets, mining, technology), media and telecommunications, technology, construction and infrastructure projects, energy and resources, agency and distributorship agreements, sale of goods and general commercial disputes.

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Prior to becoming an independent arbitrator, Chiann worked in private practice (in New York and Hong Kong) where she focused on complex international arbitration and litigation, acting as counsel for corporates and states in a range of disputes in various sectors.

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Chiann holds leadership positions worldwide and currently serves as a Co-Chair of the IBA’s International Arbitration Committee and is a member of the ICCA Governing Board. She is a past Vice President of the ICC Court of Arbitration. From 2010 to 2018, Chiann served as the Secretary General and then as a Council Member of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre during which time it was ranked the most improved institution worldwide. She also holds positions on the Board of Directors of Maxwell Chambers and the Global Advisory Board of the New York International Arbitration Centre.

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A regular speaker and lecturer, Chiann was awarded the Global Arbitration Review “best lecture” for her Proskauer Rose Lecture in 2022. She is an adjunct associate professor at NUS Faculty of Law and a member of the permanent faculty at the Sciences Po Law School. She also currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and is an Honorary Senior Fellow of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. Chiann authors and edits articles and books and serves as a member of editorial boards of publications published by Oxford University Press and Kluwer.

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Regularly ranked by Who’s Who Legal and Chambers, Chiann is recognised as one of the most highly ranked Who’s Who Legal Global Elite Leaders and one of the most in-demand arbitrators globally by Chambers & Partners. She is described as a “force of nature”, a “real asset”, and a “brilliant lawyer and arbitrator with vast experience working on complex commercial and investment disputes across Asia.” Peers further describe her as “meticulous, smart, well-prepared and efficient” as well as “very knowledgeable, diligent and a real diplomat.” Chambers Asia Pacific recognises her as one of the most in demand arbitrators with a “deliberative skill, intellectual engagement, thoroughness and formidable presence,” and adds: “[s]he over-performs in everything she does, and it’s rare for a major arbitration matter in Asia to be discussed without her name being mentioned.”