Shipping and international trade are highly competitive and litigious business. During his employment, Danny was heavily involved in arbitrations, mediations and settlement negotiations. He handled arbitrations by himself or through instructing lawyers. As a natural growth of his career, he started part-time arbitrating in 2001 when he received his first appointment from a shipowner outside Hong Kong. He now arbitrates in Hong Kong, London and Singapore and accepts appointment on ad-hoc and institutional basis. He has experience as arbitrator in arbitrations conducted under the following rules and procedures:

 

• The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules

• The London Court of International Arbitration Rules

• The International Chamber of Commerce Rules of Arbitration

• The Singapore International Arbitration Centre Rules

• The London Maritime Arbitrators Association Terms

• The Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group Terms

• The Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration Rules

• The UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules

• The AAA's Commercial Arbitration Rules

 

Highlights of Danny’s experience in ADR:

 

• Acted as the party in a charterparty dispute concerning the owners’ claim for about USD 40 million against the default charterers. The charterers contended that there was no binding contract between the owners and charterers. The main dispute was heard in London by a three-man arbitral tribunal with satellite actions taken by the parties in South Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore.

 

• Acted as the party and gave oral witness evidence in a London arbitration concerning the owners’ claim for about USD 30 million as damages against the charterers for repudiatory breach of the charterparty.

 

• Acted as the party and factual witness in a London arbitration in relation to the owners’ claim for about USD 18 million against the charterers for repudiation of the charterparty. The dispute concerned about the validity of the anti-technicality notice. It was settled on the eve of the hearing.

 

• Acted as the party in relation to technical and legal disputes under shipbuilding contracts, resulting in cancellation, negotiations and arbitration. Danny orchestrated from start to finish.  

 

• Acted as presiding arbitrator in a hearing held in Hong Kong concerning a guarantee claim under the shipbuilding contract. Danny drafted the awards.

 

• Acted as the third arbitrator in an arbitration concerning a re-sale of a newbuilding under the Norwegian Sale Form. Danny drafted the award.

 

• Acted as co-arbitrator in hearings held in London concerning the termination of the shipbuilding contract where complicated technical and legal issues were heard. Danny provided his dissenting opinions.

 

• Acted as co-arbitrator in a hearing held in London in relation to the charterers' right to cancel the charterparty.

 

• Acted as presiding arbitrator in a hearing held in Hong Kong concerning the cancellation of the shipbuilding contract where various types of delays and the prevention principle were considered. Danny drafted the awards.

 

• Acted as co-arbitrator in hearings held in Hong Kong concerning a multi-million dollar dispute over the termination of the contract of affreightment. Danny drafted the awards.

 

• Acted as co-arbitrator in a hearing held in Hong Kong concerning a dispute over the termination of the voyage charterparty where contradictory evidence from different witnesses was heard. Danny drafted the award.

 

• Acted as co-arbitrator in a hearing held in Hong Kong concerning the termination of the charterparty due to the condition of the vessel's cranes. Danny drafted the award.

 

• Acted as presiding arbitrator in a hearing held in Hong Kong concerning the carriage of nickel ore. Danny drafted the award.

 

• Acted as co-arbitrator in a New York arbitration conducted under the AAA's Commercial Arbitration Rules concerning a multi-million dollar general commercial dispute arising from a license agreement.

 

• Acted as co-arbitrator in a Hong Kong arbitration in relation to a multi-million dollar dispute arising from a shareholders agreement.

 

• Acted as sole and co-arbitrator in a number of sale of goods arbitrations in relation to disputes concerning quality, non-delivery of cargo, cancellation of contract, failure to open a letter of credit and assessment of damage.

 

• Acted for the parties in two mediations, one held in London and the other in Hong Kong, in relation to sale of goods and charterparty disputes.

 

• Acted as mediator in mediations conducted in Hong Kong.

 

In addition to his practical legal and commercial experience, Danny is a co-author of the Chinese book “仲裁法 – 從1996年英國仲裁法到國際商務仲裁” (Arbitration Law – from The Arbitration Act 1996 to international commercial arbitration). It was published by the Law Press – China in 2006.