Specialisation as the New Seniority: Reflections on the 2025 HKIAC Report

𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀: 𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗞𝗜𝗔𝗖 2025 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 📈

The HKIAC released its 2025 report this week, and while the HK$126.2 billion total amount in dispute is a testament to the center's strength, the data reveals a deeper shift in how tribunals are being formed.

I’ve been reviewing the figures at Bai Acceleration, and I'm struck by how much the "𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀" has moved into the spotlight. It’s no longer just a secondary tier; it’s becoming the market’s engine room.
What stood out to me:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁: Party designations from the 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 have risen significantly—from 7.8% in 2022 to 23.6% in 2025. This suggests that when complexity increases, parties are looking for specific technical agility over traditional seniority.

𝗔 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗹: HKIAC's own direct appointments from the 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁 (51.1%) now notably outpace those from the senior 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 (32.4%).

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆: With 47.7% of cases involving multiple parties or contracts, the demand for "𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀" is higher than ever.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: 35.6% of party-designated arbitrators last year were "𝗻𝗲𝘄" to the rotation (not appointed in the last 3 years).

The "𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁" is gradually making way for a more meritocratic, specialized selection process.

I’ve shared a more detailed breakdown of these 2026 trends in the article below.