Professor Edward Liu is an internationally recognized lawyer, arbitrator, and mediator with extensive experience in cross-border commercial dispute resolution, international arbitration, maritime law, and legal policy development. He currently serves as Partner at Haiwen & Partners LLP.

Qualified as a Solicitor of Hong Kong SAR, England & Wales, and the British Virgin Islands, and as a lawyer in the People’s Republic of China, Professor Liu bridges multiple legal systems with a career that embodies the integration of Common Law and Civil Law jurisdictions. His diverse practice covers international arbitration, shipping and commodities disputes, restructuring and insolvency, commercial litigation, and digital asset disputes across Asia and Europe.

In July 2022, Professor Liu was awarded the Medal of Honour (MH) by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for his exceptional contributions to Hong Kong’s legal, arbitration, and dispute resolution landscape, particularly in the field of transport and maritime law.

He has been appointed as arbitrator in over 50 international matters, including under the HKIAC, LMAA, SCIA, HKMAG, DIAC, and SCMA rules, and has rendered more than 25 arbitral awards, many involving novel questions of cross-border enforcement and maritime law. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and serves on the arbitration panels of over a dozen leading international and regional institutions.

In addition to his legal practice, Professor Liu plays a significant public policy role in Hong Kong’s legal development. He is a member of multiple statutory and advisory bodies of the Hong Kong SAR Government, contributing to law reform, international legal services advancement, and the maritime and arbitration sectors. His current public appointments include Chief Executive’s Policy Unit Expert Group, Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Expert Committee, Advisory Body on Third Party Funding of Arbitration and Mediation, Working Group on Arbitration Law Reform, Expert Advisory Group on Legal and Dispute Resolution Services, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board.

Internationally, Professor Liu also serves as the Principal Representative of the International Chamber of Shipping (China), liaising with Chinese authorities and international organisations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Professor Liu also holds concurrent academic positions as Visiting Professor at Shanghai Maritime University and Visiting Professor at Tianjin Foreign Studies University, contributing to research and teaching in international commercial law and dispute resolution. In addition, he is Editorial Board Member of Lloyd’s Shipping & Trade Law (UK) and a Special Contributor to Arbitration Law Monthly (UK).