Paul is previous winner of AsiaLaw’s Hong Kong Disputes Star of the Year. He is in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame and is joint coordinator of King & Wood Mallesons’ worldwide arbitration practice. He is ranked by AsiaLaw as an Elite Practitioner for construction and dispute resolution.
The Legal 500 describes Paul as: “Hong Kong’s pre-eminent construction lawyer, with unparalleled knowledge of construction law and a vast wealth of experience in East Asia and the Pacific, Paul Starr always delivers rock-solid legal advice and exceptional strategic insight with a canny knack of regularly identifying winning strategies … He is able to inform and guide preparation of the supporting technical and financial analyses and he is excellent in marshalling the required high-quality technical resources, both in-house in the client and from external sources”.
The Global Arbitration Review adds: ‘Simply the best lawyer for dispute resolution in construction and industrials in the East Asia and Pacific region”.
Chambers Asia Pacific cites that "Paul Starr is widely acknowledged as the leading dispute resolution practitioner in Hong Kong, China and the Pacific region." The same source reports: "He is masterly in assembling and leading a team that presses all the right buttons and delivers superior outcomes for the client”.
Chambers Greater China Region Guide quotes a client appreciating him “as the linchpin for the firm's successful integration of its PRC-based dispute resolution operations”. Chambers quotes clients as saying: “his knowledge of disputes is extraordinary, and his track record speaks for itself. What really amazed me is that though he is so senior on the team, he focuses on details to an amazing degree”. Another client remarked: “He instinctively knows what a client wants and delivers tremendous results.”
Who’s Who Legal Construction lists 799 lawyers from nearly 400 firms and describes Paul as the “go-to name on construction and infrastructure dispute resolution and a legend of the Hong Kong legal scene”.
His team has won “International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year” at the ALB Hong Kong Law Awards 2021.
Experience
- 1980: Bachelor of Laws degree, Peterhouse, University of Cambridge (on scholarship). Winner of the University's prestigious Squire Law Prize
- 1988: Masters of Arts degree, University of Cambridge
- 1989: Solicitor, Cabinet Frere Cholmeley, France - on an ICC arbitration
- He then gained experience working in the Netherlands at the US-Iran Arbitral Tribunal at the Hague. He was acting for a Ministry of the Government of Iran
- Paul then worked for Messrs Frere Cholmeley in London undertaking general commercial and litigation work
- 1985-1990 Denton Hall Hong Kong and Singapore, engaged in major infrastructure and arbitration work.
- 1990 to present: Partner, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Hong Kong, now King & Wood Mallesons, Hong Kong.
Recent Matters
- Many infrastructure arbitrations over the past 36 years throughout Asia; roads, rail, tunnels, bridges ( for example HK Stonecutters Bridge, Singapore-Johor Second Crossing Bridge, Hong Kong Airport, North-South Highway Malaysia)
- Belt and Road disputes avoidance in many countries
- HKD2 billion arbitration over first of its kind environmental project
- Judicial review of datacentre projects
- Arbitrations in China and Dubai on materials pricing
- Arbitration over North Luzon Expressway Philippines
- Housing Authority arbitration Hong Kong
- Counsel for West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
- Various multi-million disputes in Macau
- Non-contentious infrastructure work: advising international contractor tendering for environmental work in Hong Kong; risk assessment for numerous projects; drafting of Asia-wide project documentation; on the Belt and Road Initiative
Memberships
- Arbitrator, CIETAC
- Arbitrator and Mediator, HKIAC
- Arbitrator, eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre
- Arbitrator, Shanghai International Arbitration Center
- Arbitrator, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration
- Arbitrator and Mediator, Asian International Arbitration Centre
- Arbitrator, Hainan International Arbitration Court
- Arbitrator, Bali International Arbitration and Mediation Center
- Arbitrator, Vietnam Traders Arbitration Centre
- Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Second Chairman of the Society of Construction Law Hong Kong
- Advisory Board Member of the Hong Kong Red Cross
- Advisory Board Member of the Asian Academy of International Law
- Professional Services Committee Member, Hong Kong Trade Development Council
