Mary B.L. Thomson 林美麗大律師

Barrister-at-law, Former Solicitor, Chartered Arbitrator, Mediator & Adjudicator, Pacific Chambers HK, 36 Stone London & Singapore.

Mary started her career in London. She was called as a barrister in 1983 and undertook pupillage at the chambers of GRA Darling QC (now 36 Stone) in Middle Temple. She went on to work in the insurance (as claims executive and underwriter) and transport industry before returning to legal practice and requalifying as a solicitor. Mary moved to Hong Kong in 1992 continuing practice as a solicitor for over 20 years, for the most part as a dispute resolution partner in Hong Kong and international law firms. Mary’s extensive experience spans the financial, insurance, transport, energy, commodities, IT and manufacturing sectors.

In 2013, Mary joined the Hong Kong Bar and Pacific Chambers in Hong Kong to become self-employed and independent as she was increasingly being appointed as an arbitrator and mediator. In 2014, she rejoined the English Bar.

Mary has been involved in arbitrations since her early years in London, conducting arbitrations including HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, SCMA, LMAA, CIETAC as well as ad hoc arbitrations. She has been appointed arbitrator since 1996, including pursuant to “commercial man” clauses and is on the panel of arbitrators of various regional arbitration centres. She regularly sits in Hong Kong, London and Singapore arbitrations.

Mary has also successfully mediated large international commercial disputes including international trade and shipping, insurance, banking disputes in Hong Kong, London and Singapore.

Mary is a past Chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (East Asia Branch), only the second lady chair in its 45 years history. She is also Founder and Immediate Past Chair of ARIAS Asia, sits on the Board of Arbitral Women and the Scottish Arbitration Centre.

She is recommended in Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2017 – The English Bar: Commercial (Tier 1). She has also been recognised by “Who’s who of the Law” (Hong Kong), Chambers Global, and Chambers Asia, and has been described as:
“An arbitrator with experience in London and Hong Kong.” (Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2017)
“Extremely capable and hard working – adopts a practical attitude – very sensible – well liked”