HK45 is delighted to host May Tai at its next Supper Club on Wednesday, 28 February 2024. This event will be the first in the 2024 series of HK45's Supper Clubs and is sponsored by Burford Capital.

We welcome all junior law professionals, or those otherwise interested in arbitration, to apply. Solicitors and barrister must be non-partners and/or less than 10 PQE. We expect the dinner to be an exclusive and informal opportunity to gather with peers, including lawyers and other arbitration specialists. Chatham House rules apply. Previous guests have included the Honourable Madam Justice Mimmie Chan, the Honourable Mr. Justice Coleman, the Honourable Geoffrey Ma Tao-li GBM QC SC, Matthew Gearing KC, the Right Honourable Madam Justice Beverley McLachlin, Teresa Cheng, Lord Collins, Gavin Denton, Susan Dunn, Bernard Eder, Yves Fortier, Judith Gill, Lord Hoffmann, Doug Jones, Neil Kaplan, Christopher Moger, Karyl Nairn and Lord Neuberger, amongst others.

If you are interested and available to attend, please register your interest by 21 February 2024.

Please note, spaces are not offered on a first come first served basis. We will select participants based on factors including diversity, seniority and past attendance or cancellation. Successful RSVPs will be notified on 23 February 2024.

The dinner is generously subsidised by Burford Capital, hence the cost is only HKD 250 per person. We will request payment and confirm the venue when we confirm your participation.

May Tai

May held the position of China Managing Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills from 2017, and later became Asia Managing Partner from 2020 to 2023. She made history at her firm as the first woman to hold this prestigious title. With over 20 years of experience in arbitration, May is regarded as one of the most prominent practitioners in Greater China and Asia. She has advised clients across a broad array of industries, and developed a special expertise in cross-border disputes. As counsel, she has conducted arbitrations under almost all key arbitral rules. May regularly sits as an arbitrator in proceedings conducted by the HKIAC, SIAC, ICC, and CIETAC. 

In addition to her legal accomplishments, May is a multi-lingual advocate – she is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, and Bahasa (Malaysian and Indonesian). She is also a dual-qualified lawyer, having been admitted as a solicitor in both England & Wales and Hong Kong. In 2023, May decided to move into a consultant role at her firm, after having served as a partner for nearly 15 years. 

HK45 is a group for young arbitration practitioners in Hong Kong and beyond formed under the auspices of the HKIAC. Our aims are to promote interest in and knowledge of issues relating to arbitration, and to provide opportunities for both professional development and social interaction.  

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