The second Asia ADR Summit 2025 concluded successfully at Guangxi University in Nanning in August 2025, gathering over 300 legal elites from ASEAN and beyond—judges, arbitrators, mediators, and practitioners—under the theme “East Meets Algorithm: The Future of ADR in Asia’s Digital Wave”.
Philip Qiao, a partner at BZW Law Firm and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIRAB), represented the firm at this landmark event, particularly shining in the summit’s flagship Oxford-style debate on “Institutional vs. Ad-Hoc Arbitration: Which Fits Asia’s Digital Economy?”.
During the summit, Tun Tengku Maimun Binti Tuan Mat, Former Chief Justice of Malaysia, set the tone with a keynote address emphasizing the synergy between traditional justice and digital innovation. Philip Qiao’s performance in the debate stood out: drawing on his deep understanding of cross-border disputes, he analyzed the pros and cons of the two arbitration models through the lens of Asia’s digital economy—from how institutional arbitration’s standardized rules address the cross-jurisdictional complexity of digital transactions, to the flexibility of ad-hoc arbitration for startups and cross-border e-commerce, and even the enforceability of awards under conventions like the New York Convention. His rigorous reasoning, which pinpointed the pain points of digital economy disputes, not only earned acclaim from peers but also showcased BZW’s expertise in international dispute resolution.
For BZW, this participation marks a crucial step in expanding its Asia-Pacific legal network. By connecting with legal experts and institutions across the region, the firm is strengthening its capacity to deliver end-to-end services in cross-border trade, digital economy, and investment arbitration. Leveraging the summit’s platform, BZW aims to build a comprehensive “dispute prevention-resolution-enforcement” system for clients, helping them navigate risks and seize opportunities in Asia’s dynamic digital landscape. As the Asia ADR Summit paves the way for the future of ADR in Asia, BZW remains committed to advancing dispute resolution services in the digital age, collaborating with Asia’s legal community to foster a fair and efficient cross-border dispute ecosystem.
