LAWYER PROFILE
Simon Chapman KC

Simon Chapman KC

Greater China Region 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Practice Areas

- Global advocacy

- International arbitration

- Litigation and dispute resolution

- Commercial arbitration

- Investment arbitration and treaty protection

Career

Simon is the Joint Managing Partner of Dispute Resolution and Global Co-Head of International Arbitration based in our Hong Kong office. Simon leads the firm's market-leading disputes practice in Asia and focuses on international arbitration and arbitration-related litigation. An experienced advocate, he appears regularly as lead counsel before courts and tribunals in the world's foremost arbitration centres. His practice covers investment treaty and commercial arbitration under all of the major arbitral rules, with particular knowledge in complex claims in fraud and breach of warranty, as well as post-M&A, joint venture and shareholder disputes. Simon has acted for governments, state-owned entities, sovereign wealth funds and corporations across a range of industries, including in the energy, private equity, cryptocurrency, finance, hospitality and TMT sectors. An authority in set-aside proceedings, Simon has appeared in some of the largest cases before the Hong Kong courts concerning challenges to arbitral awards and has advised on related proceedings before the courts in Singapore and England & Wales. He is regularly instructed to obtain urgent, interim measures from courts and emergency arbitrators, including anti-suit relief to restrain litigation proceedings in favour of arbitration. In addition to his work as counsel, Simon sits regularly as arbitrator, including as presiding arbitrator, co-arbitrator and sole arbitrator across a range of institutional and ad hoc cases. He has been a member of the ICC Court of Arbitration since 2021 and is ranked in the top tier in all of the major directories. Simon was named International Lawyer of the Year by Benchmark Litigation in 2021 and 2023, and was recently listed in Global Arbitration Review's '45 under 45' list of leading arbitration practitioners. Simon has worked in the Asia disputes team for over a decade, having previously been based in the firm's London and Paris offices. He is dual-qualified in Hong Kong and England and Wales, with higher rights of audience in both jurisdictions. One of a small number of solicitors to have been appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) in England & Wales, Simon has appeared as lead counsel before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong and advises regularly on challenges to arbitral awards in other jurisdictions, notably Singapore and England & Wales.

For additional information on Simon’s professional background, please visit: https://www.hsfkramer.com/our-people/s/simon-chapman-kc

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Greater China Region

Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms) - China

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Simon Chapman KC is co-head of Herbert Smith Freehills' global arbitration team and is active in global arbitrations for clients in the financial services, private equity and TMT spaces.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • He's a recognised market leader in the Asia arbitration community with a deserved reputation.

    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)Chambers Greater China Region
  • Simon is great and does his own advocacy as well.

    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)Chambers Greater China Region
  • Simon is fantastic.

    Dispute Resolution: Arbitration (International Firms)Chambers Greater China Region

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