Kitty Zheng is a partner of Hui Zhong Law Firm based in Hong Kong. Before joining Hui Zhong in 2026, she practiced for many years at the international arbitration team of a top-tier U.S. law firm. Kitty has almost a decade of experience advising and representing companies, State-owned entities and governments in commercial disputes and investment treaty arbitrations. She has extensive experience acting as counsel in commercial arbitrations conducted under major arbitration rules around the world, including the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA). For investor-state arbitrations, Kitty previously represented Huawei Technologies in its landmark case against the Kingdom of Sweden as well as the People’s Republic of China in a case brought by a German investor. Kitty is also an expert in construction arbitration disputes, having previously represented numerous contractors in energy and infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, including Chinese companies in Belt-and-Road projects. 

Kitty’s practice focuses on disputes involving a wide range of industries including energy, construction, joint ventures, M&A, private equity, and TMT. She has also represented parties in arbitration-related court proceedings in Hong Kong as well as mediation and dispute review board procedures. She is an accredited mediator and has also acted as Tribunal Secretary in HKIAC and ICC arbitration proceedings.

Kitty is recommended by Legal 500 for International Arbitration in Hong Kong. She is previously the co-chair of the HK45 Steering Committee, the young practitioners’ group of HKIAC. She is also a part-time Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, Department of Law. She previously worked at the corporate department of another top-tier U.S. law firm and was an assistant at the UN International Law Commission.

Investor-State:

• Represented Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Claimant in an ICSID arbitration against the Kingdom of Sweden (ICSID Case No. ARB/22/2). The dispute relates to Sweden’s ban of Huawei’s equipment from 5G infrastructures in Sweden and the claims are brought under the China-Sweden bilateral investment treaty.
• Represented the People’s Republic of China in an ICSID arbitration brought by Hela Schwarz GmbH (ICSID Case No. ARB/17/19). The claims are brought under the China-Germany bilateral investment treaty and the People’s Republic of China ultimately prevailed.

Energy and Construction:

• Represented the subsidiary of an Asian State-owned company in the energy sector, Respondent in two parallel ICC arbitrations in Singapore initiated by its Asian co-shareholder and its parent company. The dispute arose from two agreements relating to the development of an oil storage facility and related port facilities in Asia. English law and the law of the Claimants’ State applied.
• Represented an Asian State-owned entity and its joint venture partners in a dispute with a Middle Eastern State-owned entity. The dispute arises from an EPC contract for the construction of a large petrochemical project.
• Represented an Asian contractor and its subsidiary, Claimants in parallel HKIAC arbitration proceedings in Hong Kong against an owner company. The dispute arose from an EPC contract and related contracts for the construction of a power plant in the Philippines. Philippine law applied.
• Represented an international joint venture, Claimant in an ICC arbitration against a Middle Eastern State-owned company arising from a contract for the design & build of a landmark infrastructure project in the Middle East.
• Represented a heavy equipment supplier and contractor in relation to a highly complex construction arbitration, related local litigation and a number of delay, disruption, defects and other disputes arising out of two fossil fuel construction megaprojects in Africa with claims and counterclaims of over US$ 2 billion. The law of the country of the projects applies.

TMT:

• Represented a North American technology company, Respondent in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong brought by an Asian electronics manufacturer. The dispute arises from a manufacturing agreement and related guarantee. Hong Kong law applies.
• Represented a Hong Kong biotechnology company, the subsidiary of a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed biotechnology company, as Respondent in a HKIAC arbitration in Hong Kong brought by a Chinese biopharmaceutical company. The dispute arises from alleged breaches of a Strategic Collaboration and Clinical Trial Agreement. Hong Kong law applies.
• Represented a U.S. technology company and its European subsidiary, Claimants in a HKIAC arbitration in Hong Kong against a Chinese technology company. The dispute arises from the breach of a software license and maintenance agreement. The law of California applies. Over USD 1 billion is at stake.
• Represented an African telecom infrastructure company in a dispute with an African telecom provider. The dispute arises from an infrastructure license agreement. The contract is governed by New York law and provides for ICC arbitration in Paris.
• Advising a Chinese company, Claimant in a HKIAC arbitration against a Korean company. The dispute arose from the acquisition of shares in a global telecommunications company. New York law applied.

Private Equity:

• Represented Hong Kong, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands corporate entities and directors as Claimants in ICC arbitration and Emergency Arbitrator proceedings in Hong Kong and as Respondents in parallel High Court of Hong Kong proceedings. The dispute arises from a private equity co-investment agreement. Hong Kong law applies.
• Represented a private equity fund and its founder in ICC and HKIAC arbitrations initiated by the fund’s alleged general partner and an alleged investor in the fund, as well as in related domestic court proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. The arbitrations each concerned ownership of various entities in the fund structure. Hong Kong and Cayman Islands law applied.

• Panelist, “Asian-African Horizons: Mapping the Future of Investor-State Dispute Settlement”, AALCO (The Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization) Annual Arbitration Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted by AIAC (Asian International Arbitration Centre), February 2025
• Panelist and organizer, “Inspire Inclusion in the Arbitration World”, joint seminar by HK45 and CIArb (EAB) YMG in Hong Kong, March 2024
• Moderator, “So Now You Are an Arbitrator: The Arbitrator’s Toolkit”, book launch by Neil Kaplan and Chiann Bao, HKIAC, 20 April 2023
• Lecturer, “Costs and Interests” and “Challenges to Awards and Public Policy Considerations”, LL.M. course on international arbitration at the University of Hong Kong, March and April 2023
• Panelist, “Economic Sanctions: Implications for International Arbitration”, joint webinar by CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center, Transnational Dispute Management (TDM), The International Legal Foundation, L2 i-CON International, and Legal Plus, 24 March 2023
• Panelist, “How to get into arbitration (a beginner’s guide) - Part I: Ins and Outs of a Tribunal Secretary”, CIArb (EAB) YM webinar, 1 March 2022
• Panelist, “Counsel Fees in Arbitration – Reforms and Challenges”, HK45 and ASAb40 joint webinar, 13 January 2022.
• Moderator and organizer, “HK45 Virtual Fireside Chat Series 2,” HK45, Hong Kong, 15 January 2021
• Panelist, “No Win No Fee in Hong Kong and Singapore,” HK45 Annual Update, Hong Kong, 26 June 2020