Hao Wu is a Hong Kong lawyer specializing in construction and arbitration. He has experience in advising PRC, Hong Kong and multinational companies, with a particular focus in construction. He has acted for employers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, engineering consultancy firms and architecture firms in both contentious and non-contentious sides of construction matters, including arbitrations, claims preparations, construction contract review and drafting, project execution, etc. 

Hao is an adjudicator on the HKIAC's Panel of Adjudicators. Beyond his Hong Kong legal qualification, Hao has passed the PRC Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination, and will be eligible for practising PRC law within the Greater Bay Area. 

Prior to his legal career, Hao worked as a civil engineer. He has gained valuable technical construction experience at renowned engineering and construction companies such as Arup and Gammon Construction, after obtaining civil engineering degrees with first class honours. In addition to his legal qualifications, Hao is also an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, an Accredited Project Manager for NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, and a Council Member (co-opted) of the Society of Construction Law Hong Kong. 

He is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, making him one of the very rare trilingual construction law specialists in Hong Kong with a robust technical background in construction.

Construction, engineering, infrastructure and energy (contentious)

• Represented a PRC SOE construction company in an ICC arbitration against its employer in relation to a coal-fired power plant EPC project in a European country. 
• Represented a Japanese construction company in an ICC arbitration as Respondent against its local civil and structural works subcontractor in relation to an infrastructure construction project in Qatar.
• Represented an international architectural firm in an HKIAC arbitration as Claimant against its client in relation to a commercial property expansion development project in HK.
• Represented an engineering consultancy firm in the proceedings of Commission of Inquiry into the construction works of the Shatin to Central Link Project.
• Advised a US-headquartered hospitality and entertainment property developer in final account disputes against its main contractor in relation to a hotel and entertainment complex construction project in an East Asian country. The disputes were eventually settled. 
• Advised a US-headquartered entertainment property developer and operator in final account disputes against its main contractor in relation to an entertainment complex construction project in China. 
• Advised a PRC SOE construction company (as the majority shareholder of a Spanish construction company) on various shareholder disputes against the minority shareholder.
• Advised an Australian mining company on potential dispute against a Chinese heavy equipment manufacturing company in relation to design and supply of hydrogen generation and refueling system. 
• Advised a PRC SOE oil and gas company on charterparty disputes against the shipowners arising out of machine breakdown of the chartered vessels. 
• Advised a multinational oil and gas corporation on pricing and payment disputes against its natural gas purchaser in relation to a natural gas field in an Asian country.  
• Advised a Korean electric utility company on potential disputes concerning substantial completion against its EPC main contractor in relation to a solar power EPC project in Mexico.
• Represented a PRC SOE construction company in an ICC arbitration against its employer in relation to an EPC power station construction project in an African country. 
• Represented a PRC SOE oil and gas company in an DIFC-LCIA arbitration (administered by LCIA) as Respondent against its subcontractor in relation to an oil infrastructure construction project in a Middle Eastern country.
• Advised a PRC SOE construction company on matters concerning commencing an HKIAC arbitration against the developer in relation to an office building construction project in Vietnam, involving advising on merits and preparing Notice of Arbitration. 
• Represented a PRC SOE construction company in coordinating with Bangladeshi counsels in respect of an application for stay of court proceedings in favour of arbitration in Dhaka courts, arising out of a dispute with its local environment and sustainability subconsultant, in relation to a Belt and Road project in Bangladesh. The application succeeded. 
• Represented a HK electrical and mechanical engineering company in an HKIAC arbitration against its sub-contractor in relation to 2 swimming pool construction projects in HK.
• Represented a PRC SOE construction company in an SCC arbitration against its employer in relation to a coal-fired power plant EPC project in Brazil.
• Represented a PRC SOE oil and gas company in coordinating with PRC counsels in respect of enforcement of two HKIAC partial arbitral awards in mainland China.
• Represented a concrete waterproofing admixture supplier, in coordinating with US counsels regarding court and mediation proceedings in California and Seattle, arising out of the tilting and sinking of a mixed-use high rise building in California. 

Construction, engineering, infrastructure and energy (non-contentious)

• Advised a PRC SOE construction company in its tendering for a fuel depot EPC project in a Middle Eastern country. 
• Advised a PRC SOE construction company in its tendering for a chemical plant EPC project in a Middle Eastern country.
• Advised a multinational oil and gas corporation on compliance with Radiation Ordinance of Hong Kong.
• Advised a joint venture consisting of a PRC SOE construction company and a Japanese construction company on issues regarding limitation period of its subcontractor’s claims and dissolution of the joint venture. 
• Advised a major main contractor on corporate and individual criminal exposure arising out of a fatal accident at a major infrastructure construction project in HK.
• Advised a joint venture consisting of three PRC SOE construction companies on payment of certain items of works concerning deposition of fill materials in relation to an infrastructure construction project in HK.  
• Advised a consortium project vehicle company on various matters in relation to the development of a premium logistics center at the Hong Kong International Airport. 
• Advised (as part of a multi-disciplinary team) a PRC governmental body on an innovative dispute resolution framework and standard forms of construction contract to be adopted for the development of a pilot zone in the Greater Bay Area.
• Advised a HK hospitality investment and asset management company, on preparing relevant contsruction and engineering agreements in relation to hotel renovation project in Bangkok.
• Advised a PRC oil and gas company, on compliance with qualification and licensing requirements in HK in relation to carrying out LNG trading business in HK.
• Advised a PRC SOE construction company (as the main contractor), on drafting a supplemental agreement to the main contract of a Belt and Road construction project.
• Advised a developer of 2 offshore wind farms in Taiwan in reviewing its Selected Supplier Agreement together with the Parent Company Guarantee and Performance Bond.  
• Advised a HK waste management company, on renewal of relevant environment licences.

Others

• Represented a PRC-based investment group in a HKIAC arbitration (conducted solely in Chinese) as Respondent against a real estate investment fund in relation to disputes arising out of a real estate investment in mainland China. 
• Represented a BVI-incorporated investment company in a HKIAC arbitration as Claimant against a Cayman-incorporated hedge fund in relation to disputes arising out of a private investment in public equity (PIPE) of a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The case was eventually settled.
• Advised a Korean private equity investment company on potential disputes against the target company in relation to the target company’s potential breach of certain contractual obligations.
• Advised a US-headquartered hotel company on potential consequences under the operation agreements caused by unauthorized access to IT system by former employees.
• Advised a US-headquartered hotel company on threatened termination of the operating agreement by the owner of a hotel in East Asia.
• Advised a Hong Kong agricultural investment company, as an award debtor of a Perth-seated arbitration in relation to disputes arising out of a share sale agreement, on risks of enforcement and winding-up in Hong Kong.
• Advised a leading global technology company on staying HK court proceedings in favour of arbitration, including preparing summons and affidavit for the stay application. The court proceedings were initiated by the client’s logistic services provider, concerning disputes over the alleged transshipment costs and outstanding freight in relation to the shipment of our client’s cargo by sea. The disputes were eventually settled.