If people like you, they will listen to you, but if they trust you, they will do business with you.
- Zig Ziglar
KEMPS’s Legal Director brings the technical excellence and ocean-deep legal knowledge you would expect from a maritime specialist with 30 years’ expertise in shipping, insurance, and international trade litigation and arbitration. But GJ, as he is known, attributes his distinguished track record to softer skills: the key to success in dispute resolution is to instill confidence on all sides.
That belief in the importance of trust and strong communication sets the tone for his whole practice. A $30 million insurance dispute spanning three national jurisdictions and four major firms required him to convince all parties to agree on the applicable law in the case before they could broach a settlement.
His bilingual fluency in Chinese and English makes him particularly in demand among Mainland businesses expanding internationally, but it’s the premium he places on relationship-building that turns GJ’s clients into long-term strategic partners and friends.
When not elbow-deep in complex cross-border litigation, GJ can be found rolling up his sleeves in the kitchen or out on Hong Kong’s hiking trails. His interest in people informs his ambition to explore parts of China where the trails bring him into contact with new communities and cultures.
Shipping Expert
Straight-talking pragmatism. I possess the professional technical skills to handle cases, but perhaps more importantly, I always give my clients a clear and candid assessment of the risks facing them and whether commercial settlement should be considered.
A mediation in a complex multi-jurisdictional insurance case. The parties not only disputed the facts of the case, but the governing law which should be applied. I had to convince all stakeholders and their legal counsel of the consequences of misunderstanding the applicable law. I believe their trust in me, my legal and practical knowledge and accumulated expertise in the insurance market played a vital role in the settlement.
Our firm is a team of friendly, pragmatic and professional lawyers with expertise in our respective fields. We treat our clients like our friends and work efficiently and with a focus on their long-term commercial interests. We pride ourselves on being accommodating and flexible counsel, and building meaningful client relationships for the long term.
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23/F, Pico Tower,
66 Gloucester Road
Hong Kong S.A.R
2/F, 29 Curzon Street
London, W1J 7TL,
United Kingdom
Via Durini, 4
20122 Milano
Italy
Office 2407, Al Sila Tower,
Abu Dhabi Global Market,
P.O. Box 128666, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates
