APAC Insider- Legal Awards 2025 | 8 When business relationships hit a bump in the road, arbitration offers a convenient and effective alternative to costly courtroom proceedings. With over 35 years of experience, Andrew Jeffries of Jeffries Arbitration combines the knowledge of a global law firm with the flexibility of a sole practitioner to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently. Andrew talks with us about his journey so far. Arbitration is only as effective as the individual tasked with steering the process. Skilled arbitrators bring impartiality, patience and cultural sensitivity to the table. By combining these qualities with legal precision, wisdom and practical authority, they resolve issues in a way that commands respect. Based in New South Wales, Australia, Andrew Jeffries displays all the attributes of a great arbitrator and has been operating independently since 2011. Starting his career in 1988, Andrew trained with Allen & Overy (A&O), one of London’s ‘big 5’ law firms, where he soon found a passion for international commercial arbitration. After being accepted as a partner with the firm, Andrew moved to A&O’s Hong Kong office in 1999, later becoming head of Asia-Pacific dispute resolution. He tells us: “It was in Hong Kong that my arbitration work really took off. It’s been the dominant part of my work ever since. Whilst there, I also sat on the reform of the Hong Kong Arbitration Ordinance and was a member of the Hong Kong Law Society Council and the Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong. I also sat briefly as a deputy registrar in the High Court of Hong Kong, which gave me a different perspective on the dispute resolution world.” Returning to the UK some 9 years later, Andrew decided to leave the firm and set up as an independent arbitrator in 2011. Leaving behind the resources and support of a major international law firm to set up as an independent arbitrator presented significant challenges. However, for Andrew, the benefits were too good to resist. He explains: “I often found myself stifled working in a large practice. I was limited in the work I could take on due to being part of a firm with dominant practice areas outside dispute resolution. Not one conflict-of-interest issue has got in the way of taking on work since I set up on my own. Likewise, I was constrained by the rates I had to charge and the required volume of work, and this is no longer the case.” These days, Andrew’s rates are dictated by the specific requirements of each case. And, with ultimate flexibility, he plans his schedule around spending time with his family, and pursuing his favourite hobby – sailing. Patience, flexibility and diversification have been key in making Andrew’s transition to sole practitioner a resounding success. Andrew’s specialisms include the construction and energy industries, and mergers and acquisitions. He is particularly effective in handling complex disputes which run into millions or even billions of dollars. With significant developments in the legal profession being driven by technology, we ask Andrew about its effect on arbitration. He says: “Before COVID-19, many were reluctant to use the available technology to its full potential, myself included. However, being initially forced to accept electronic meetings, hearings, and communications has made practising law from my home office in a remote location possible. On the other hand, I think we’re still a long way from fully trusting a computer system to consider and reason in place of a human arbitrator. So I’m not feeling vulnerable to AI redundancy just yet!” Despite his initial reservations about technology and his doubts about AI’s current decisionmaking capability, Andrew is intrigued by what the future holds for his industry. He tells us: “Research has shown that most business owners just want to get the issue off their desks. That means finding a satisfactory resolution that’s both fast and cheap, even if it entails a level of sacrifice. “Emerging online dispute resolution platforms are designed to automate and streamline the dispute resolution process. They may offer a quick and costeffective solution for small to medium-sized disputes. This development seems wellsuited to a sole practitioner business model, and I look forward to getting involved.” Since going it alone, Andrew has felt drawn to giving back to the industry and has developed a teaching practice that sits alongside his arbitration business. Andrew finds it rewarding to pass on his knowledge to law students and aspiring arbitration practitioners. He has already taught in a wide variety of locations, including Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Mongolia. Andrew also makes a point of being involved in Vis East Moot, an educational event designed to provide law students, academics and professionals with exposure to international arbitration and trade law, which he says is always ‘great fun’. The next Vis East Moot takes place in March 2026. Contact: Andrew Jeffries Company: Jeffries Arbitration Web Address: https://jeffriesarbitration.com/ Best Independent Arbitration Specialist 2025 (NSW): Andrew Jeffries AIM-Jul25212
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