About
Shahla F. Ali
安夏蘭 · Independent Arbitrator (FCIArb), Mediator, Attorney (CA Bar)
Shahla Ali is a Chartered arbitrator, accredited mediator and Professor of law at the University of Hong Kong with 18 years of experience in the Asia Pacific region.
A recognized expert in comparative arbitration, sustainable governance and cross-border dispute resolution in the Asia Pacific. Currently leading a 3-year collaborative research project exploring pathways to mitigate legal and environmental risk in infrastructure development.
Education
- PhD, Jurisprudence & Social Policy (comparative arbitration) — University of California, Berkeley
- JD — University of California, Berkeley
- Graduate Certificate in Chinese-American Studies & Language (Hassenfeld Fellow) — Hopkins-Nanjing Center (Johns Hopkins SAIS / Nanjing University)
- MA, Consultation & Conflict Resolution (Honors) — Landegg University
- BA, International Relations and Chinese Language (Distinction) — Stanford University
Research areas
- Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
- Law and Development in East Asia
- Globalization of Law
Funded research (as Principal Investigator)
Mitigating Legal and Climate Risk in Asia Pacific Infrastructure Development
HK Research Grants Council (RGC), Collaborative Research Fund (CRF; C7030-24GF) · 2025 · HK$2,000,000
Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?: Assessing the Development of Dispute Prevention Mechanisms Along the Belt and Road
RGC General Research Fund (GRF) · 2022–2025 · HK$780,059 / US$99,850
Soft Law from the Ground Up: The Role of the UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific in the Formation of Transnational Dispute Settlement Norms
RGC GRF · 2018 · HK$688,080 / US$87,706
Balancing the Scales of Procedural and Substantive Justice: Assessing the Efficacy of Civil Mediation Reform
RGC GRF · 2015 · HK$627,500 / US$80,967
New Governance and Humanitarian Aid: The Relationship between Law, Globalization and New Forms of Decision Making to Address Humanitarian Health and Nutrition Relief Efforts in East and West
RGC Early Career Scheme (ECS) · 2012 · HK$706,886 / US$91,121
Promoting Economic Integrity through Institutional Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Law and Policy Perspective
RGC Public Policy Research Grant (PPR) · 2010 · HK$372,000 / US$47,952
International appointments
- Designated delegate, UNCITRAL Working Group on Dispute Resolution Reform (WG II)
- Global arbitrator, UN Funds and Programs
- Expert consultant: Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), World Bank Group (IFC/WB), USAID
- Co-drafter, IBA Investor-State Mediation Rules (IBA Drafting Committee)
- Co-designer, AIIB internal mediation framework
- Chair, American Society of International Law (ASIL) Non-Proliferation and Arms Control group
- Academic Council, Institute for Transnational Arbitration
- IMI International (Mixed Mode) Dispute Resolution Task Force
Visiting appointments
Stanford University · New York University · Sciences Po · National University of Singapore · Max Planck Institute · Visiting Scholar, Renmin University School of Law (2014) · Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley Center for the Study of Law and Society (2013)
Selected recognition
- 2020 University Research Output Prize, HKU
- 2019 University Knowledge Exchange Award, HKU
- 2018 University Outstanding Teaching Award, HKU
- 2018 Women in Education Leadership Award, World Education Congress
- 2017 Faculty of Law Knowledge Exchange RAE Case Study Impact Award
- 2015 University Outstanding Young Researcher Award, HKU
- 2015 & 2013 University Research Output Prize, HKU
- 2014 Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award, HKU
- 1998 Firestone Medal for Excellence in Research, Stanford University
- 1998 Departmental Honors/University Distinction, Stanford University
Contact
Room 811 Cheng Yu Tung Tower, Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Download arbitrator CV (2026) →