The University of Hong Kong, LLM
The College of Law, Guildford
China University of Political Science and Law, LLB
University of Hull, LLB
Contact Information
Research Interests
Thomas So advises on and represents clients in all types of cross-borders disputes, property-related litigation, libel litigation and media-related litigation work in Hong Kong, as well as commercial disputes in the Mainland.
Thomas has acted as Arbitrator and Mediator in shareholders and other disputes and is on a number of panel of arbitrators in Asia. He has also acted as Deputy Judge at the District Court (18/11/2002-13/12/2002) and Temporary Deputy Registrar at the High Court (8/12/2003-10/1/2004). He is a China-Appointed Attesting Officer (appointed by the Ministry of Justice of PRC). He was the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong (6/2016 – 6/2018) and is a solicitor-advocate with rights to appear in all levels of civil courts in Hong Kong. He has been appointed by the Guangdong Provincial High Court as Greater Bay Area cross border commercial mediators for a term of three years since 23 December 2020.
Thomas was praised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for providing "sound knowledge" and "practical solutions" to clients. Chambers Asia Pacific describes Thomas is "instrumental in many cross-border cases". Thomas speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin.
Admissions
- England and Wales
- Hong Kong, China
- Singapore
- Australia, Australian Capital Territory
- People's Republic of China
Activities
- Chairman to the Board of the Financial Dispute Resolution Centre (12/1/2024 to 11/1/2026)
- Member, Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals (1/6/2023 to 31/5/2025)
- Council Member, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Greater Bay Area Cross Border Commercial Mediators, Guangdong Provincial High Court
- Justice of the Peace of Hong Kong
- Member, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Board of Advisors
- Chairman, eBRAM
- Member, The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [since 2018 and up to 2027]
- Deputy Chairman, Appeal Board on Closure Orders (Immediate Health Hazard)
- Arbitrator, The Arbitration Centre Across the Straits
- Arbitrator, Panel of Tianjin Arbitration Commission
- Arbitrator, Zhuhai Court of International Arbitration
- International Mediator & Arbitrator Panel, IIAM
- Approved Mediator, Hong Kong Mediation Accreditation Association
- Mediator, World Trade Center Macau Arbitration Center
- Panel of International Investment Arbitrators, CIETAC
- Arbitrator, CIETAC
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Founding Arbitrator Member, Club Espanol del Arbitraje (China Chapter)
- Accredited Mediator and Arbitrator, Panel of HKIAC
- Accredited Mediator, Hong Kong Mediation Centre
- Accredited Mediator, Panel of the Law Society of Hong Kong
- Arbitrator, Panel of Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration
- Arbitrator, Panel of South China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission / Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration
- Arbitrator, Panel of Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission
- Arbitrator, Panel of Wei Hai Arbitration Commission
- Arbitrator, Panel of Nanjing Arbitration Commission
- Arbitrator, Panel of Law Society of Hong Kong