Dr Siu Yung Alan
Dr. Alan Ma is a highly qualified professional with expertise in IT, Engineering, and Law. He joined 探花直播 (BCU) in 2019 as a Lecturer in Law. Prior to his academic career, Dr. Ma held various roles, including chartered engineer, contracts manager, in-house counsel, and solicitor in private practice. He has extensive experience practising English law in three jurisdictions: England, Scotland, and Hong Kong, for a period of about 20 years.
During his time in private practice, Dr. Ma handled a wide range of cases and represented clients in various tribunals and courts. His experience extends to the highest level, including the Court of Appeal. The reported cases he worked on covered areas such as commercial law, property law, construction law, personal injury, immigration and human rights, and employment. Notably, Dr. Ma was involved in a landmark construction law case that influenced the court's interpretation of a new statute.
In addition to his legal practice, Dr. Ma is a fellow member of the Chartered Institution of Arbitrators (CIArb), highlighting his expertise in alternative dispute resolution. He has trained 15 English solicitors who are currently practising in both England and Hong Kong. One of his ex-trainees has become a barrister and international arbitrator in the City of London.
Dr. Alan Ma brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to BCU, excelling both in his academic role and in his practical legal career. His multidisciplinary expertise and dedication to students' success make him a valuable asset to the university and the legal field.
Areas of Expertise
- Legal Tech
- Professional Skills
- International Arbitration
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Commercial Law
- Property, Residential and Commercial
Qualifications
- Professional qualified in Higher Education, IT, Engineering and Law disciplines.
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2022)
- Qualified solicitor, England and Wales since 1999 (not in practice)
- Qualified solicitor, Scotland, on the Roll since 2020 (not in practice)
- Qualified barrister, England and Wales, called to the Bar and never practised in chambers (1993)
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (1995)
- BSc, Civil Engineering, 1st Class Honours, University of Warwick. Recipient of the Institution of Civil Engineers prize for being the best student. (1981)
- PhD, University of Warwick (1984)
- Chartered Engineer (1987)
- Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (1987)
- Member of the British Computer Society, Chartered Institute of IT (2004)
- Member of the Institution of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (1999 - 2023).
Memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (since 2022)
- Solicitor, England and Wales, since 1999, not now in practice.
- Solicitor, Scotland since 2020, not now in practice
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (since 1995)
- Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (since 1987)
- Member of the British Computer Society, Chartered Institute of IT (since 2004)
- Member of the Institution of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (1999 - 2023).
Teaching
- LLB, Level 5:鈥 Professional Skills (Module Leader), Land law and Alternative Dispute Resolution.鈥
- LLB, Level 6: Legal Tech (Creator and Module Leader)
- LPC, Level 7:鈥 Property Law and Practice, Interviewing and Advising, Professional Conduct and Regulations, Business Law, Writing, Commercial Property (Module Leader), and Commercial and Intellectual Property Law and Practice (Module Leader).鈥
- LLM, Level 7: Conflict Resolution in Business (Module Leader).
Research
- Intersection of Law and Technology: Blockchain and Smart Contracts, AI in Legal Practices.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Hackathon-Based Pedagogy for Teaching Law Students
Postgraduate Supervision
- LLM Dissertation 鈥 International Arbitration
Publications
Publications since joining BCU 鈥
- 鈥楴avigating the Legal Tech Landscape: A Pedagogical Approach for Next-Generation Lawyers鈥櫶 The Fourth International STEAM Conference 2023, October 2023, lead author.听
- 鈥, a book chapter in Blockchain Applications - Transforming Industries, Enhancing Security, and Addressing Ethical Considerations (IntechOpen, 2023), sole author.听
- 鈥樷, PI Brief Update Law Journal, Legal Mind Case and Commentary, No. 43, April 2023, co-author.听
- , PI Brief Update Law Journal, Legal Mind Case and Commentary, No. 41, February 2023, co-author.听
- 鈥?鈥 ITNow, the magazine of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Vol 64, Issue 3, August 2022, Oxford Academic (OUP). sole author.听听
- 鈥楨merging legal issues in blockchain for construction supply chains,鈥 ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, Proceedings of the 2020 4th International Conference on Vision, Image and Signal Processing, December 2020鈥疉rticle No.: 60, sole author. 鈥
Publications before joining BCU鈥
Ref no.听 |
Title听 |
Journal/Magazine听 |
Date of publication听 |
1听 |
Cases update:鈥 听 |
The Hong Kong Lawyers (the official journal of the Law Society of Hong Kong)听 鈥 |
01/12/2018听 鈥 |
2听 |
Cases update:听 听 |
The Hong Kong Lawyers (the official journal of the Law Society of Hong Kong)听 鈥 |
01/08/2018听 |
3听 |
The importance of putting an agreement in writing听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
12/11/2018听 |
4听 |
Playboy Club London Sue Bank Over Lebanese Businessman 拢427,940 Win听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
05/09/2018听 |
5听 |
Force majeure - do I have an excuse听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
30/04/2018听 |
6听 |
Lost profits听 |
In-procurement听 |
01/07/2015听 |
7听 |
Procurement and contract law A-Z: B is for 鈥attle of the forms听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
08/04/2015听 |
8听 |
Anti-suit injunction听 |
In-procurement听 |
01/04/2015听 |
9听 |
Curbing the copycats听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
25/03/2015听 |
10听 |
Home or away听 |
In-procurement听 |
01/03/2015听 |
11听 |
Jurisdiction in International Luxury Contracts听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
25/02/2015听 |
12听 |
Three Little Words: Subject to Contract听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
26/01/2015听 |
13听 |
Five tips: Chinese acquisitions听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
11/11/2014听 |
14听 |
Entrapment? Tulisa Contostavlos听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
15/10/2014听 |
15听 |
Pop Star Privacy: Adele Adkins听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
01/10/2014听 |
16听 |
Rihanna: Can you use Famous Faces to Endorse your Products?听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
04/09/2014听 |
17听 |
Once More Unto the Breach听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
19/08/2014听 |
18听 |
Who Does a Bribe Belong To?听 |
International eXcellence Luxury Magazine听 |
25/07/2014听 |
19听 |
Five tips: Dealing in China听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
07/04/2014听 |
20听 |
Five tips: Conflicts of law听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
11/03/2014听 |
21听 |
5 tips: The importance of good faith听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
07/06/2013听 |
22听 |
Forum shopping听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
30/11/2011听 |
23听 |
Recovery position听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
08/11/2010听 |
24听 |
Liquid(ated) damages听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
21/06/2010听 |
25听 |
On my say-so听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
19/03/2010听 |
26听 |
On one condition听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
15/03/2010听 |
27听 |
Engineer's role in resolving disputes in offshore projects听 |
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Management, Procurement and Law 162听 |
01/11/2009听 |
28听 |
Back to Basics to avoid court听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
05/07/2009听 |
29听 |
When in Rome听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
27/02/2009听 |
30听 |
Guide to legal-ease听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
03/02/2009听 |
31听 |
Guide to legal-ease (part one)听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
27/10/2008听 |
32听 |
A real privilege?听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
12/10/2008听 |
33听 |
Secure your interests听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
13/03/2008听 |
34听 |
Damping down he flames听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
17/10/2007听 |
35听 |
To the breach again听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
01/08/2007听 |
36听 |
Exposing deceit听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
25/04/2007听 |
37听 |
Firm changes听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
01/02/2007听 |
38听 |
Lonsdale v Howard Hallam Ltd听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
18/01/2007听 |
39听 |
Second-hand guidance听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
02/12/2004听 |
40听 |
Anti-competitive behaviour听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
04/08/2004听 |
41听 |
Accept on limitations听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
01/10/2003听 |
42听 |
On an even keel听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
20/08/2003听 |
43听 |
Racing certainty听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
21/05/2003听 |
44听 |
Barriers to entry听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
16/01/2003听 |
45听 |
Warranties for faulty goods听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
02/10/2002听 |
46听 |
Should incorrectly amended invoices be paid?听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
21/08/2002听 |
47听 |
The 拢2 million question听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
17/07/2002听 |
48听 |
Do we have a deal?听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
05/06/2002听 |
49听 |
Signing under duress听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
25/04/2002听 |
50听 |
Risks with rewards听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
24/04/2002听 |
51听 |
Battle of the forms听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
28/03/2002听 |
52听 |
An explosive error听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
27/03/2002听 |
53听 |
Whose law is it anyway?听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
31/01/2002听 |
54听 |
Decommissioning offshore installations - legal aspects听 |
Proceedings of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, No. B1 - Winner of the Institute's Stanley Gray Award.听 |
01/01/2002听 |
55听 |
Privileged communications听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
01/11/2001听 |
56听 |
Say what you mean听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
19/09/2001听 |
57听 |
Home or away听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
08/08/2001听 |
58听 |
Risk business听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
01/02/2001听 |
59听 |
Jurisdictional prudence听 |
Supply Management (official magazine of CIPS)听 |
04/10/2000听 |
听
Publications on Engineering Topics听
- A rigid plastic method for the determination of collapse loads of infilled panels with openings, The Journal of Strain Analysis for Engineering Design, Volume 20 issue 1, 1985听
- The Newton-Raphson method used in the non-linear analysis of concrete structures, Computers & Structures, Volume 24, Issue 2, 1986听
- New data on the ultimate strength of tubular welded K joints under moment loads, Offshore Technology Conference, May 1988.听
- Estimation of stress concentration factor for fatigue design of welded tubular connections, Offshore Technology Conference, May 1988听
- A comparative study of the design basis for complex tubular joints, Offshore Technology Conference, May 1989听
- A new repair and strengthening technique for steel offshore structures,鈥疧ffshore Technology Conference, May 1993.听
- Fatigue design of cast steel nodes in offshore structures based on research data, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Water, Maritime and Energy; Journal Volume: 124, June 1997.听
Work With Industry
Committee member of the following professional bodies.
- The West Midlands Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), since June 2023. CIArb stands as a global beacon of excellence in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) practice and professionalism. With members dispersed across 149 countries, the West Midlands branch serves as a regional nucleus for practitioners, policymakers, academics, and business entities. This hub ardently fosters the promotion, facilitation, and advancement of diverse ADR methodologies.听
- The 探花直播 Branch of the British Computer Society (BCS), the Chartered Institute for IT since October 2019. As the preeminent professional body in the realm of computing, BCS represents a formidable force of 60,000 IT professionals worldwide, steering the trajectory of the IT industry. The vibrant 探花直播 Branch stands as a regional bastion, steadfastly furthering the overarching BCS mission to propagate knowledge, education, and public welfare.听
- The Midlands branch of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMEST] [September 2019 to March 2023]. The branch played a pivotal role in fostering a community of maritime professionals and enthusiasts in the heart of the United Kingdom. IMarEST, a prestigious global institution, stands as a beacon of excellence in promoting and advancing marine engineering, science, and technology. With members spanning across diverse sectors and industries, the Midlands branch served as a local nexus for maritime practitioners, researchers, academics, and industry leaders.听
Organised seminars and other activities with external bodies promoting academic and industry interactions and exchange of knowledge. Seminars/webinars delivered:
- 听鈥淓xpert witness, evidence in international arbitration鈥, as the guest speaker who will deliver the evening seminar organised jointly by the Midlands branch of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and the West Midlands branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators at the University of Warwick, 26 April 2023.
- 鈥淢editation Workshop鈥, created the opportunity and will lead 11 BCU students to participate in this workshop at No 5 Barristers鈥 Chambers, 探花直播 on 5 April 2023. The event is organised by the West Midlands branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
- 鈥淐ontemporary issues that affect the future of law - Legal Technology, Law Practices, and Climate Change鈥, a symposium. I instigated, organised and was one of the speakers. It was co-hosted with the West Midlands branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the 探花直播 branch of the British Computer Society, and the Society for Computers and Law, in November 2022. The event was held as a hybrid at BCU STEAMHouse and it was one of BCU鈥檚 Graduate plus events.
- Prize-giving ceremony to BCU LLM students, June 2022. I secured sponsorship of cash prizes from the West Midlands branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators to our LLM students. I was the MC of the event.听
- 鈥淚nternational arbitration and dispute resolution 鈥搕he future鈥, a symposium. I instigated, organised and was one of the speakers. The event was held at BCU, and it was co-hosted with the West Midlands branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in March 2022.
- 鈥淭he use of emerging technology in the legal sector鈥, evening webinar, spoke and led my 3 students disseminating research results to a professional audience (some 140 attendees), The 探花直播 branch of the British Computer Society, April 2021.
- 鈥淚nternational arbitration of disputes in marine construction鈥, delivered in the evening webinar organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology, Midlands Branch, February 2021.
- 鈥淓merging legal issues in Blockchain for supply chains in offshore construction projects鈥, delivered in the evening webinar organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology, Midlands Branch in December 2020.
- 鈥淟egal issues arising from the use of blockchain technology in the global supply chain鈥, delivered in the evening webinar organised by the 探花直播 branch of the British Computer Society in April 2020.
On the technical committee and acted as a paper's reviewer at international conferences.
- 鈥淭he 14th International Conference on Construction and Project Management (ICCPM 2023), 2023.鈥
- 鈥淭he 12th International Conference on Construction and Project Management, 2021, Macau, China鈥