Dr. Donald Lewis

Donald Lewis is a law professor and a consultant. He is currently Adjunct Professor in the Department of Economics, Law and International Business, University of San Francisco School of Management. He has recently been a visiting professor at the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) and the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) School of Law, both in Beijing. At the University of San Francisco and CUPL in Beijing, he has taught cutting-edge courses on trade and investment law for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Dr Lewis has served as a Visiting Associate Professor of Law, Lecturer in Law, and Research Fellow at Stanford Law School. He was previously an Associate Professor of Law at The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law in Hong Kong, China. Professor Lewis has also been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School and a U.S. Fulbright law professor in China.

He is widely regarded as a leading expert on Chinese law, Chinese and international dispute resolution, and international trade and economic law. He regularly provides legal advice on his areas of expertise to international law firms (including acting as a consultant with White & Case in Hong Kong), investment banks, multinational corporations, and governments. He regularly acts as an expert in China and Hong Kong-related litigation in the U.S. and globally.

Professor Lewis has directed and participated in several Asia Pacific international trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building programs, including as the first Academic Coordinator of the World Trade Organization Asia Pacific Regional Trade Policy Course (RTPC).

He has advised the United Nations and Asia Pacific governments on multilateral/regional trade and investment issues, including trade facilitation and single windows. In association with the Australian Government, he has provided advice to the governments of Indochina on trade policy and WTO-related trade and regulatory reforms.

Professor Lewis advises on trade and investment relations with China (including China inbound/outbound investment and China’s Belt and Road Initiative), Chinese cross-border regulatory controls, WTO accession and compliance issues, WTO dispute settlement, bilateral and regional free trade agreements, international investment law, international commercial and investment arbitration (including arbitration/mediation in China and Hong Kong), international transport law, trade facilitation and e-commerce, trade and competition issues, and sustainable development strategies.

Professor Lewis has edited and co-authored several books on China and international trade and economic law themes. His articles have appeared in leading law and international trade journals around the world. His most recent chapters on China’s Belt and Road Initiative have featured in leading law texts in Europe. He is regularly quoted in print and online media globally.

Professor Lewis obtained his A.B. from the University of Southern California; his J.D. from Emory University School of Law; and his LL.M. from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. He reads, writes, and speaks Mandarin Chinese.