This comparative empirical study of the development and design of consumer financial dispute resolution mechanisms in East Asia, North America and Europe examines global principles that influence the design of such mechanisms, considers the structural variations between the ombuds and arbitration systems, and suggests practical proposals for reform.

Shahla F. Ali is an Assistant Professor of Law in the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law, where her teaching and research focus on arbitration and dispute resolution, law and development, and commercial contracts in a comparative context.

Introduction; Part I. Principles: 1. Principles of consumer financial dispute resolution in a global context; Part II. Ombuds Systems: 2. Financial dispute resolution in the United Kingdom; 3. Financial dispute resolution in Australia; 4. Financial dispute resolution in Japan; Part III. Arbitration Systems: 5. Financial dispute resolution in the United States; 6. Financial dispute resolution in Singapore; 7. Financial dispute resolution in Hong Kong; 8. Emerging systems: financial dispute resolution in China; Part IV. Practice: 9. Synthesizing lessons learned and policy recommendations; Conclusion: the way forward.