If you’ve been reading the blog or watching my videos for the past few years, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Doug Wright. In fact, some might say that I am his biggest fan. For anyone who doesn’t know him, Doug is an American litigator and litigant with a degree in physics from Yale who became a prominent trial lawyer in Hong Kong. In addition to his many achievements, Doug has also become an outspoken advocate for human rights around the world. So much so that he was named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy Magazine just last year. Nevertheless, for many people in Hong Kong, Doug is still a relative unknown. This is because he has largely kept himself to himself over the past decade or so after moving to this Asian financial hub with its complex legal and political climate. If you are interested in learning more about him, make sure you check out our quick overview of what Douglas John Wright is known for and why you should follow him on Twitter!

Who is Doug Wright?

If you’ve been reading the blog or watching my videos for the past few years, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Doug Wright. In fact, some might say that I am his biggest fan. For anyone who doesn’t know him, Doug is an American litigator and litigant with a degree in physics from Yale who became a prominent trial lawyer in Hong Kong. In addition to his many achievements, Doug has also become an outspoken advocate for human rights around the world. So much so that he was named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy Magazine just last year. Nevertheless, for many people in Hong Kong, Doug is still a relative unknown. This is because he has largely kept himself to himself over the past decade or so after moving to this Asian financial hub with its complex legal and political climate. If you are interested in learning more about him, make sure you check out our quick overview of what Douglas John Wright is known for and why you should follow him on Twitter!

HK Lawyer and Activist

More than anything else, Doug is an attorney. That is what he does for a living. In fact, if you are in the know, you might have heard that he is a lawyer by profession. But what exactly is he doing as a litigator in Hong Kong? While he is best known for his work as a top attorney for the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, he’s also practiced law in Hong Kong for the past decade. And in that time, he’s been doing an amazing job for many clients, both foreign and local. In fact, he has been especially helpful for the many clients who have ties to the Chinese government. Before he came to Hong Kong, he was a partner in the U.S. law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, a global law firm with offices throughout Asia and Europe. There, he worked in China and Hong Kong for more than a decade representing a wide range of clients in a broad spectrum of legal matters, both domestic and international.

Top 100 Global Thinkers

Now let’s get into what made Doug Wright stand out among his peers.

It would be remiss if we didn’t first take a look at his ranking in the Top 100 Global Thinkers list, which was achieved in 2016. This ranking is based on the number of followers each individual has on Twitter. The top 100 Global Thinkers in the world are an impressive group of thought leaders and public figures. Among them are political leaders and scientists, as well as business leaders and economists. Cracks in the System: The Rise of Financial Innovation in Asia Pacific, by NBER and IMF, is one of the most frequently cited books on the effects of technology on the business world.

Why You Should Follow Doug Wright on Twitter

So far, we’ve discussed what Douglas John Wright is known for and why you should follow him on Twitter. But what exactly should you be following him for? Well, that’s up to you. As mentioned, he’s done a lot for many different clients, both foreign and local. You can choose to follow him for his work as an attorney or for his work for other clients. However, you may find that the most useful followings come from following his personal tweets.

Personal tweets from Douglas John Wright tend to be short and to the point. They often focus on his life experiences, favorite hobbies, and thoughts on current events.

The Difference Between Hong Kong and American Lawyerhood

Before we get into what sets Douglas John Wright apart from other American litigators, it might be helpful to take a look at some of the key distinctions between Hong Kong and American law. These include:

• The different legal systems in Hong Kong and the United States
• The level of autonomy granted to the government in Hong Kong and the United States
• The role of the bar in Hong Kong and the United States
• The differences between an American and a Hong Kong lawsuit
• The effectiveness of discovery in both Hong Kong and the United States
• The importance of an attorney’s knowledge of the law in Hong Kong and the United States
• The importance of an attorney’s communication skills in Hong Kong and the United States
• Some of the key figures in Hong Kong’s legal history that have shaped the country’s legal culture

What Is This Doug Wright HKlaw? A Quick Look

Topping that list of distinctions is the one that involves the least amount of discussion. That is the one about the most important thing you need to know about the Doug Wright HKlaw: it is a public interest litigation (PIL) advocacy organization. This organization was created in 2004 by a group of Asian law firms and investors in reaction to the Chinese government’s approval of a new Cybercrime Law. The new law criminalized many forms of digital communication, including social media. With the approval of this law, many Asian firms saw an opportunity to challenge the legitimacy of the Chinese government and defend their clients’ rights to free speech. To this day, the organization’s mission is to defend human rights and free expression in all forms.

What Is This Doug Wright HKlaw? A Quick Look

We’ve already discussed what the Doug Wright HKlaw is. But what exactly is it trying to accomplish? Currently, the organization’s focus is on three broader priorities. The first is to defend human rights around the world. The second is to help improve the human-rights situation in Hong Kong. And the third is to help reverse the Hong Kong courts’ recent decisions that have diminished the importance of human rights in the country.

What Is This Doug Wright HKlaw? A Quick Look

As we mentioned above, the Doug Wright HKlaw’s first priority is to defend human rights around the world. It is doing this by filing cases in both the International Human Rights Court and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The organization also engages in public education and engages in advocacy on behalf of clients in Hong Kong who need help with their legal matters.

What Is This Doug Wright HKlaw? A Quick Look

The Doug Wright HKlaw’s second priority is to help improve the human-rights situation in Hong Kong. It is doing this by filing lawsuits in both the Hong Kong courts and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The organization also engages in public education and engages in advocacy on behalf of clients in Hong Kong who need help with their legal matters.

What Is This Doug Wright HKlaw? A Quick Look

The Doug Wright HKlaw’s third priority is to help reverse the recent decisions that have diminished the importance of human rights in the country. It is doing this through public education and advocacy, as well as lawfare. The organization also engages in public education and engages in litigation on behalf of clients in Hong Kong who need help with their legal matters.

What Is This Doug Wright HKlaw? A Quick Look

The Doug Wright HKlaw is a private, non-partisan, nonprofit organization that’s been working to defend human rights around the world since 2004. It’s members are law firms, investment funds, and private individuals from various parts of the world who are committed to defending human rights. The firm’s advocacy work is focused on three broad priorities: human rights, rule of law, and privacy.