The Legal 500 made its triumphant return to China for our GC Summit Shanghai 2023, the first event of its kind in China since 2019. A comprehensive event that brought together in-house lawyers from the full gamut of sectors that operate in the international metropolis of Shanghai, the conference covered a range of topics. From data compliance to bankruptcy law, arbitration to bond disputes, each session provided valuable insights for in-house counsel and legal practitioners alike.

In our first session, Jun Li, partner in Corporate & Compliance at Han Kun Law Offices, addressed the critical role of data compliance in the C-Suite’s responsibilities globally. Li offered practical strategies for navigating the challenges of data compliance while maximizing opportunities in this evolving landscape.

Zhou Jigao, managing partner of Shanghai Jianling Chengda Law Firm, then provided a comprehensive overview of the legal issues facing the construction industry in China. The session delved into the burning legal challenges in this crucial sector, shedding light on trends, opportunities, and challenges.

Dr. Minli Tang, partner at Allbright Law Offices, then led a discussion on the merits of arbitration as an international dispute resolution option. On the in-house side, Judy Cao, Cheng Wang, and Len Ding provided valuable insights and strategies for success in international arbitrations, offering a well-rounded perspective on this significant legal aspect.

After a valuable networking opportunity during the coffee break, Xiuping Pan, Frank Hong, and Shawn Qiao from Longan Law Firm shared their expertise on legal issues arising in bond disputes cases. The expert speakers provided valuable insights into a crucial topic that many attendees encounter in their day-to-day work.

The next panel discussion on managing internal investigations brought together Wang Yinping from RICC & CO, Jia Song, Nancy Wei and Gordon Cheng. The panel evaluated the best courses of action for internal investigations, considering the challenges of gathering documents, understanding witness testimonies, and aligning investigations with regulatory authorities.

In our final session, Zhou Yiming, senior partner at W&H Law Firm, shared his extensive expertise on bankruptcy law in China against the backdrop of increasing global economic uncertainty.

The conference concluded with closing remarks from Aaron Shao, area counsel greater China at Abbott, who expertly summarised the key takeaways from the day’s discussions before inviting attendees to post-event drinks and canapes, providing a relaxed environment for further networking and discussions.

We are delighted that The Legal 500’s first post-Covid event in China was such a roaring success, and look forward to many future events across China as our event schedule ramps up in 2024. Stay tuned for further updates!