How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

First of all, we continuously develop and train our team to become versatile employees equipped with multiple skills and areas of expertise. This approach enables the organisation to benefit from enhanced services with minimal incremental costs while allowing employees to achieve sustainable career growth through increased responsibilities and opportunities. Secondly, we actively seek every opportunity to add business value for the organisation and its stakeholders. By transforming the legal function from a cost centre or support department into a value creator and revenue-generating entity, we enhance the influence of the legal team within the Group, creating a mutually beneficial dynamic.

What are the main projects that you have been involved in recently?  

I am co-heading our company’s Hong Kong IPO project and am fully responsible for all legal, compliance, and investor relations matters. We take proactive measures to ensure that more than 100 onshore and offshore entities within the Group meet compliance requirements for listing purposes. Additionally, we maintain clear communication with investors to address their concerns and secure their approvals. I also coordinate and manage multi-jurisdictional legal teams, including counsels from Hong Kong, the United States, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and mainland China, to ensure the delivery of high-quality legal work for the project.

What are some of the main trends impacting the industry sector you work in in China?

The launch of the Golden Tax System IV by the national tax bureau has had a significant impact on the industry in which I work – finance and tax solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Regulatory authorities are now placing more stringent and real-time tax and financial compliance requirements on our clients. As a result, the boundaries between legal, finance, and tax compliance have become increasingly blurred. The legal function in this sector must evolve its knowledge framework and skillset to encompass not only traditional legal and compliance matters within the purview of in-house counsel but also finance and tax-related compliance issues.

What is a topic (business-related or otherwise) that you are passionate about, and why?

My team and I are passionate about addressing the legal and compliance challenges faced by our SMB clients. As the largest finance and tax solutions provider for SMBs in China, with the largest SMB client base, we closely monitor the legal and compliance issues that arise during their operations. SMBs are increasingly operating in a more tightly regulated environment, yet often lack access to quality, cost-efficient legal resources to support their business needs. We are exploring opportunities to leverage our team’s legal capabilities for our SMB clients, adding value to their legal and compliance governance and promoting more comprehensive client success.

Do you use any ‘legal tech’ products, and if so, for which areas of your work do you find them most useful? (For example, billing, contract drafting, electronic discovery, case management, etc.)

Yes, we use AI for contract review and issue spotting, and a case management system to monitor dispute resolution cases. We also utilise AI search tools to compile preliminary due diligence reports for potential targets. Additionally, AI search helps us identify connected persons and related parties among our shareholders, directors, customers, and suppliers, ensuring compliance with the group’s connected party transaction regulations.