How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?  

Despite CICC’s businesses having to contend with more disruptions and uncertainties in recent years, CICC’s legal team has been quite adept at addressing the associated legal risks by focusing on several areas: analysing analogous market events to understand how risks were de-escalated; planning and pre-empt for contingencies in line with our operational model; and/or if risks do materialise, responding to events with decisiveness and conviction. This strategy has been continuously refined and has served CICC well in achieving organisational resilience. 

In late 2023, CICC’s legal department studied the impact of ransomware attacks targeting U.S. financial institutions and then choreographed a simulated attack on CICC’s IT systems, to alert and equip the firm with the knowledge, experience, equipment, protocols, and governance framework needed to combat the number one risk for financial institutions in the world, ensuring operational resilience.   

In early 2024, one of CICC’s clients became the victim of a phishing scam. CICC’s legal team then worked overnight to trace the asset, resulting in the General Counsel of the recipient bank in Poland agreeing to freeze and return the funds to CICC’s client within two days. CICC’s legal team was later commended by the client for the originality, boldness and decisiveness of its actions taken as well as the firm for bolstering its operational resilience against fraudulent activities.  

Since mid-2024, CICC’s legal team has begun using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and artificial intelligence to identify and collate enforcement actions taken against major financial institutions from around the world to gauge the prevailing regulatory focus, ensuring the firm remains resilient against challenges and risks posed by an increasingly complex and dynamic global regulatory system. 

What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?  

In July 2023, CICC acted as a financial advisor to Ferretti S.p.A., an Italian luxury yacht producer, in completing its dual primary listing on Euronext Milan. This transaction was significant because it marked the first-ever dual primary listing in Hong Kong and Italy and CICC contributed meaningfully to the success of this ‘homecoming’ dual listing. 

In September 2023, CICC acted as joint global coordinator to Hainan government’s RMB 5 billion offshore bonds offering with a ‘green’ tranche for biodiversity purposes and a ‘blue’ tranche for marine conservation, environmental monitoring, and restoration projects. Bonds were settled via a free trade zone account using RMB as its base currency, promoting cross-border transactions and foreign investment in the Hainan Free Trade Port.  

Do you have a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about?  

I have always been committed to integrating social responsibility, ESG principles, and technological advancements into my work and the development of the industry. As part of my commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, I have led several ESG initiatives such as planting trees, organising charity events, and volunteer work to give back to the community. Under my leadership, CICC was designated a ‘Caring Company’ by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.   

In addition to community work, I have embraced LegalTech to enhance efficiency and accuracy within our legal and compliance processes. I introduced a proprietary legal and compliance process management portal known as ‘eLC’, which has streamlined our operations. Furthermore, I implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology to eliminate repetitive manual tasks. I developed an in-house automated document production system that brings speed, accuracy and convenience to CICC and its clients.  

My role in promoting regional financial markets has also been significant. As a member of the Asia Committee at the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and the Co-Vice Chair of the Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA), I have led consultations with regulators and exchanges to develop uniform industry standards. I have participated in research projects covering capital markets, carbon trading and AI and commented on global best practices in the interests of the regional financial market and its constituents. 

What emerging technologies do you see as having the most significant impact on the legal profession in the near future, and how do you stay updated on these developments?   

Undoubtedly, the rise of generative AI will require all of us in the legal profession to become technologically conversant and savvy.  Lawyers will need to gain a deep understanding of how to train large language models and master the nuances of prompt engineering within a legal context, whilst also understanding the limitations of these models. Lawyers will also need to consider forming working groups to set standards including a harmonised code of conduct on the ethical use of AI.