Agenda

12.00pm-12.30pm Arrival & welcome lunch

12.30pm-12.40pm Opening remarks

12.40pm-1.30pm Cross-border energy project development and financing, in association with Fangda Partners

As global energy markets evolve and outbound investment regains momentum, cross-border energy projects present both significant opportunity and heightened legal complexity. In this session, Legal 500, in partnership with Fangda Partners, will examine the legal, regulatory, and financing considerations shaping international energy project development involving Chinese stakeholders. From investment structuring and geopolitical risk allocation to sanctions compliance, ESG obligations, and multi-jurisdictional approvals, the discussion will equip general counsel with actionable strategies to manage exposure while supporting commercial objectives. The session will also explore evolving financing structures, lender expectations, and contractual protections essential to delivering large-scale energy and infrastructure projects successfully.

    • Shepard Liu, partner, Fangda Partners
    • Monica Sun, partner, Fangda Partners
    • Zhulei Guo, head office, international business, and transaction banking, Industrial Bank
    • Shenying Peng, general counsel and chief compliance officer, PowerChina International Group Company Limited
    • Christopher Smith, chief counsel, private sector investment & treasury operations, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
    • Quan Zhang, general counsel, Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (SIPC)

1.30pm-2.20pm 穿越全球数据迷雾：AI如何赋能跨境诉讼与调查中的电子证据开示

Navigating the global data maze: how AI powers eDiscovery in cross-border litigation and investigations, in association with Lineal 

    • Jennifer Qian, vice president business development APAC, Lineal
    • Jay Chong, general manager – APAC, Lineal Services
    • Bryan (Yusheng) Fu, director of the competition and development research center, Tencent Research Institute
    • Chen Xianglin, partner, Han Kun Law Offices
    • Ning Ning, partner, Gibson Dunn

2.20pm-2.35pm Coffee break

2.35pm-3.05pm Cross-border litigation: practical guidance for in-house counsel, in association with Dorsey & Whitney

Cross-border disputes present unique legal, strategic, and operational challenges for in-house counsel. This presentation offers practical guidance on managing cross-border litigation involving China, from early risk assessment and forum selection to evidence gathering, parallel proceedings, and enforcement of judgments. Drawing on global experience and local insight, the session highlights key issues in coordinating internal stakeholders and external counsel across jurisdictions. The focus will be on how in-house teams can maintain control over cost, timing, and risk while navigating differing legal systems, procedural rules, and cultural expectations in complex cross-border disputes.

    • Ray Liu, partner, Dorsey & Whitney

3.05pm-3.55pm Legal issues shaping business hotspots in the Chinese market in 2025, in association with Zhonglun W&D Law Firm

This panel will look at four areas currently attracting particular legal attention in the Chinese market: antitrust and competition, mergers and acquisitions, labour and employment, and commercial arbitration.

Drawing on representative cases and recent developments, the speakers will share practical observations on how these issues are affecting businesses operating in China and what in-house counsel should be aware of when dealing with them.

    • LI Zhengming, senior partner
    • HU Gaochong, senior partner
    • ZHAO Bingling, senior partner
    • LIU Xiaoqin, senior partner

3.55pm-4.25pm Three core controversial issues in construction engineering cases, in association with W&H Law Firm

The three core controversial issues in construction engineering cases are contract validity, the rights protection path for actual constructors, and price settlement. The three major changes in the Second Judicial Interpretation of Construction Engineering (Draft for Comments) include the precision in determining contract validity, a limited breakthrough in the principle of privity of contract for the rights protection path of actual constructors to accurately safeguard the rights and interests of actual constructors and migrant workers, and innovations in price settlement, such as refining the adjustment rules for fixed-price contracts and regulating the application of audit and financial review conclusions.

    • Li Jun, senior partner and secretary of the discipline inspection committee, W&H Law Firm

4.25pm-4.40pm Coffee break

4.40pm-5.30pm Trends, risks and responses in international trade and investment, in association with Jincheng Tongda & Neal

As global trade and regulatory environments undergo rapid change and become increasingly complex, and as Chinese enterprises accelerate their international expansion, this panel will take a global perspective to focus on three key areas: current trends and challenges in international trade and investment; the main types of disputes arising from these developments; and how companies can build effective strategies to respond and grow in a changing environment. The discussion aims to provide a clear framework for assessing risks and practical approaches to addressing them, supporting Chinese enterprises in achieving high-quality international development.

    • Carol Xing, lawyer, Jincheng Tongda & Neal
    • Xin Fu, senior partner, Jincheng Tongda & Neal
    • Vera Zuo, senior counsel, Jincheng Tongda & Neal
    • Henry Li, general manager, international legal and compliance department, Goldwind
    • Baoqiang Zheng, partner, head of operations China, HKA

5.30pm-6.00pm Cut the GAP: overseas enterprises’ cross-border pain points, in association with Topcom China Law Offices

Cross-border operations often expose overseas enterprises to complex legal, cultural, and strategic challenges. This panel introduces the “GAP” framework: G for national and legal differences, A for cultural and political traits, and P for cross-border positioning. Through practical legal case studies and cross-cultural experience, panellists will explore how domestic law firms can help bridge Sino-foreign barriers with mutual respect and informed collaboration. The discussion will also examine Sino-US legal service cognitive gaps, sharing mature cross-border insights and solutions to support overseas growth and long-term success.

    • James Jiang, managing partner, Topcom China Law Offices
    • Randolph Hsu, founding partner, Ondine Capital
    • Linping Han, general counsel, Bloomage Biotech
    • Ya-Chiao Chang, partner, Spencer Fane

6.00pm-6.15pm Closing remarks