Leading legal and corporate professionals from China and the UK examined the evolving landscape of international arbitration in global trade and investment at SHIAC‘s “London Arbitration Night”.
During the 2025 London International Disputes Week, the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission / Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC) hosted its inaugural “London Arbitration Night” at the London office of the renowned international law firm Clyde & Co.
Themed “ Cross-Border Investment Protection and Dispute Resolution in an Era of De-risking,” the event brought together leading legal and corporate professionals from China and the UK to examine the evolving landscape of international arbitration in global trade and investment.
Held in early summer in London, the event attracted representatives from in-house departments of Asian corporations, UK-based businesses, international arbitration bodies, and international law firms. The discussions focused on legal risk mitigation in current international trade dynamics, emerging trends in investment dispute resolution, and sector-specific characteristics in international disputes.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Mr. Ma Yi, Vice Chairman of CCPIT Shanghai & SHIAC. He emphasised the significance of fostering legal dialogue and cooperation across borders, especially amid increasingly complex global context. Mr. Ma reaffirmed SHIAC’s commitment to building bridges between Chinese and international arbitration communities, to support Belt and Road Initiative and the global strategies of Chinese enterprises.
Ms. Wang Weijun, Secretary-General of SHIAC, then delivered a keynote speech with a theme of “Bridging Systems, Building Trust: SHIAC’s Vision for Integration in International Arbitration”. She highlighted SHIAC’s development in recent years, progress in globalisation, and its growing overseas service network. She expressed SHIAC’s ongoing dedication to further improving arbitration services to facilitate efficient resolution of international commercial disputes.
A highlight of the evening was a roundtable discussion moderated by Mr. Dennis Li, Global Legal Market Strategist and former Head of GCR at Chambers. The panel featured distinguished arbitration experts including:
- Rob Lawson KC, Barrister and Partner at Clyde & Co
- Adrian Hughes KC, Barrister and Arbitrator at 39 Essex Chambers
- Ana Stanič, Director and Arbitrator at E&A Law
- Sun Wei, Managing Partner of Zhong Lun Law Firm
- Ye Zhen, Barrister at 3PB Barristers
The Panellists explored how to mitigate and respond to investment risks amid the current ‘de-risking’ trend. Drawing on extensive practical experience and cutting-edge case studies, the panellists shared insights into key issues such as the common causes of disputes, the application of commercial contract clauses, and trends in arbitration cases.
Mr. Han Gang, Secretary-General of SHIAC Hong Kong, delivered the closing remarks, expressing gratitude to all guests for their support and contributions. He voiced hope for deeper collaboration with international institutions to collectively shape a more open and diverse global arbitration ecosystem.
The event was hosted by Ms Xu Suosheng, SHIAC’s Director of Cooperation and Development Department, and concluded with a networking reception, offering a valuable platform for dialogue between the Chinese and British legal and business communities. It further demonstrated SHIAC’s professional capability and international perspective as a leading arbitration institution.
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