Bridging East and West: Resolving China-Related Disputes in a Global Era

Event summary:

This session focuses on the rise of China-related commercial and investment disputes, driven by increased trade, large scale Belt and Road projects, and complex cross-border transactions undertaken by Chinese-state owned enterprises and private entities globally. It examines the growing use of mediation, arbitration and other ADR mechanisms in resolving disputes with a China nexus, and offers practical and cultural insights for those managing China-related risks and conflicts in the increasingly complex and fragmented world today.

Event Description:

As China’s economic influence continues to shape global trade, investment, technology and infrastructure, disputes involving Chinese parties have become more common, more complex and with greater stakes. Yet resolving these disputes requires more than legal expertise — it demands cultural fluency, strategic prowess and substantial expertise in this fast-evolving global dispute resolution landscape.

This panel session will explore the unique features of China‑related disputes — from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to private businesses, and across energy, mining, construction, logistics, joint ventures, technology and supply chains — and examine why and how mediation and arbitration can and should play an increasingly central to achieving effective, enforceable and relationship‑preserving outcomes.

The session will offer practical insights, comparative perspectives and real‑world experience of navigating Chinese‑related disputes effectively and strategically.

Who This Session Is For

• Legal practitioners and experts handling cross‑border commercial disputes involving Chinese parties or supply chains with a nexus to China

• In‑house counsel responsible for Asia and China‑related transactions, projects, and contract and dispute management

• Transactional and deal lawyers seeking to deepen their understanding of cultural and procedural dynamics in Chinese‑related counterparties

• UK and international counsel advising clients operating in or with China

Why Attend

• Gain insights to practical, culturally informed strategies for navigating Chinese‑related commercial disputes

• Understand how Chinese state‑owned and private enterprises approach negotiation, settlement and dispute resolution

• Learn how mediation, arbitration and hybrid processes are evolving and how to use them effectively in resolving China-related conflicts