The Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) jointly hosted a seminar in Shanghai on 23 September, bringing together representatives from arbitration institutions, government, law firms, academia and in-house legal teams to discuss the evolving landscape of international arbitration.
The event was also supported by the BritCham Shanghai and British Consulate-General Shanghai.
Under the theme “International Arbitration in a Changing World: Legal Developments, Global Trade Restructuring and Cross-Border Dispute Resolution”, the seminar explored recent developments in Chinese and English arbitration law, emerging challenges in international dispute resolution, and the implications of changing global trade and supply chains for businesses.
Dr Yi Ma, Vice Chairman of the Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai and Vice Chairman of SHIAC, welcomed participants and highlighted the longstanding relationship between SHIAC and LCIA, with the seminar marking their first formal joint event following a series of exchanges since 2024.
He noted that changing global trade and supply chains are giving rise to new types of cross-border disputes, while developments such as digitalisation and artificial intelligence are also creating new challenges for international arbitration. He called for closer cooperation between the two institutions through professional exchanges, joint discussions on emerging issues and talent development.
In his welcome remarks, Sohail Shaikh, British Deputy Trade Commissioner for China, highlighted the important role of international arbitration in supporting cross-border trade and investment.
He noted that as global supply chains and investment patterns continue to evolve, reliable and predictable dispute resolution frameworks are increasingly important for businesses and welcomed further cooperation between the UK and China in legal and dispute resolution services.
Weijun Wang, Secretary-General of SHIAC, and Kevin Nash, Director General of LCIA, also delivered Keynote Speeches, highlighting the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between the two institutions.
Wang highlighted the development of China’s international arbitration framework and the growing role of Chinese arbitration institutions in resolving cross-border commercial disputes. She highlighted SHIAC’s efforts to incorporate international arbitration practices into its rules and procedures, including emergency arbitrators, interim measures and third-party funding disclosure.
Kevin Nash, Director General of LCIA, shared observations on the changing international arbitration landscape and the increasing importance of Asia in international dispute resolution. He highlighted the significance of respecting parties’ arbitration agreements and maintaining arbitration’s core advantages, including flexibility, confidentiality, enforceability and party choice.
Nash also discussed the growing use of different forms of dispute resolution, including mediation-arbitration, and highlighted the importance of transparency and practical data in helping businesses better understand arbitration. He further considered how recent developments in Chinese and English arbitration law could create new possibilities for businesses when structuring cross-border transactions and dispute resolution clauses.
The two panel discussions brought together perspectives from arbitration institutions, international and Chinese law firms, academia and in-house legal teams, offering a range of views on the practical issues facing international arbitration.
Panel I explored recent legal and procedural developments and their implications for cross-border disputes. Panelists discussed practical issues including procedural differences, jurisdictional questions, enforcement and the changing expectations of businesses when selecting arbitration and drafting dispute resolution clauses.
Panel II focused on disputes arising from international trade and changing supply chains. Speakers exchanged views on issues encountered in practice, the characteristics of arbitration in different types of commercial disputes, and the considerations businesses should take into account when managing cross-border transactions and potential disputes.
Xinyi Zhang, General Counsel China from BritCham Shanghai member company Haleon, also joined the panel, bringing practical Insights from the healthcare sector and highlighting the considerations businesses face when managing cross-border commercial disputes.
In her closing remarks, Vicky Lord, Strategic Adviser to BritCham Shanghai and Managing Partner at Harneys, highlighted the importance of effective dispute resolution frameworks for UK-China trade and investment. She noted that both British investors in China and Chinese companies expanding overseas benefit from mutual recognition and professional expertise, and welcomed continued cooperation between SHIAC and LCIA.
BritCham Shanghai was pleased to support the event, which provided a valuable platform for legal and business professionals to exchange views on the evolving landscape of international arbitration and its role in supporting cross-border trade and investment.
