Legal and dispute resolution session held for expats

Residents and entrepreneurs from 10 countries met at the Shekou Foreign Legal Service Center on Saturday for the “Legal Risk and Dispute Resolution Guidelines for Foreigners in China” event, which provided essential legal frameworks and practical strategies to help them navigate commercial activities in China.

Participants gather for a group photo after attending the “Legal Risk and Dispute Resolution Guidelines for Foreigners in China” event at the Shekou Foreign Legal Service Center on Saturday. The event is part of the “APEC Volunteers Talk” series organized by the Shekou MSCE. Photos courtesy of Shekou MSCE

The lecture is the third session of the “APEC Volunteers Talk” series organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE).

The event featured keynote speeches by Li Kelei, a lawyer specializing in foreign-related legal affairs from Grand & Passion (Qianhai) Joint Venture Law Firm, and Siegfried Sin, deputy legal counsel at the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration and head of business at the South China International Arbitration Center (Hong Kong).

Siegfried Sin, deputy legal counsel at the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration and head of business at the South China International Arbitration Center (Hong Kong), speaks to attendees during the event on Saturday.

Li Kelei, a lawyer from Grand & Passion (Qianhai) Joint Venture Law Firm, delivers a presentation during the event.

The speakers used real-world case studies to address common legal challenges faced by expats in investment, entrepreneurship and trade. Li focused on three scenarios: foreign investment and business establishment, cross-border e-commerce and employment. Drawing on nine years of experience, she detailed the legal foundations of foreign-invested firms, negative list management and market entry compliance.

Sin highlighted the advantages of arbitration and mediation, such as streamlined procedures and enforceable outcomes, while presenting a guide on “Commercial Dispute Resolution in China: Real Cases and Practical Advice.”

He encouraged entrepreneurs to use these more efficient and accessible pathways, and to include pre-determining dispute resolution methods in contracts, as well as to initiate early communication to protect their rights.

International participants engage in discussion with speakers during the event.

The session received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the expats. Eledir, an entrepreneur from Brazil, said the practical case analysis helped clarify efficient ways to resolve business disputes. Katrin, a cross-border trader from Kazakhstan, said that the event offered solid legal support for her business and expressed interest in future workshops.

Shekou MSCE will host more sessions for the “APEC Volunteers Talk” series, leveraging professional legal expertise to empower the expat community in an inclusive, law-based international environment.