I recently had the privilege of being a member of the ICLA Exchange Programme, in which I was seconded to Peter Pang’s firm IPO Pang Shenjun, our firm’s collaborative partner in China. My visit to China and IPO Pang Shenjun provided me an invaluable opportunity to strengthen my relationships with IPO Pang, gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese legal and commercial market, and explore how closer international collaboration can benefit clients operating across borders. Over the course of several days, I had the privilege of spending time with the team at IPO Pang, visiting a number of their offices, discussing active and prospective matters, and participating in wider alliance discussions with firms across South East Asia. The visit was not only professionally insightful, but also personally rewarding, offering a real sense of the culture, ambition and collaborative spirit that underpins IPO Pang’s work.
From the outset, it was clear that IPO Pang is a dynamic and forward-thinking firm with a strong international outlook. The team demonstrated an impressive combination of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and genuine enthusiasm for building relationships with overseas firms and clients. My visit reinforced the importance of maintaining strong international connections and highlighted the significant opportunities for collaboration between our respective firms (both directly and across our international network).
Day One – Visiting IPO Pang’s Offices and Learning About the Firm
The first day of the visit began with a tour of IPO Pang’s stunning offices, followed by a detailed presentation delivered by members of their team. The presentation provided an excellent overview of the firm, its history, areas of expertise and the breadth of services it offers to both domestic and international clients.
Particularly interesting was the firm’s focus on M&A, intellectual property, corporate advisory work, cross-border legal services, as well as commercial franchising and disputes. It was evident that IPO Pang has established itself as a highly respected practice within the region, with a strong reputation for advising clients on complex and commercially sensitive matters.
During the discussions, we explored the ways in which Culbert Ellis could support IPO Pang and its clients in matters involving English law issues, international enforcement, cross-border disputes, and overseas asset recovery. There was significant interest in the practical challenges faced by Chinese businesses operating internationally, particularly where disputes arise across multiple jurisdictions.
We also discussed how English legal expertise can complement the work undertaken by IPO Pang, especially in relation to international contracts, litigation strategy, enforcement of judgments, and matters involving parties or assets located in England and Wales. Equally, it was clear that IPO Pang’s local expertise and understanding of the Chinese market would be invaluable in assisting our own clients where Chinese law advice or local strategic support is required.
The day was highly collaborative and set a positive tone for the remainder of the visit. Beyond the formal discussions, it was also an opportunity to develop stronger personal relationships with the team and better understand the culture and working practices of the firm – and a lovely Brazilian lunch!
Day Two – Visiting IPO Pang’s Other Office in Shanghai
The second day involved visits to a number of IPO Pang’s second office in Shanghai. This provided a broader perspective on the scale of the firm’s operations and the diversity of its practice areas.
Each office had its own character and focus, but what remained consistent throughout was the professionalism and energy of the people within the firm. It was particularly impressive to see how integrated the various offices appeared to be, with teams collaborating closely across different regions and practice areas.
Throughout the day, there were a number of conversations about the differences and similarities between the Chinese and English legal systems, client expectations in each jurisdiction, and the practical realities of managing international disputes. These exchanges were particularly valuable, as they provided insight not only into legal processes, but also into broader business culture and approaches to dispute resolution.
The office visits also reinforced the importance of face-to-face interaction in building trust and developing long-term professional relationships. While international collaboration can of course take place remotely, there is considerable value in spending time together in person, understanding how another firm operates, and establishing stronger interpersonal connections.
Day Three – Discussions Regarding Existing and Current Matters
The third day focused more directly on substantive legal work and ongoing matters involving IPO Pang and its clients. We spent time discussing a number of current and prospective cases, including cross-border disputes and matters with international enforcement considerations.
These discussions were particularly productive, as they allowed us to identify areas where our respective firms could work together more closely and provide joined-up advice to clients facing complex international issues. There was a strong emphasis on practical strategy, cost-effectiveness, and ensuring that clients receive coordinated support across jurisdictions.
One of the key themes that emerged from these discussions was the increasing need for firms in different jurisdictions to work collaboratively and efficiently in order to address the realities of international commerce and litigation. Many disputes now involve assets, parties, or contractual relationships spanning multiple countries, meaning that no single firm or jurisdiction can operate entirely in isolation.
It was also extremely useful to hear directly from IPO Pang regarding the challenges commonly encountered by Chinese businesses when engaging with foreign legal systems. These conversations provided valuable perspective and highlighted opportunities for our firm to add value through strategic advice on English law procedures, enforcement mechanisms, and international dispute management.
The discussions throughout the day were open, constructive, and commercially focused. It was clear that both firms share a similar approach in seeking pragmatic and client-focused solutions rather than unnecessarily adversarial or procedural approaches.
Day Four – South East Asian Alliance Call and Team Activities
The final day of the visit combined both professional and social elements. During the day, we attended and presented a call with the South East Asian firms in the Alliance. The discussion highlighted the importance of international networks and the benefits of maintaining strong relationships between the firms – most importantly, noting that we all have our respective “foreign desks”!.
For all the firms, participation in these discussions is highly valuable. International clients increasingly expect seamless cross-border support, and strong alliance relationships can play an important role in delivering that service effectively.
The day concluded on a more informal and enjoyable note, with a badminton session involving members of the IPO Pang team (which, as an avid badminton player, I enjoyed very much!). I was also reminded that activities such as these are often some of the most valuable aspects of firm culture and international visits. They provide an opportunity to build stronger personal relationships outside of formal meetings and create a more genuine sense of partnership and mutual understanding.
The hospitality shown throughout the visit by everyone at IPO Pang was exceptional, and the warmth and generosity of the team left a lasting impression on me
Conclusion
Overall, the visit to China and time spent with IPO Pang proved to be an extremely valuable, and rewarding experience. Professionally, it provided valuable insight into the Chinese legal market, strengthened existing relationships, and identified numerous opportunities for future collaboration on cross-border matters.
Perhaps most importantly, the visit reinforced the value of international cooperation within the legal profession. As businesses continue to operate on an increasingly global basis, strong relationships between trusted firms in different jurisdictions will become ever more important in ensuring that clients receive effective, commercially focused, and coordinated legal support.
Prior to visiting China, one inevitably encounters various perceptions and assumptions regarding the country and its business environment. However, my own experience was entirely contrary to many of those preconceptions. Throughout my time in Shanghai, I found people to be exceptionally welcoming, open and outward-looking, both professionally and personally. The city itself was incredibly impressive – modern, dynamic and unmistakably a major global commercial centre with a strong international outlook. There was a clear entrepreneurial energy and genuine enthusiasm for international collaboration which made a lasting impression on me. The visit ultimately provided a far more nuanced and positive perspective on both the Chinese business environment and the opportunities for cross-border cooperation.
I am extremely grateful to Peter Pang, and everyone else at IPO Pang, for their hospitality, generosity, and openness throughout the visit. I look forward to continuing to develop the relationship between our firms and to working together on future matters in the years ahead.
Accurate at the time of writing. This information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal advice.
.avif)
