The Ministry of Justice has unveiled plans through which over 300 lawyers will be trained by next year. They will come from about 100 Chinese practices. Du Chun, director of the Justice Department’s unit for lawyers and notaries, said: ‘The lawyers will handle transnational litigation cases that include overseas investments, multinational mergers and acquisitions, IPR protection, safeguarding of ocean and space interests, as well as antitrust and anti-dumping.’ 

Training with western firms

He highlighted the area of trade protection and competition. In the last four years China has been involved in 328 investigations, worth US$53b, in these areas. However, he added, European and US lawyers have taken an 80 per cent share so far in cross-border law suits. Referring to the new scheme he said: ‘Each year, we will identify promising lawyers recommended by local lawyers associations to receive special and practical training in institutions and big law firms in the United States or Europe.’ Source: ECNS