Throughout the year, CLA hosted a series of academic events involving China-related legal topics, all of which are highly acclaimed by the participants.
Events Hosted in the Academic Year 2019-20
- On October 31, CLA hosted a lunch talk with Professor Tung Ko-Yung, an eminent international lawyer practicing in both the public and private sectors, on the implications of One Belt One Road for International Investment Arbitration
- On November 14 and November 15, CLA hosted the AIIB Talk series features the General Counsel of AIIB, Gerard Sanders (LLM ’92) and Chief Counsel (Institutional), Xuan Gao. The talk series provided an overview of the development of the newest multilateral development bank and discussed strategies for developing a legal career in the world of international organizations.
- On December 14, CLA hosted a lunch talk with Mr. Joseph Chan, general counsel of Yum China. Mr. Chan introduced his experiences in law firm and as a general counsel.
- On April 15, CLA hosted a conversation with Mr. Wei Sun, equity partner from Zhong Lun Law Firm in China. Mr. Sun talked about Chinese lawyers’ role and outlook in the international legal market during of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- On April 22, CLA hosted a conversation with Zhiping (Steven) Zhu, LL.M. ’17, Partner of Global Law Office. Mr. Zhu focuses his practice on cross-border M&A, media and entertainment, and compliance and regulatory. He shared his insights into the legal market in China and discussed the outlook for Chinese lawyers in the international legal market.
- On June 6, CLA hosted a virtual talk with Dr. Wenying Wang, Secretary General, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) Hong Kong Arbitration Center. Dr. Wang shared her experience in international arbitration and her advice on career planning for current law students.
- On Jun 26, CLA hosted a virtual talk with Vincent Wang, Partner at Paul Hastings Hong Kong office. Mr. Wang shared his experience in Capital Markets practice and his advice on career planning for current law students.
- On July 3, CLA hosted a conversation with Zhiping Zhu, Partner of Global Law Office. Mr. Zhu shared his insights on overseas investment compliance and “Circular 37”.
- On July 11, CLA hosted a conversation with Tony Chen (JD ’93), Partner at Jones Day’s Shanghai office and head of Jones Day’s China IP team. Mr. Chen shared his experience dealing with complex cross-border intellectual property matters related to China and discussed the evolving U.S.-China relations from the perspective of a seasoned IP practitioner.
Events Hosted in the Academic Year 2018-19
- On Thursday, November 15, CLA hosted a lunch talk titled “Lawyering in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”. Jack Shaoxi Xu, Esq., HLS ’15, Founder and CEO of PatentPal, former CLA board member, introduce his practice experiences as a lawyer and an entrepreneur in California, especially how he takes advantage of his Chinese background.
- On Thursday, November 8, CLA hosted a lunch talk with Judge Jun He of the Chinese Supreme People’s Court. Judge Jun He of the Supreme People’s Court of China gave a talk on the latest development in Chinese Judicial reform.
- On Friday, October 26, CLA hosted an afternoon chat with Jia Zhao. Jia Zhao is one of the first citizens of the People’s Republic of China to graduate with a JD from Harvard Law School, Ms. Zhao shared her fascinating story of how she came to HLS, her experience at the law school, and her career trajectory since. Ms. Zhao is currently a partner at Baker McKenzie.
- On Wednesday, October 17, CLA hosted a lunch talk with Ming Wai Lau. Ming Wai Lau is a visiting professor at HLS. He is a lawyer, legal scholar, and HongKong based luminary in the business world. During the lunch talk, he shared his insight on Hong Kong’s relationship with Mainland China under the present SAR Government.
- On Friday, October 5, CLA hosted a dinner talk with Ma, Ye (马曳) JD’09. Ms. Ma formerly served as a senior associate in Wall Street Firms in New York, Beijing, and Hong Kong and then the Chief Operations Officer in a hedge fund. She is also a reputable novelist with her novels Leap of Faith (此岸) and 30 Thousand Feet (三万英尺). She shared with us her perspective on professional career development and her writing.
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On Monday, October 1, 2018, CLA hosted a dinner talk titled “Juliana Batista: Supply Chains in China”. The talk was given by Juliana Batista, Project Executive of Esquel Group, on trends and explanations about supply chains in China, with a particular focus on sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. She also shared the groundbreaking work Esquel was doing to set the standard for Corporate Social Responsibility among manufacturers in China.
Events Hosted in the Academic Year 2017-18
- On Thursday, March 22, 2018, CLA hosted a lunch talk titled “Innovation and Venture Capital in China”. The talk focused on the rise of innovation in China, the venture capital industry, risks and challenges of investing, innovation and investment trends, and where we are heading. The speakers, Mr. James Lin and Ms. Nisa Leung, have over 20 years of deal making experience in China. James C. Lin is a Partner of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. He has advised many landmark transactions, including the IPOs of Baidu, JD.com, Sogou, iQiyi, Prada, China Unicom and Air China. He is an expert in initial public offerings, venture capital, complex cross-border securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. Nisa Leung is a Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners, where she leads the health care practice. Qiming is a leading investment firm in China with over 3 billion in assets and investments in over 240 companies including Dianping, Xiaomi, Mogujie, Bilibili, Tujia, Wacai, Meitu, UBTech, Face++, Hexing, Gan Lee, Zai Lab, Berry Genomics, Tigermed etc.
- On Monday, February 26 2018, CLA hosted a lunch talk by Professor Hongliu Gong, Associate Dean of the Law School of the University of International Business and Economics (“UIBE Law”) in Beijing, China. At UIBE Law, Professor Gong and her colleagues established the “Belt and Road Legal Research Center”, first of its kind and the only one in China, working on cutting-edge issues of the BRI under international economics law. In this talk, Prof. Hongliu Gong shared her view on the special “Chinese flavor” added by China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) into today’s global governance.
- On Tuesday, February 6 2018, CLA hosted a lunch talk — “China’s Growth Model: 19th Party Congress and Beyond” by Professor Yasheng Huang, Associate Dean and International Program Professor of Chinese Economy and Business at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Professor Huang shared his view on where would China’s economy go after the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party last year and on the long-term growth of Chinese economy.
- On Tuesday, November 28, 2017, CLA hosted a lunch talk by Dr. Sabine Stricker-Kellerer on Five Unexpected Aspects of Doing Business in China and her experience as the first European lawyer to open an office in China since its opening in 1985.
- On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, CLA hosted “Approaching the LGBT Community in China.” Speakers from HLS, HKS and MIT discussed their experience advocating for LGBT rights in China.This event is sponsored by HLS China Law Association and HKS China Society, and co-sponsored by GSD China, Harvard CSSA, HBS Greater China Club, HSPH CSSA, MGH CSSA, MIT CSSA, China Education Symposium, and Cambridge China Politics Research Workshop.
- On Thursday, October 26, 2017, CLA hosted a lunch talk on “Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect.” Dr. Wang Xian, Professor at the National Institute of Financial Research, Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance (Visiting Scholar at Harvard Kennedy School) and Jimmy Chan, Former Director of Enforcement Division at The Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong, shared the legal and financial issues the program raised, and the ways in which the program has influenced the country’s economy.
- On Tuesday, October 17, 2017, CLA hosted a lunch talk by Dr. Ming Wai Lau on “20 Years After the Reunion: History and Future of the Changing China-Hong Kong Relations Since 1997.”
- On Friday, October 20, 2017, CLA hosted a lunch talk by Professor Mary Gallagher, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Chinese Studies at University of Michigan. She shared her research on China’s actions to opened up the judicial system to adjudicate workplace conflict, emboldening China’s workers to use these laws.
Events Hosted in the Academic Year 2016-17
- On Tuesday, March 28, 2017, CLA hosted a small lunch discussion by Ms. Jeanette K. Chan, Managing Partner of China Practice of Paul, Weiss. Ms. Chan discussed her own career path and the development of the practice of foreign law firms in China.
- On Monday, March 20, 2017, CLA hosted a lunch talk by Professor Yasheng Huang, Vice Dean and International Program Professor in Chinese Economy and Business and a Professor of Global Economics and Management at MIT Sloan School of management. Professor Huang discussed the US election last year, and the US-China relationship under the Trump administration.
- On Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, CLA hosted a lunch talk by Mr. Samuel G. Williamson, Managing Partner of Quinn Emanuel Shanghai Office. Mr. Williamson graduated from HLS in 2000, and he led the firm’s expansion into Shanghai. Mr. Williamson specializes in Asia-based government enforcement and investigations practices as well as U.S.-facing litigation involving facts and parties in Asia. Mr. Williamson discussed the dispute resolution practice in Asia as well as his career development path.
- On Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, CLA hosted a lunch talk by Mr. Ming Wai Lau on the interpretation of Hong Kong Basic Law and Mainland–Hong Kong relations. Mr. Law is Chairman of the Board of Chinese Estates Holdings Ltd. and visiting lecturer at HLS.
- On Thursday, October 20, 2016, CLA hosted its 2016 China Law Association Zhong Lun Symposium. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Doing Business with China”. The symposium included an opening conversation delivered by Professor Lawrence H. Summers and hosted by Professor Mark Wu, a panel discussion on FCPA, a panel discussion on cross-border deals, and a closing conversation delivered by Ms. Zhang Xin, co-founder and CEO of SOHO China, and hosted by Professor William Alford.This symposium is kindly sponsored by Zhong Lun Law Firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, and DOS Grant Fund.
- On Wednesday, October 12, 2016, CLA organized lunch talk with Mr. James Lin, Partner of Davis Polk, and Ms. Nisa Leung, Managing Partner of Qiming Ventures, on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital and Law in China. The event is co-sponsored by HALS and HLEP.
Events Hosted in the Academic Year 2015-16
- On Monday, February 29, CLA organized a lunch meeting with Judges from the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court.
- On Thursday, February 18, CLA held lunch talk “Conversation on WTO dispute resolution with Hongliu Gong and Professor Mark Wu”.
- On Friday, November 13, 2015, China Law Association held its Annual Symposium. This year’s theme is The Rise of China, evidently manifested by the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the growth of Chinese outbound investments and cross-border deals. The Symposium features distinguished guest speakers and panelists, including senior AIIB officials, leading scholars and established practitioners from prominent law firms.
- On September 24, 2015, CLA invited Ming Wai Lau to deliver a lecture on “Post-Occupy Politics in Hong Kong and Mainland–HKRelations.” Professor Alford introduced the speaker. Mr. Lau holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Laws from King’s College London, a Master’s Degree in Laws from London School of Economics and Political Science from University of London and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Laws from King’s College London. Mr. Lau is also the CEO of Chinese Estates Holdings.
Events Hosted in the Academic Year 2014-15
- On April 21, 2014, CLA hosted a discussion named “Corporate Law in China: Perspectives from Young Scholars and Lawyers.” The discussion provided students, practitioners, and academics with a forum to discuss the evolution and challenges of corporate law in China. Young scholars with extensive research and practicing lawyers with substantive experience in the field shares their thoughts.
- On April 3, 2014, CLA invited Dr. David Dollar of the Brookings Institution, former Country Director for China and Mongolia at the World Bank, for a small group coffee chat with Harvard students. Dr. Dollar was also the Obama administration’s emissary to China for economic and financial matters for several years. Dr. Dollar and his wife (who also worked in China for a few years) discussed law and economic development in China.
- On December 8, 2014, CLA invited Dr. Jian Gao, former president of China Development Bank to give a talk on “Recent Development of China-Africa Economic Ties: Opportunities and Challenges of Chinese Investment and Aid Programs in Africa”. Dr. Jian Gao served as an Executive Vice President of China Development Bank until August 2012. He was director of the Department of State Debt Administration, and director of the Department of Laws and Regulations of the Ministry of Finance before he joined the China Development Bank in October 1998. The event attracted more than sixty attendants from both HLS and outside HLS.
- On November 12, 2014, Professr Ruoying Chen from Peking University was invited to by CLA to discuss her recent paper on taking of properties in urban China. Professor Ruoying Chen‘s is a SJD graduate from Chicago Law School and also did her M.Juris. at Oxford. She was John.M.Olin Fellow in the Law and Economics Program and visiting assistant professor at Chicago Law School before joining Peking University Law School. She also worked at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Beijing and Hong Kong offices for five years. Her expertise is in M& A, IPO, corporate restructuring, etc.
- On October 21, 2014, CLA invited Professor Guanzhong Wen of Trinity College for a talk on “Compulsory Collective Land Ownership and Exclusive Urbanization: The Main Causes of Much Worsened Income Distribution in China?” Professor James Wen graduated from Fudan University, Shanghai, Chna in 1982 with an M.A. in Economics, and from University of Chicago in 1989 with a Ph.D. in Economics, specializing in development economics, Globaization, and the economies of East Asia, particularly China. The earlier focus of James Wen’s research was in China’s total factor productivity in its agriculture and the Great Leap Famine. His more recent research interests are the remaining agrarian issues, and issues that are troubling China as it moves to modernization, urbanization and globalization. More recently, he turns his interests to issues such as the Needham Puzzle.
Events Hosted in the Academic Year 2013 – 2014
- In March 2014, CLA organized a closed-door seminar with Professor Weifang He of Peking University. During the seminar Professor He discussed with the participants the on-going judicial reforms and existing obstacles to judicial independence. A wide array of topics, including the rule of law, civil society, and potential political structures are also covered during the event. Active discussion and conversation carried from dinner hour to over mid-night, and all participants felt the event insightful and inspiring
- On February 13, 2014, CLA sponsored a panel discussion on public interest careers in China. The event introduced students to some of the internship opportunities in China around public interest law. It also involved a discussion on the current status of public interest law and public interest careers in China. Panelists include Wenjuan Zhang, Vice Director of Zhicheng Public Interest Lawyers, Alonzo Emery, Lecturer and Clinical Instructor at Harvard Law School, Lu Jun, Co-founder of Beijing Yirenping Center, and Julina Guo, current JD student at Harvard Law School and former summer intern at Beijing Yilian Legal Aid and Research Center of Labor.
- On February 10, 2014, CLA sponsored a guest lecture by Mr. Qianfan Zhang, Professor of Peking University and the Vice President of the Association of China Constitutional Law. The lecture, titled A Constitution without Constitutionalism? Paths of Constitutional Developments in China, was attended by about 70 students and scholars from the Harvard community. Professor Zhang shared with the audience his view of the future of constitutionalism in China. Professor William P. Alford, Vice Dean of Harvard Law School, attended the lecture and hosted a lunch for Professor Zhang and interested students.