The Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region welcomes you to the Hong Kong Legal Services Forum which will be held in Qingdao, Shandong on 16 September 2014.
We held the first and the second Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in July 2010 in Shanghai and in September 2012 in Guangzhou. The two fora were well attended by over 500 and 700 participants respectively from across the business and legal sectors in the nearby regions.
The successful conclusion of the two fora has demonstrated the value of such fora in promoting the legal and dispute resolution services of Hong Kong to Mainland businesses and other users. This year, we have decided to host the third Hong Kong Legal Services Forum in Qingdao. The third Forum is co-organized together with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration (Asia Office) and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Hong Kong Arbitration Center.
Continuing with the theme of “Hong Kong Legal Services – Think Global, Think Hong Kong”, the Forum will highlight the vital role Hong Kong plays as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre, as well as the assistance that the Hong Kong legal professionals and dispute resolution practitioners can provide to Mainland enterprises that are “going global”. The Forum will bring together experienced Hong Kong legal and dispute resolution services professionals including practising solicitors, barristers and arbitrators with abundant international exposure to explore various practical legal issues.
The topics include legal issues and risk management for Mainland enterprises “going-out” of China as well as the advantages of using Hong Kong’s international arbitration and mediation services in resolving commercial disputes. Maritime law, maritime dispute resolution and protection of intellectual property will also be featured. The Forum will consist of presentations and panel discussions by esteemed speakers. Three breakout sessions will be concurrently held in the afternoon covering (a) a mock arbitration to demonstrate how a cross-boundary commercial dispute can effectively be resolved by arbitration, (b) panel discussion and case study on legal issues relating to offshore financing and mergers & acquisitions which will also feature the new Companies Ordinance effective from March this year and (c) panel discussion on maritime law and dispute resolution.