Zhiheng News | How can lawyers break into the blue ocean of "enterprises going overseas"? - Big Fish offline chat room came to Zhiheng to focus on the wave of Chinese-funded enterprises going overseas and discuss new opportunities for lawyers to internationalize

As traditional legal services become increasingly saturated and competition grows increasingly homogeneous, venturing into international practice represents a comprehensive reimagining of lawyers’ service models, competency frameworks, and even their ways of thinking. In this process, whoever manages to establish service capabilities that align with international standards first will have the opportunity to stand out in the next cycle of industry competition.

On the afternoon of May 24, 2025, the offline edition of Dayu Chat Room was held at

, bringing together lawyers with extensive experience in cross-border legal services to discuss “How Lawyers Can Navigate the Blue Ocean of Chinese Enterprises Going Global.” The event focused on the wave of Chinese companies expanding overseas and explored new opportunities for lawyers in the era of globalization.

This event is guided by the Shenzhen Municipal Justice Bureau and supported by the Futian District Lawyers Working Committee of the Shenzhen Lawyers Association and the Futian District One-Stop Service Platform for Enterprises Going Global, with Zhicheng Law Firm and Xinze serving as the organizers. This event attracted over 6,000 participants both online and offline, generating a highly positive response. Lasting nearly three hours, the speakers took turns sharing their insights and experiences on a variety of topics, with lively interactions both on-site and online. Attendees all agreed that the session was packed with valuable content and left them with substantial takeaways.

The event’s guests include: Gu Xiaocheng, Executive Director of Zhiheng International Center and Zhiheng Hong Kong; Xie Juan, a national leading talent in foreign-related legal practice and a leading talent in foreign-related legal practice for Guangdong Province and Shenzhen; Luo Baiyun, Partner at Zhiheng Hong Kong; and Ye Lei, Senior Partner specializing in equity at Zhiheng Qianhai and a leading talent in foreign-related legal practice for Guangdong Province.This event was hosted by Yu Pengming, founder of Xinze.

The main topic of this event is:

1. In the current international environment, are Chinese enterprises still actively “going global”? What is the market outlook for legal services supporting overseas expansion?

2. What are the typical and atypical legal risks that companies face when expanding overseas?

3. Which “non-traditional” overseas destinations are becoming new choices for Chinese-funded enterprises, and what new challenges do they face?

4. What are the key differences between traditional cross-border and international legal services and the legal services currently provided to Chinese enterprises expanding overseas?

5. Is it necessary to establish an end-to-end “going global” service team? How should lawyers collaborate with other professional service providers?

6. To provide legal services for companies expanding overseas, how should a law firm strategically plan ahead in terms of organizational structure and talent development?

7. What are the characteristics and unique advantages of law firms in the Greater Bay Area when providing legal services for overseas expansion? How can these advantages be effectively leveraged?

8. What kind of lawyers or legal teams are well-suited to enter the cross-border expansion market? How can one start from scratch to develop this market?

Building an Integrated Service System

Enhancing Global Collaboration Capabilities

ZHI HENG LAW FIRM

Gu Xiaocheng, Executive Director of Zhiheng International Center and Zhiheng Hong Kong

Director Gu Xiaocheng stated that, in the current complex and volatile international environment, Chinese-funded enterprises are placing increasingly higher demands on legal services that support “global collaboration.” Enterprises are no longer satisfied with legal advice confined to a single jurisdiction; they seek cross‑regional, end‑to‑end, and systematic solutions. Law firms must proactively develop service frameworks with a global perspective, enhance their ability to support clients’ international expansion, and collaborate in shaping their clients’ globalization strategies.

Zhiheng Hong Kong brings together top legal talent from across the country and has become the largest Chinese law firm in Hong Kong. With 37 registered foreign lawyers in Hong Kong, it provides legal services under the laws of the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong, building a service ecosystem that covers cross-border investment, compliance, dispute resolution, and other fields, in line with Zhiheng's strategy of "expanding from Shenzhen nationwide and from Hong Kong globally."

Compliance Pain Points for Companies Expanding Overseas

and the Lawyer Role Upgrade

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Xie Juan, National Leading Talent in Foreign-related Legal Practice, and Leading Talent in Foreign-related Legal Practice for Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City.

Drawing on years of experience in cross-border legal services, Attorney Xie Juan has identified and summarized the typical pitfalls that companies encounter when expanding overseas: many enterprises first incorporate their entities and then retroactively complete the ODI (Outward Direct Investment) procedures, which subsequently leads to difficulties in repatriating funds or even forces them to abandon projects. Using emerging markets such as Indonesia and Bangladesh as examples, she also analyzes non-traditional risks, including local registration requirements and labor compliance issues.

Attorney Xie Juan stated that the role of an international lawyer should shift from a “reactive” stance to that of a “project coordinator,” acting as the overall project controller and integrating tax, HR, legal, and other services to help clients achieve a compliant, end-to-end solution.

Essential Requirements for Lawyers Going Global

and the direction of specialization

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Luo Baiyun, Partner at Zhiheng Hong Kong

Drawing on his many years of practice in Hong Kong, Attorney Luo Baiyun has summarized the essential requirements for lawyers expanding their practice overseas: a Chinese lawyer’s license, registration with the Law Society of Hong Kong, and a Hong Kong identity card. Attorney Luo Baiyun also noted that international lawyers can focus on niche areas, such as supply-chain compliance in cross-border e-commerce and overseas plant construction by new-energy companies.

For young lawyers, Attorney Luo Baiyun advises that language skills are a plus rather than a must; however, if one aims to establish a long-term career in Hong Kong or Singapore, proficiency in Cantonese and English can significantly enhance one’s competitiveness.

The Transformation Path of Diversified Services

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Ye Lei, Senior Equity Partner at Zhiheng Qianhai and a leading talent in Guangdong Province’s foreign-related legal profession.

Attorney Ye Lei shared case studies of serving Indonesian enterprises such as Changhong, and summarized the evolving directions for overseas expansion services. In the era of Chinese enterprises “setting sail” globally, clients no longer seek isolated legal advice; they require end-to-end solutions that encompass corporate registration, tax and financial structuring, human resources, and other key areas. Lawyers and law firms must break away from traditional practice models, establish comprehensive collaboration platforms to integrate resources, and thereby better meet the needs of companies pursuing global expansion.

Event venue

Interactive Q&A Session

ZHI HENG LAW FIRM

Live Q&A Session

During the interactive session, the panelists engaged in an in-depth discussion on topics such as the service advantages of law firms in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, breakthroughs in lawyers’ overseas practice, and the current state of the international legal services market.

Host: Yu Pengming, founder of Xinze

Group photo

This event was not only a clash of wisdom and ideas, but also an in-depth discussion on how Chinese lawyers can embrace globalization. In response to the accelerating trend of Chinese enterprises expanding overseas, Zhiheng will continue to increase its investment in cross-border legal services, constantly refining its organizational structure, talent‑development mechanisms, and service delivery models. Leveraging the strategic advantages of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, we will connect with global resources and are committed to providing forward‑looking, specialized legal support to help Chinese companies expand abroad in aPrudent manner.