Zhiheng Professional | Professional reach and diversified dispute resolution: Zhiheng Xi'an Civil and Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Legal Professional Committee sets sail
Against the backdrop of comprehensively advancing the rule of law and deepening reforms of diversified dispute resolution mechanisms, arbitration and mediation, as important alternative dispute-resolution methods to litigation, are increasingly becoming the preferred choices for market entities in resolving commercial disputes. Litigation remains the ultimate safeguard and the primary means of dispute resolution, as well as the principal arena for lawyers specializing in civil and commercial matters; arbitration and mediation, on the other hand, serve as extensions and supplements that align with the trend toward diversified dispute resolution and cater to the diverse preferences of the parties involved.
On December 26, 2025, the Civil and Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Legal Professional Committee of Guangdong Zhiheng (Xi’an) Law Firm (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) was officially established, marking a strategic step forward for Zhiheng Xi’an in its pursuit of specialized, branded, and high-end development.
1.Introduction to the Special Committee
ZHI HENG XI'AN
The Xi’an Civil and Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Legal Practice Committee, based in Xi’an and serving the broader Northwest region, has brought together a team of seasoned lawyers with many years of experience in resolving civil and commercial disputes. Grounded in civil and commercial litigation, the committee has established a comprehensive, integrated practice model that seamlessly links litigation, arbitration, and mediation. Whether it involves strategic advocacy in litigation proceedings or the selection and coordination of alternative dispute-resolution pathways such as arbitration and mediation, the committee is able to provide clients with efficient, professional, and all‑round dispute‑resolution solutions.
2.Scope of Business
ZHI HENG XI'AN
(I) Civil and commercial litigation services
1. Representation in various complex civil and commercial litigation cases: Covers contract disputes, corporate equity disputes, construction project disputes, financial loan disputes, and other matters, spanning the entire procedural cycle from first instance, through second instance and retrial, to enforcement proceedings;
2. Specialized Services for Asset Preservation and Enforcement: Property preservation, behavioral preservation, compulsory execution, actions for challenging enforcement, etc.;
3. Corporate Ongoing Legal Counsel and Dispute Prevention: Litigation risk assessment, evidence preservation and collection strategies, dispute response plans, etc.
(II) Arbitration Services
1. Representation in domestic civil and commercial arbitration cases: Covers various types of commercial disputes, including contract disputes, corporate equity disputes, construction project disputes, and financial loan disputes;
2. Representation in foreign-related and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan commercial arbitration cases: Familiarity with the arbitration rules of major arbitration institutions, such as the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC);
3. Full-Process Legal Services for Arbitration: Drafting and reviewing arbitration clauses, providing consultation on arbitration procedures, filing applications for the setting aside or non-enforcement of arbitral awards, and enforcing arbitral awards;
4. Recommend and support outstanding lawyers to serve as arbitrators and expert assistants, and encourage their active participation in arbitration proceedings and decision-making.
(III) Mediation Services
1. Commercial mediation, financial dispute mediation, pre-litigation mediation, and in-litigation mediation;
2. Serve as a specially appointed mediator of the People’s Court and participate in mediation work assigned or entrusted by the court;
3. Provide specialized services such as mediation plan design and negotiation strategy support for enterprises and parties involved.
(IV) Linkage between Litigation and Arbitration
1. Review of the Validity of Arbitration Clauses and Dispute Resolution: Providing professional advice to help clients make the optimal choice between litigation and arbitration;
2. Coordination between Arbitration and Litigation Procedures: Application for interim measures in arbitration, enforcement of arbitral awards, and the avenues of judicial relief following the setting aside of an award;
3. Judicial Review of Arbitral Awards: Acting on behalf of clients to apply for the revocation of arbitral awards or the refusal to enforce such awards, thereby safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests;
4. Mediation-litigation coordination, litigation-mediation coordination: Promote the judicial confirmation of mediation agreements to transform mediation outcomes into enforceable judgments.
(V) Comprehensive Research
1. Research on Cutting-Edge Theories and Practical Issues in the Fields of Arbitration and Mediation;
2. Analysis of typical cases and systematization of judicial rules;
3. Provide expert opinions and professional support to arbitration institutions, industry associations, and legislative activities.
3. Market Prospects
ZHI HENG XI'AN
As economic activities become increasingly complex and internationalized, commercial entities are placing higher demands on dispute resolution mechanisms in terms of efficiency, confidentiality, professionalism, and the cross-border enforceability of awards. Arbitration and mediation, as core alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, continue to see growing market demand. Meanwhile, with a series of favorable policies being implemented one after another, the multi-faceted dispute resolution sector is ushering in a historic opportunity.
(I) Policy benefits continue to be released.
On May 20, 2025, the Law of the People's Republic of China on Promoting the Private Economy officially came into effect, explicitly requiring the establishment and improvement of a diversified mechanism for resolving disputes and encouraging private economic organizations to resolve disputes through non-litigious means such as mediation and arbitration. On September 12, 2025, the newly revised Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China was adopted by vote and will take effect on March 1, 2026. This marks the first comprehensive revision of the Arbitration Law in its 30 years of implementation, signaling that China's arbitration system has entered a new stage.
In alignment with the overarching policy framework set forth at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee—namely, “improving the diversified dispute-resolution mechanism”—and the Supreme People’s Court’s approach to source-based governance, which prioritizes mediation and multi-faceted dispute resolution, the arbitration and mediation sectors are currently experiencing an unprecedented period of policy-driven opportunities.
(II) Market demand continues to grow.
Globally, commercial arbitration is increasingly favored by multinational enterprises due to its advantages, including finality of awards, expert adjudication, strong confidentiality, and ease of cross-border enforcement. Meanwhile, mediation, characterized by low costs, high efficiency, and its ability to help restore business relationships, has become a significant force in addressing the root causes of disputes.
Focusing on Xi’an, as the construction of national central cities and the Belt and Road Initiative continue to deepen, Xi’an—serving as the economic hub of Northwest China and a key node city along the Belt and Road—has seen increasingly vigorous commercial activities and sustained growth in cross-border transactions. Market entities are demonstrating strong demand for efficient, professional, and confidential dispute-resolution mechanisms, creating substantial market potential for arbitration and mediation.
(III) Professionalization-driven competition fosters development.
Competition in the legal services market has shifted from “comprehensive services” to “deep specialization.” Establishing a specialized committee on civil and commercial arbitration and mediation is both a proactive response to market trends and an inevitable choice for enhancing the firm’s differentiated competitiveness and capturing a share of the high-end dispute resolution market.
4. Work that has been carried out
ZHI HENG XI'AN
Since its inception, the Special Committee has adhered to the principles of “gathering momentum through activities, building trust through expertise, and fulfilling responsibilities through public service,” and has already carried out a series of highly effective initiatives.
(I) Deepen cooperation among arbitration institutions and streamline dispute resolution channels.
On June 5, 2025, we took the lead in inviting the leadership of the Financial Arbitration Tribunal of the Xi’an Arbitration Commission to visit our law firm for a research and exchange visit, during which we reached a consensus on cooperation regarding the establishment of a diversified dispute-resolution mechanism for financial disputes.
2. On July 11, 2025, the firm was selected as one of the first “Arbitration Dispute Resolution Liaison Points” of the Financial Arbitration Court of the Xi’an Arbitration Commission and was officially recognized, thereby serving as a professional bridge between financial institutions, enterprises, and the arbitration body.
On September 11, 2025, the Xi’an Arbitration Commission successfully hosted the “Financial Arbitration Lecture Series: Practical Aspects of Foreign-related Financial Law” at the law firm, providing cutting-edge practical training for lawyers and businesses.
(II) Building the "Zhu Lü · Xi'an Private Gathering" professional exchange brand.
“Zhu Law·Xi’an Private Forum” is a professional exchange platform meticulously developed by the Special Committee, focusing on cutting-edge practical issues such as corporate governance, equity disputes, the intersection of criminal and civil law, and the intersection of family law with employment law. It brings together lawyer peers and in-house counsel, and has successfully held three sessions to date, continuing to deepen its expertise centered on Attorney Zhu Chen’s professional brand.
1. Issue 1 (April 29, 2026): Focusing on “Disputes Between the Company and Its Shareholders.” Attorney Lei Shunyong presented on “Practical Applications of Objections to Jurisdiction”; Attorney Zhu Chen delivered a lecture titled “Denial of Corporate Personality: From Lifting the Corporate Veil to Reconstructing the Legal Framework”; Attorney Wang Peng shared insights on “Building Corporate Compliance Systems”; and Attorney Tan Mintao explained “Practical Aspects of Prosecuting the Crime of Embezzlement by Employees.”
2. Second phase (May 29, 2026): Focusing on the cutting edge of corporate governance and the intersection of criminal and civil law practice. The five guests—Lei Shunyong, Zhu Chen, Pan Xiaohui, Tan Mintao, and Gao Jun—delved into a range of topics, including the ownership of “red-hat” enterprises, the “abyss” and the “other shore” of shareholder liability in single-member companies, typical cases involving financial institutions, the practical aspects of criminal complaints, and the reasoning behind court judgments as well as the specialization of legal practice.
3. Phase III (August 20, 2026): Focusing on “Commercial Bargaining and Interwoven Risks—Equity, Family Matters, and Employment Disputes from the Perspective of Corporate Disputes.” Attorney Qu Long shared practical insights on the division of equity in divorce disputes, Attorney Zhu Chen delivered a presentation titled “Judicial Logic and Risk Assessment in Disputes over Equity Nominee Holdings,” Attorney Lei Shunyong explained the “Potato Clause” and the Spouse Confirmation Letter, and Attorney Lan Junwei shared practical experience in handling disputes over the termination of employment contracts.
(III) Professional output and industry influence continue to improve.
1. Attorney Zhu Chen, as a specially invited guest of iCourt, a leading legal technology institution in China, has been repeatedly invited to appear on the iCourt live-streaming channel to deliver specialized presentations. Focusing on topics such as “The Fiduciary Duties and Breach of Duty Liabilities of Directors, Supervisors, and Senior Management: A Perspective on Creditors’ Interests Protection,” he has fully demonstrated the professional expertise and industry influence of the specialized committee.
2. Attorney Zhu Chen has successively delivered specialized lectures on topics such as “How Corporate Creditors Can Pursue Shareholders’ Liability for Compensation” (August 7, 2025) and “Appointment of Directors, Supervisors, and Senior Managers, Fiduciary Duties, and Protection of Creditors’ Interests under the New Company Law” (November 26, 2025);
3. Members of the Special Committee have been consistently publishing professional articles on the law firm’s official WeChat account, covering such topics as the legal risks of nominee shareholding, the capital contribution obligations under Article 88 of the new Company Law, the distinction between civil fraud and the crime of fraud, and insights into legal document drafting, thereby continuously enhancing the Special Committee’s professional reputation through high-quality content.
The aforementioned lectures and professional articles are all the result of the team’s long-term, in-depth engagement in civil and commercial litigation practice, and they also provide a solid foundation for alternative dispute resolution practices such as arbitration and mediation.
(IV) Practicing public interest legal services and demonstrating social responsibility.
On April 28, 2026, members of the special committee went into the community to conduct pro bono legal consultation activities, answering questions and addressing concerns for the public.
On May 10, 2026, participated in the Shaanxi Provincial Library’s pro bono legal consultation event, giving back to society through professional expertise and fulfilling the social responsibility of legal professionals.
5. Future plans: deepen expertise and continue to improve.
ZHI HENG XI'AN
(I) Professional Capacity Building
By institutionalizing learning and discussions, we will strengthen our professional foundation and ensure that professional competence becomes the most solid hallmark of the specialist committee.
1. Regularly organize internal case discussions and business training sessions, conducting in-depth post‑mortems and exchanging diverse perspectives on challenging and complex cases as well as novel types of disputes.
2. Systematically review classic arbitration and mediation cases, establish an internal knowledge base, and develop reusable, inheritable professional resources.
3. Monitor changes in the rules of major domestic and international arbitration institutions, as well as the latest judicial developments, and produce specialized research reports to maintain our position as a professional leader.
(II) Brand Events and Industry Influence
By leveraging brand events to build momentum and fostering industry exchanges to expand our network, we will continue to enhance the specialized committee’s professional influence within the legal community and strive to establish it as a leading benchmark in the fields of arbitration and mediation.
1. Continue to operate the “Zhu Law·Xi’an Private Forum,” focusing on the cutting edge of practical legal work;
2. Regularly organize the “Forum on Practical Issues in Civil and Commercial Arbitration and Mediation” to establish a flagship brand for professional exchange in Northwest China;
3. Actively engage in professional exchanges with arbitration institutions and industry associations, conduct in-depth research to gain a precise understanding of arbitration rules and industry trends, and provide clients with more forward-looking, multi-dimensional dispute-resolution strategies.
(III) Knowledge Production and Market Expansion
Establish a professional image through knowledge creation, expand the service market through product development, and achieve a two-way conversion between professional value and commercial value.
1. Regularly publish practical observation reports on the resolution of civil and commercial disputes, systematically presenting annual hot topics, judicial trends, and practical recommendations;
2. Continuously produce professional articles and course content, leveraging the law firm’s official WeChat account, the personal brands of the heads and members of specialized committees, and third-party industry platforms to amplify our professional influence.
3. For corporate clients, we have developed dispute resolution legal service offerings such as “Arbitration Clause Design and Compliance Review,” “Equity Dispute Prevention and Resolution,” and “Multi-Channel Resolution of Financial Disputes.”
(IV) Talent Development and Team Building
By building a tiered talent pipeline, we aim to develop a team of lawyers with significant professional influence in the fields of arbitration and mediation.
1. Implement a mentorship program, whereby senior committee members guide young lawyers in case discussions and practical training, thereby facilitating the transfer of experience.
2. Encourage committee members to participate in arbitrator training and certification, thereby broadening their professional development pathways;
3. Encourage committee members to participate in professional training and academic exchanges in the fields of arbitration and mediation, both domestically and internationally, to continuously enhance their professional competence.
Building on litigation, grounded in professionalism, and pursuing long-term success through diversified dispute resolution. The Zhiheng (Xi’an) Professional Committee on Civil and Commercial Arbitration and Mediation will uphold the principles of “professionalism, focus, efficiency, and win‑win cooperation.” With litigation as its core and arbitration and mediation as its complementary strengths, it will provide end‑to‑end services spanning the entire “litigation–arbitration–mediation” chain, offering clients high‑quality, efficient dispute‑resolution solutions and contributing Zhiheng’s expertise to optimizing a law‑based business environment and advancing the development of diversified dispute‑resolution mechanisms.
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