Conference Summary
Event: ICC Chengdu Arbitration Day
Date: July 2, 2026
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to pose two critical questions to different panels today at the ICC- Chengdu Arbitration Day, capping off what was an incredibly successful and insightful conference!
Questions I Posed to the Different Panels
On cost optimization & firm selection:
"With international arbitration costs and timelines continually rising, shouldn't we focus on reducing expenditures? As clients, would you accept a highly capable local law firm practitioner who can do the exact same job at a much lower cost?"
The exchange on legal costs and firm selection sparked an incredibly honest debate in the room.
On emergency interim relief:
"An Emergency Arbitrator must weigh 'irreparable harm' against the 'balance of interests.' If an EA issues sweeping restrictions before a full tribunal is even formed, when does preventing harm cross the line into pre-judging the merits?"
Personal Discussions & Connections
Cesar Pereira (Chartered Arbitrator, Partner at Justen, Pereira, Oliveira & Talamini, and President of Ciarb Brazil Branch): Discussion on global standards in international dispute resolution.
Claudia Salomon (President, ICC International Court of Arbitration)
Helen Shi (Vice President of the ICC International Court of Arbitration & Partner, Fangda Partners): Discussion on North Asia's shifting trends.
Humphrey Han (Associate, Zhong Yin Chengdu Law Firm): Exchanged local legal insights on Western China.
Baoqiang Zheng (Partner & Head of Operations China, HKA): Caught up on HKA's expanding dispute resolution and risk footprint in the region.
Michael Tonkin (Partner, HKA)
Wade (Duan & Duan Chengdu Law Firm): Personal discussion diving into the rapid evolution of cross-border dispute resolution and commercial legal practices in Sichuan.
Haina (Lawyer, Guangzhou): Personal chat catching up on cross-border arbitration dynamics and practice trends in the Greater Bay Area.
Wei Sun (ICC Court Member & Partner, Zhong Lun LLP)
Fang Zhao (ICC Court Member & Partner, Huizhong Law Firm)
Xin Zhang (Counsel, ICC Court Hong Kong)
Jordan Yang (Senior Partner, AllBright Law Offices)
You Xi'an Ng (Foreign Lawyer, Belgrave Law)
Carly Zhou (Senior Attorney, Shanghai)
Yuan Wang Della (Chongqing & Chengdu Legal Practitioner)
Sherlin Tung (Partner, Withersworldwide)
Fan Zhang (FCIArb, DIAC Arbitrator & Jingsh Law Firm)
Yang Liu (Partner, Fangda Partners)
Joshua Huang (Senior Partner, Beijing Kangda Chengdu Law Firm)
Immense value listening to and connecting with the day's stellar panelists and court members.
Closing Note
The ICC Chengdu Arbitration Day has successfully reinforced key regional relationships and brought forward crucial discussions on procedural efficiency and the evolution of cross-border dispute practices. The insights gained from both the panel sessions and the individual exchanges underscore the growing importance of regional talent and surgical procedural remedies in handling complex commercial disputes moving forward.
This trip has already achieved exactly what I hoped for (and gave me some unexpected camera time!). If you are still around Chengdu this evening, let’s meet, and keep the conversation going! 🤝
#InternationalArbitration #DisputeResolution #ICCArbitration #Ciarb #LegalFees #DuanAndDuan #ChengduLawyers #Chengdu
