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1、ContributedbyRuiLuoandYingZengHanKunLawOfficesHanKunLawOfficesisaleadingfull-servicelawfirminChina.0vertheyears,HanKunhasbeenwidelyrecognisedasaleaderincomplexcross-borderanddomestictransactionsandcompliancematters.Thefirmsmainpracticeareasincludeprivateequity,mergersandacquisitions,internationaland
2、domesticcapitalmarkets,investmentfunds,assetmanagement,compliance,bankingandfinance,aviationfinance,foreigndirectinvestment,antitrust/com-petition,dataprotection,privateclient/wealthmanagement,intellectualproperty,bankruptcyandrestructuringanddisputeresolution.Wehavenearly800professionalslocatedinou
3、rsevenofficesinBeijingjShanghai1Shenzhen,HongKong,Haikou,Wuhan,aswellasSingapore,aleadingfinancialcentreintheAsia-Pacific.Allourlawyersaregraduatesoftopuniversitiesandhaveextensiveexperienceincomplexcross-bordertransactionsanddisputeresolutionascounseltobothChineseandforeignclients.AuthorsRuiLuoisap
4、artneratHanKun.HispracticefocusesonIPlitigationandIP-relatedantimonopolydisputeresolution.Hehasparticularexpertiseinrepresentingmultinationalclientsincomplexandhigh-stakesIP-relateddisputesinChinaJnmorethan12yearsofpractice,MrLuohasrepresentedclientsinIPdisputesbeforeallkeyIPcourtsinChina.Withhisdee
5、pinsightsintotheIPprotectionsysteminChina5MrLuohashelpedhisclientswinmanylandmarkcases.AnumberofthesecaseshavebeenselectedasguidelinecasesbytheSupremePeoplesCourt,BeijingHighPeoplesCourt,andBeijingIPCourt.YingZengisofcounselatHanKun.Herpracticefocusesoncommercialdisputeresolution(includingarbitratio
6、nanditigation)andwhite-collaritigationandinvestigations.lnhermanyyearsofpracticeintheUSandChina1MsZenghasrepresentedandadvisedmultinationalanddomesticcompaniesfromvariousindustriesinwide-rangingcomplexcommercialdisputesbeforeChineseurts,UScourts,andmajorarbitrationinstitutions.MsZengistrulybilingual
7、andculturallyfluentacrossjurisdictionsandparticularlyknownforherexpertiseinadvisingclientstohandlecross-borderdisputes.MsZengisadmittedtopracticeinMainlandChina,Pennsylvania,andNewJerseyHANKUN汉坤律师事务所Han Kun Law OfficesCHINATRENDSANDDEVELOPMENTSContributedby:RuiLuoandYingZeng,HanKunLawOfficesHanKunLa
8、wOffices9/F,OfficeTowerC1OrientalPlaza1EastChangAnAveDongchengDistrictBeijing100738PRCTel:+861085255500Fax:+861085255522EmaiLrui.IuoWeb:IntroductionInthepost-COVID-19era,Chinasbusinessenvironmentandlegalregimecontinuetoevolve,bringingnewchangestothelitigationIandscape.Theyear2023hasseenseveralkeydev
9、elopments,includingamendmentstotheCivilProceduralLaw5Changesinthehighercourts,jurisdictionovercomplexdisputesandretrials,andtheabolitionofthelegalisationrequirementinIitigation-Thesechangesaimtoenhanceefficiency,fairness,andpredictabilityinChineseIitigation.Thisarticleexplorestheseimportantshiftsand
10、theirimpactonChinaslitigationlandscape.On1September2023,ChinareleaseditsnewlyamendedCivilProceduralLaw(the,4AmendedCPL,).Theamendments,takingeffectfrom1January2024,primarilyfocusontheforeign-relatedcivilproceduresection,coveringabroadrangeoftopicsincludingjurisdiction,service,collectionofevidence,an
11、drecognitionandenforcementofforeignarbitralawardsandjudg-ments.Thisisthefirstsubstantivemodificationtoforeign-relatedcivilprocedurerulessincethepassageoftheoriginalCivilProcedureLawin1991andholdspracticalsignificanceforhowforeign-relatedcivilandcommercialcaseswillbehandledinChinainthefuture.Thisarti
12、clefirsthighlightsthemajorchangesintheAmendedCPLandthenintroducesotherrecenttrendsanddevelopmentsinlitigationinChina.AmendedRulesonCourtJurisdictionOverForeign-RelatedCasesRegardingthejurisdictionofPRCcourtsoverforeign-relatedcivilcases,theAmendedCPLhasaddedfivenewclausescomparedwiththepreviousversi
13、on(Articles277,278,280-282),andthetwoexistingclauseshavebeensupplementedwithrulesexpandingthescenarioswheretheChinesecourtsmayhearcasesinvolvingaforeignelement(Articles276and279).Thesenewchangesincludeaddingmorejurisdictionalnexuses,prescribingthelegalstandardofforumnonconveniens,andspecifyingthecri
14、teriatoacceptorstayadomesticcasewhenthereisaparallellegalproceedingalreadypendingbeforeaforeignurt.AdditionalgroundstoexercisejurisdictionUnderthe2023Amendments,thePRCcourtjurisdictionhasbeenexpandedinthreeways.Thefirstnewnexusistheappropriatecon-Contriutedy:RuiLuoandYingZeng,HanKunLawOfficesnection
15、*withChina.Traditionally,theChinesecourtsmayhearcasesagainstaforeignpartywithoutdomicileinChinaunderspecifiedcircumstances-ie,thecontractisexecutedorperformedinChina,thesubjectmatterorassetsavailableforseizurearelocatedwithinChina,theinfringementacttakesplaceinChina,ortheforeignpartyhasarepresentati
16、veofficeinChina.Inadditiontotheseconnections,theAmendedCPLempowersChinesecourtstoexercisejurisdictionoveraforeign-relatedcasewherethedisputehasuotherappropriateconnectionstothePRC(Article276).ThisadditionoffersChineseentitieswhoconductcross-borderbusinessesincreasedaccesstolitigationindomesticcourts
17、withlowercostsandenhancedefficiency.Infact,beforethe2023Amendments,theseadditionalgroundshadalreadybeenactivelyarguedinaseriesofhigh-profilestandardessentialpatent-relatedmultinationallawsuitssuchasZTEvConversant(2020),OPPOvSharp(2021),OPPOvNokia(2022)andOPPOvInterdigital(2023),wheretheSupremePeople
18、sCourtconfirmedChinesecourtjurisdictionoverworldwidelicensingfeedisputesbasedontheappropriateconnectionswithChina.ThesecondaspectofthebroadenedjurisdictionisreflectedinthenewrulesonexpressandimpliedconsenttojurisdictionbyPRCcourts.TheAmendedCPLallowsthepartiestoselectaPRCcourttoadjudicateaforeign-re
19、lateddisputebywrittenagreement(Article277).Despitetheprovisionitselfbeingsilentonthespecificcriteriafortheparties,forumselectionclause,itisareasonablereadingfromthecontextofthelawthattheremustbeatleastsomeappropriateconnection,withChina.Additionally,whenapartydoesnotchallengethejurisdictionofthecour
20、t,answerthecomplaint,orraisecounterclaims,thepartywillbedeemedtohaveacceptedthejurisdictionoftheChinesecourt.1.astly,twotypesoflitigationwhereChinesecourtshaveexclusivejurisdictionhavebeenaddedintheAmendedCPL-ie,disputesarisingoutofincorporation,dissolution,andliquidationofthebusinessentitiesregiste
21、redinChinaandthevalidityoftheresolutionsthereof;anddisputesoverthevalidityofintellectualpropertyrightsgrantedwithinChina(Article279).Thishasfurtherbroadenedthescopeofscenariosinwhichforeign-relateddisputesfallunderthejurisdictionofPRCcourt.AdoptionoftheforumnonconveniensdoctrineThedoctrineofforumnon
22、conveniensisnottypicallyappliedinChinaslegalsystemasitisaconceptprimarilyassociatedwithcommonlawcountriesandinterpretedbycaselaws.TheAmendedCPL,forthefirsttime,adoptedthedoctrineofforumnonconveniensintothelegislation,allowingadefendanttoseekdismissalwhentheChinesecourtisnotthemostappropriateorconven
23、ientforumtodecidethecase(Article282).Thismeansthatdespitebeinggrantedthebroadenedauthoritytoassertjurisdiction,Chinesecourtswillstilltakeapractical,flexible,andbalancedapproachtodeterminingthejurisdictionofcross-borderdisputes.Thischangealsoreflectsanopen-mindedattitudeofChineselawmakerstoacceptanda
24、pplyconceptsfromtheinternationalcommunity.Underthisrule,dismissalcanhappenwhenthefollowingconditionsaremetatthesametime: thefactsindisputedonotoccurinChinaanditwouldbeinconvenienteitherfortheChi-nesecourtstohearthecaseorforthepartiestoparticipateinthelitigation;Contriutedy:RuiLuoandYingZeng,HanKunLa
25、wOffices thereisnoagreementbetweenthepartiesreferringthedisputetotheChinesecourts; thedisputedoesnotfallundertheexclusivejurisdictionofaChinesecourt; thecasedoesnotinvolvethesovereigntyissue,nationalsecurityorpublicinterestofChina;or itismoreconvenientforaforeigncourttoadjudicatethedispute.Thedismis
26、salisnecessarilywithprejudice.IfaforeigncourtrefusestohearthecaseafterthedismissalbytheChinesecourts,theplaintiffmayre-filethecaseinChina.Co-ordinationetweenparallelproceedingsAsChineseentitiescontinuetoexpandtheirglobalfootprint,theymaysubjectthemselvestothejurisdictionofmultiplecourts.Thisraisesth
27、epracticalquestionofwhatChinesecourtsshoulddoifacomplaintisfiledinChinawhilelegalproceedingsarealreadypendinginaforeigncourt.The2023Amendmentsproactivelyaddressthisissueandprovideclearrulestohelpjudgesandlitigatorsnavigatethissituation(Articles280-281).Asageneralrule,atthetimeofthefiling,theChinesec
28、ourtshavethediscretiontodecidewhethertoacceptthecasesubjecttocertainrestrictions(eg,thecaseisnotsubjecttotheexclusivejurisdictionofPRCcourtsorthecasedoesnotgiverisetonationalinterestorsecurityconcerns).Ifthecasepassesthefilingstage,theChinesecourtscanstilldismissthecaseorstaythePRCproceedinguponthea
29、pplicationbythepartiesunlessthereisanexpresswrittenagreementchoosingaChineseurttohearthecase,thecaseissubjecttotheexclusivejurisdictionofthePRCcourts,orthePRCcourtsaremoreconvenienttohearthecase.Thisco-ordinationprescribedbytheamendmentsstrikesagoodbalancebetweenrespectingthepartiesfreedomtochoosean
30、appropriateforumfortheirdisputeandthejudicialpowertointerveneandredressgrievancesofanaffectedparty.FlexibleMethodsofServiceonForeignPartiesCourtsinChinahavelongbeentacklingthechallengeofefficientlyservingforeignparties,oftenresultinginsignificantdelaysinforeign-relatedcases.Since1January2023,whenthe
31、SupremePeople,sCourtgrantedthedistrictcourtsjurisdictionoverfirstinstanceforeign-relatedcivilandcommercialcases,thischallengehasbecomeincreasinglycommonatalllevelsoftheChinesejudiciary.Inresponsetopracticalissuesfacedincourt,theAmendedCPLhasintroducedsignificantchangestotheprovisionsconcerningforeig
32、n-relatedservice.Ithassupplementedseveralalternativemethodsandloweredthebarrierstoexistingservicemethodstargetingforeignparties(Article283).Thesechangesinclude: removingtherestrictionsthatpreviouslymandatedexplicitpriorauthorisationforattorneysacceptingserviceonbehalfoftheprincipal,preventinganyavoi
33、danceofservicethroughdeliberatemanipulationofthepowerofattorney; extendingthescopeofalternativeservicestoincludetheforeigndefendantswhollyownedenterprisesregisteredinChina,representativeoffices,andbranchesestablishedinChinaandremovingthepriorauthorisationrestrictions; allowingserviceondomesticenterp
34、risesinlieuofservingontheirforeignlegalrepresentativesorprincipalofficialswhentheyshareco-defendantstatus; allowingserviceonthelegalrepresentativesorprincipalofficialsofforeigncorporateContriutedy:RuiLuoandYingZeng,HanKunLawOfficesdefendants,ifthelegalrepresentativesorprincipalofficialsarebasedinChi
35、na; permittingserviceviaelectronicmeanswherethereceiptcanbeconfirmedunlessprohibitedbythelawsofthecountrywheretherecipientislocated; enablingalternativeservicethroughothermethodsagreeduponbytherecipient,providedthatsaidmethoddoesnotviolatethelawsofthecountrywheretherecipientislocated;and shorteningt
36、hestatutoryperiodforpublicannouncementservicefromthreemonthsto60days.Theseamendmentscollectivelycontributetoamorestreamlinedandpracticalsystemforservingforeignparties,ultimatelyenhancingtheoverallefficiencyandeffectivenessoftheprocessinforeign-relatedcases.ExpandedChannelstoObtainEvidenceLocatedOver
37、seasAsacorollaryoftheexpandedjurisdictionofChinesecourtsoverforeign-relateddisputes,efficientandpracticalmeanstoobtainevidenceoutsideChinawhilerespectingthesovereigntyofforeigncountriesneedtobeprescribed.TheAmendedCPLnotonlycontinuestorecognisethetraditionalchannels(internationaltreatiesanddiplomati
38、cchannels)forPRCcourtstoengageinevidencecollectionoutsideChina,butitalsoaddsthreemoreoptionstoassistthepartiesingatheringevidence,ifnotprohibitedbytheapplicablelocallaw.Thesenewmeansinclude: whenpartiesandwitnessesareChinesenationals,thecourtmayentrusttheChineseembassyorconsulatetoobtaintheevidenceo
39、nitsbehalf; thepartiesmayagreetoofferevidencebyinstantmessagingtools;and otherapproachesthatareagreeduponbytheparties.ItisadvisedthattheseexpandedavenuesareonlyapplicabletothecollectionofevidencebyChineseurtsfromoverseas,notthereverseprocess.WhenaforeigncourtneedstocollectevidencefromChina,ithastoma
40、kearequestforjudicialassistanceincompliancewithinternationaltreatiestowhichChinaisapartyortheprincipleofreciprocity.On30March2023,theMinistryofJusticeissuedCommonQuestionsandAnswersonInternationalCivilandCommercialJudicialAssistance,inwhichitreiteratedtherestrictiononforeigncourtsandpartiescollectin
41、gevidencedirectlyfrompartiesinChinaforuseinforeigncourtproceedings.ClearerStandardsforRefusingtoRecogniseandEnforceForeignJudgmentsThecurrentCPLonlycontainsageneralprovisionontheenforcementofforeignjudgments:anapplicationtoenforceajudgmentmustbereviewedinaccordancewithinternationaltreatiesthatChinah
42、asratifiedorparticipatedinorbasedontheprincipleofreciprocity;andthecourtsshouldnotrecogniseorenforceaforeignjudgmentconflictingwiththebasicprinciplesofthePRClaw,nationalsovereignty,nationalsecurity,orpublicinterest.The2023Amendmentssetforthfouradditionalgroundsfordenyingrecognitionandenforcement,inc
43、luding: theforeigncourtlacksjurisdictiontohearthecase; thedefendantwasnotdulysummoned,givenareasonableopportunitytopresentitscase,orproperlyrepresentedbylegalcounselwhenthedefendantlackedthecapacitytolitigateonitsown;Contriutedy:RuiLuoandYingZeng,HanKunLawOffices thejudgmentwasobtainedbyfraud;and aC
44、hinesecourthasalreadyruledonthesamedisputeoralreadyrecognisedarulingbyaforeigncourtonthesamedispute.Theseadditionsnecessitateamorethoroughexaminationofproceduralaspectsofaforeignjudgmentbythecourts,aligningwithestablishedinternationalstandardsinthisregard.TheAmendedCPLalsoenhancestheco-ordinationofc
45、oncurrentproceedingsinthecontextofenforcement.IfanapplicationforenforcingaforeignjudgmentissubmittedtotheChinesecourthandlingthesamedispute,theChinesecourtmaysuspendtheongoinglitigationuntiladecisiononenforcementisrendered.Inessence,theAmendedCPLreflectsChinascommitmenttoestablishinganequitableandap
46、pealinglegallandscapeforbothdomesticandforeignpartiesinvolvedinlitigation.Althoughthetrueeffectoftheseamendmentswillonlybediscernibleaftertheirimplementationin2024,theAmendedCPLislikelytoprovidefurtherflexibility,clarity,efficiency,andpredictabilityinlitigatingandtryingcross-borderdisputesinChina.Ot
47、herTrendsandDevelopmentsinLitigationin2023ContinuedimplementationOfpretrialmediationinChinaTheuseofpretrialmediationinChinawasfirstintroducedbytheSupremePeople,sCourtin2010asasupplementaryapproachtocivillawsuits,anditwassubsequentlyincorporatedintotheCivilProcedureLawinthe2012Amendment.Currently,the
48、reareprimarilytwomethodsforpretrialmediationinpractice.Oneinvolvesthedocketingchamberjudgedirectlyfacilitatingmediationbetweenthepartieswithina30-daytimeframetoresolvethedisputebeforeformaldocketing.Theothermethod,knownasthealternativedisputeresolution(ADR)mechanism,entailsthecourtoutsourcingmediationtoasocialorganisationwiththeparties*consent.Withoveradecadeofimplementation,pretrialmediationhasgainedwidespreadacceptanceinChinesecourts,significantlyenhancingtheefficiencyoflitigation.Forinstance,inShenzhen1andGuangdong,courtsactivelyengageinprelitigationmediation
