Get Close to the Competition Judges — — The Grand Final of the 4th Dacheng Cup Dispute Resolution and Debate Competition is About to Start

The Dispute Resolution and Debate Competition is a traditional professional activity of Dacheng, aiming to build a stage for young lawyers to improve their professional abilities and show their business advantages, explore deeper needs in the industry, carry out multi-dimensional, multi-angle and multi-level industry and professional research, and establish a platform for strengthened interaction and communication between Dacheng lawyers and more legal colleagues. As early as in 2015 and 2017, Dacheng successfully held two sessions of "Dacheng Cup" Young Lawyers Moot Court Competition, and the third "Dacheng Cup" Dispute Resolution and Debate Competition in 2019. The success of the competition has effectively promoted the improvement of practicing skills of young lawyers, and received a good response in the industry. A number of excellent players who came out of the competition were awarded the "Best Debater", "Group First Prize", "Criminal Group Champion" and other honorary titles of the second and third Shenzhen Public Prosecutor and Lawyer Prosecution and Debate Competition respectively.

The 4th Dacheng Cup Dispute Resolution and Debate Competition officially opened in July 2021 in Guiyang, with 36 civil teams, 41 criminal teams and 25 English international arbitration teams from offices around the country of Dacheng and universities, with more than 700 outstanding lawyers and faculty members and students of law universities registered to participate. The competition held the criminal group stage, the English international arbitration group stage and the civil group stage in October 2021, July 2022 and April 2023 respectively. In addition to the official competition, the competition also held pre-competition training activities in Nanjing, Changsha, Xiamen and Beijing, which were actively participated by the competition team members and young lawyers from the law firms, and received warm responses.

The semi-finals and the final of the competition will be organized by Dacheng Shenzhen Office. The cases used in the competition will be carefully selected from real cases by the setting group and presented splendidly with the forms of court and arbitration tribunal. 23 international arbitration teams in civil, criminal and English from offices across Dacheng and Chengdu University of Technology will launch 36 matches, which will be scored on-site by a judging panel composed of senior lawyers and arbitrators according to the scoring criteria.

The award banquet of the competition will be held on October 23. This is not only an excellent legal debate competition, but also an excellent platform to broaden one's vision, enhance one's thinking and practice one's professional abilities, where law and logic collide with amazing sparks. Who will win the trophy "Feng Ming Jiutian" representing the championship? Please wait and see!

Now let's approach the English group of judges and the presiding judges of the civil and criminal groups of the semi-finals and final of the 4th Dacheng Cup Dispute Resolution and Debate Competition.

International Arbitration Competition (English) Judging Panel:

All-star Lineup and Exciting Presentation

The 4th International Arbitration Match of the Dacheng Cup Dispute Resolution and Debate Competition (in English) will be held on October 21 and 22. This Moot Arbitration Competition will show actual scenes of the hearing, with both fact witnesses and expert witnesses to be cross-examined in court, and will adopt the adversarial hearing method, and the governing laws of this Moot Arbitration Competition shall be the laws of England and the International Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, etc. The judges of this competition were all experts in this field. They were proficient in international arbitration. All-star line-up of judges and arbitrators, participating lawyers and witnesses will present a high-level, authentic and wonderful simulated court trial together.

As invited by Mr. Zhu Yongrui, a senior partner of the Beijing headquarters of Dacheng Cup Dispute Resolution and Expert Panel, 8 international well-known lawyers and arbitrators from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom comprised the judging panel for the final stage. Their names are Victor Dawes SC, Chairman of the Bar Association of Hong Kong; Jonathan Chang SC, Member of the Election Commission of Hong Kong and President of the Hainan Court of International Arbitration; Justin Ho QC, Associate of North Sea Law Firm and Senior Associate of Hainan International Arbitration; Justin Ho QC, Associate of Jun Ze Jun Law Firm and International Arbitrator; Fengguo Niu, Associate of Dentons Rodyk Law Firm (Singapore); Melvin See, Associate of Dentons Rodyk Law Firm (Singapore). Details of the case are summarized as follows:

Mr. Thomas Du is currently Chairman of the Bar Association of Hong Kong, Non-Permanent Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong, Non- Executive Director of Hong Kong Stock and Futures Exchange and Chairman of Hong Kong Investment and Financial Education Commission.

Mr. Du is a commercial litigation lawyer with extensive experience in a wide range of commercial and equity law, including international arbitration, equity and trust, corporate law and banking and finance disputes. Outstanding reputation in the fields of finance, trust, securities regulation and corporate.

Mr. Zhang Tianren is responsible for all areas of Tian Bo Law Firm, with particular focus on commercial litigation, judicial review, tax, land and regulatory work. He has appeared in courts, Review Boards, Insider Dealing Tribunal, Market Misconduct Tribunal and Securities and Futures Appeal Court. He has also been appointed as a Provisional Judge of the High Court in 2022.

Mr. Zhang served as Honorary Secretary of the Bar Association of Hong Kong, Judge of Provisional High Court, Judge of Provisional District Court, Member of Appeal (housing), Member of Open Information Law Reform Committee, Vice-Chairman of Municipal Affairs Appeal Committee, Member of Estate Agencies Supervision Authority, Member of Property Management Services Authority and Chairman of Hong Kong Defence Counsels Training Committee.

As a well-known trial lawyer in Hong Kong, Mr. Fan is a winner of the HKSAR Medal of Honor, a member of the Election Committee, a member of the Appeal Committee (on education matters), an observer of the Police Complaints Handling Committee, a member of the Discipline Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Vice-Chairman of the Tai Po Crime Eradication Committee. Mr. Fan also has many part-time jobs in Mainland China. Currently, he is the President of Hainan Court of International Arbitration, a Standing Committee member of Hainan Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the National Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.

Mr. Huo is a solicitor in Hong Kong and barrister in England and Wales, working with 36Stone Barristers in London and Singapore.

Mr. Huo Tianwei has extensive experience and specializes in helping clients resolve complex legal issues and disputes. Prior to founding Huo, Mr. Huo has over 10 years of experience in a prestigious international law firm (Smith) and a major investment bank (Morgan Stanley, UBS). Mr. Huo has an international background and experience having worked in, Switzerland and mainland China.

Mr. Huo is Chairman of the Building Ordinance Appellate Tribunal, Member of the Hong Kong Tax Appeal Board, Adjudicator of the Immigration Tribunal, Member of the Hong Kong Hotel Appeal Board and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Institute of International Financial Law, The University of Hong Kong.

Mr. HE Yuhao is a barrister with Tianbo Law Firm. Mr. He's broad practice takes in all areas of civil and commercial disputes, and is particularly sought-after for his expert knowledge of corporate and insolvency disputes including all liquidators' actions and motions. He is also an acclaimed practitioner of arbitration, professional negligence, trust and probate. He has a particular interest in cross-jurisdictional disputes and matters with cross-border elements, having advised and appeared in a number of such cases.

Mr. LIU Chi is a licensed attorney both in the PRC and in the New York State of the U.S. He has extensive experience in the areas of international projects and dispute resolution, sports, television and entertainment, and sports. He used to serve as the Greater China Director of Legal Counsel of multinational companies and has extensive experience in the legal issues, compliance and anti-corruption areas of multinational companies' operations in China.

Mr. LIU Chi is also an arbitrator for several international commercial arbitration institutions in the area of dispute resolution. He has also acted as an attorney representing Chinese and foreign companies and individuals in sports arbitration, international commercial arbitration, complex civil and commercial litigation, labor disputes, and marriage and family, inheritances, etc.

In the sports sector, Mr. Liu has represented some Chinese special sports associations, Chinese and foreign sports companies and Chinese and foreign athletes in many negotiations and litigations relating to live events, anti- doping, commercial sponsorship, media rights, event operations and player transfer disputes.

Fengguo Niu is the legal counsel of Dacheng Beijing Office. He has over 20 years of experience in cross-border investments, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, greenfield and other types of transactions. He focuses his practice advising international investors on their investments and operations in China, as well as advising Chinese companies on their outbound investment. He has represented multinational companies and Chinese clients in significant transactions in a number of industries, including energy, mining, automotive, infrastructure, steel, equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, media and entertainment.

Niu's roles include deal structure, due diligence, documentation and negotiation, coordination of the execution and completion of transactions, and advising on relevant regulatory and compliance issues. He is familiar with legal issues arising in cross-border environments and is adept at finding creative and commercial solutions to legal risks and problems.

Prior to joining in Dacheng, Fengguo Niu has practiced in international law firms for many years, is admitted to practice in the New York State of the United States, and is now the legal counsel of Dacheng Beijing Office.

Brian Shi is a senior partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice of Dentons Rodyk LLP. He has extensive experience in construction and construction disputes, employment, insurance, medical malpractice, corporate and shareholder matters and bankruptcy. He has represented multinational companies, state-owned entities, small and medium-sized companies and many other parties before the Supreme People's Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. In particular, he has represented many Chinese companies in appearing in international arbitral tribunals.

Melvin is also frequently appointed as a mediator by the parties or the Mediation Centre of Singapore to help resolve disputes. He is a Senior Mediator in the Mediator Team of the Law Bar Association Mediation Scheme, and is accredited by the Mediation Centre of Singapore and the International Mediation Academy of Singapore.

Zhu Yongrui is a senior partner of Dacheng Beijing Office and the chief planner of the International Arbitration Simulation Contest. He designed the simulation cases for the contest, designed the rules and procedures of the contest, was responsible for forming the referee team from the preliminary round to the final round, invited international arbitration experts such as Gary Born to train the contestants, and was responsible for the referee team for each round.

Zhu Yongrui, together with Tang Jianxiang and Dr. Wang Yuan, is jointly responsible for the planning and organization of the semifinals and finals.

Presiding judges for the civil group:

Big shots have gathered and highlights are bound to come

Twelve senior lawyers of Dacheng will form the presiding team of the civil group of the contest. Five senior lawyers will serve as the presiding judges for the civil group semi-finals and finals. They are: Guo Hongqing, member of Dacheng China Regional Supervisory Committee, deputy director of Corporate Expertise Committee, member of the Internal Review Committee on Securities Legal Services; Ren Jingde, senior partner of Dacheng Kunming Office; Xia Xia, deputy director of Management Committee and senior partner of Dacheng Taiyuan Office; Xu Yongsheng, senior partner of Dacheng Guangzhou Office; and Zhu Lanchun, senior partner of Dacheng Shenzhen Office. (In the phonetic order of name)

Mr. Guo Hongqing is a senior partner of Dacheng Law Offices. Mr. Guo also serves as a legislative consulting expert and procurement evaluation expert of Xiamen Municipal Government, arbitrator of Xiamen Arbitration Commission, People's Supervisor of Fujian Provincial Procuratorate, and Supervisor specially invited by Xiamen Municipal Government, etc.

Message of the civil presiding judge: We search and unearth evidence and facts like detectives, think and construct logic like philosophers, express words like speakers, and reshape our souls through the national debate.

Mr. Ren Jingde is the standing director of Dacheng Dispute Resolution Committee, a member of the Executive Committee of Kunming Office, director of Business Department II, director of Dispute Resolution Team and senior partner of Dacheng Dispute Resolution.

Message of the civil presiding judge: Carrying forward the past and opening up the future, who will compete with you?

Ms. Xia Xia is the deputy director of Management Committee of Dacheng Taiyuan Office, deputy secretary of CPC General Branch and director of Business Department II. She worked for the Civil Tribunal of Shanxi High People's Court, and is now an arbitrator of Taiyuan Arbitration Commission, the secretary general of International Arbitration Center of Taiyuan Arbitration Commission, the vice president of Commercial Law Association of Shanxi Law Society, the president of Legal Committee of Shanxi Euro-American Students Association and the vice president of Taiyuan Euro-American Students Association.

Message of the civil presiding judge: I am very honored to participate in the debate as a referee, an expert on the judging group, a coach of the Taiyuan team, an English player, etc., and feel its charm in a comprehensive way. I wish the competition a complete success, hope that the debate will become the most beautiful expectation and memory of adults!

Xu Yongsheng is the senior partner of Dacheng Law Office, arbitrator and member of the expert committee of Guangzhou Arbitration Commission, instructor of the LL.M. program of Sun Yat Sen University Law School, director of the finance and taxation legal committee of Guangzhou Bar Association, director of the finance and taxation legal research committee of China Law Society, best prosecutor in the preliminary and best debater in the semi-final of the first "Dacheng Cup" young lawyers moot court competition, presiding judge of the second "Dacheng Cup" young lawyers moot court competition, coach of the third "Dacheng Cup" dispute resolution pleading competition, chief arbitrator of the third and fourth "Dacheng Cup" dispute resolution pleading competition.

Message of the civil presiding judge: We have to find such a kind of pleading sense: we have to have the momentum of an eagle striking the sky, but also have the meticulousness of a chick pecking at rice; we have to expand the territory between fact and law, but also ensure that the disputed border is impregnable; we have to empathize with the case, but also jump out of the case and compare ourselves to others.

Mr. Zhu Lanchun, deputy director and senior partner of Dacheng Dispute Resolution Committee, doctor of civil and commercial law from Wuhan University. Mr. Zhu Lanchun is also an arbitrator of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission and Dalian Arbitration Commission, a judge of the 4th Dacheng Cup Dispute Resolution Pleading Competition, and the chief arbitrator of the civil group stage.

Message of the civil presiding judge: Show your true self, and surpass yourself!

Chief judge of the criminal group competition,

Senior lawyer, professional guidance

The jury panel of Dacheng consists of 14 senior criminal lawyers, and the presiding judges of the semi-final and final competitions shall be eight senior partners from various offices of Dacheng. They are He Mu, deputy director of Dacheng Criminal Committee, director of Criminal Department of Hangzhou Office, Jiang Jian, senior partner of Dacheng Chengdu Office, Li Hongxin, director and senior partner of Criminal Department of Dacheng Zhengzhou Office, Ma Cheng, deputy director of Dacheng Criminal Committee and senior partner of Dacheng Shenzhen Office and Zhang Weiwei, senior partner of Dacheng Guangzhou Office.

Mr. He Mu is deputy director of Dacheng Criminal Committee, director of Corporate Compliance Service Center, director of Criminal Department and senior partner of Hangzhou Office, director of Financial Law Research Committee of Zhejiang Law Society, director of Hangzhou Bar Association, director of Civil and Criminal Affairs Research Committee of Hangzhou Bar Association, instructor for off-campus internship and practical teaching for law students of Beijing Normal University, and practice instructor for postgraduate students of Criminal Law School of Northwest University of Political Science and Law.

The presiding judge sent a message: Let's learn from each other, compete with each other, and have fun and grow together in the competition!

Mr. Jiang Jian, senior partner and director of Business Department (Criminal) of Dacheng Chengdu Office, member of Corporate Compliance Committee of Chengdu Lawyers Association, director of Litigation Law Research Committee of Sichuan Law Society, vice president of Criminal Defense Association of Sichuan Lawyers Association, and vice director of Criminal Law Committee of Chengdu Lawyers Association.

Mr. Li Hongxin, deputy director of Dacheng Criminal Committee, deputy secretary of the General Party Branch of Zhengzhou Office, senior partner, director of Business Department (Criminal); member of Criminal Law Committee of China Lawyers Association, director of Criminal Law Committee of Henan Lawyers Association, director of Criminal Law Committee of Henan Lawyers Association, deputy director of Criminal Law Committee of Henan Lawyers Association; director of Criminal Law Research Committee of Henan Law Society; member of Henan Provincial Judge and Prosecutor Selection Committee; member of Henan Provincial Lawyers Association Defense Steering Group, supervisor of Henan Red Cross Foundation; expert member of Excellent Cases (Criminal) Evaluation of National Courts; expert lawyer for the quality assessment of legal aid cases (Criminal) of Ministry of Justice. Beijing Normal University, Tsinghua University criminal practice teacher.

Message from the presiding judge: A person can go very fast, a group of people can go very far. Dacheng Debating Contest is our brand. Birds have wings, people have aspirations, the meaning of life is to fight hard, I wish players if the dragon out of water, win the laurel.

Mr. Ma Cheng, deputy director of Dacheng Criminal Committee, senior partner of Shenzhen Office, director of Financial Crimes Defense Committee of Shenzhen Bar Association, deputy director of Economic Crimes Defense Committee of Guangdong Bar Association.

Message from the presiding judge: Strive for perfection, identify the true me!

Mr. Zhang Weiwei, a senior partner in Dacheng Guangzhou Office, is currently the vice director of the Work Committee on Protection of Lawyers' Rights of Guangdong Bar Association, a member of Civil and Criminal Approach Committee of Guangdong Bar Association, a member of Compliance and Internal Control Committee of Guangzhou Bar Association, a research fellow of Center for Theory and Legal Practice of Law of Sun Yat-sen University, a member of the Expert Committee of Guangdong Human Resources Management Association.

Message from the presiding judge: The three-year epidemic has not stopped us from pursuing more profound progress on the road of specialization. That's looking forward to more exciting competition when the semi-final is held, and to meet a better self through this competition.

The semi-final will restore the real trial scene, but also with strong debate characteristics, build a competitive platform for the competitors, to help competitors promote criminal defense thinking and ability, and to promote their professional skills.

The lineup of judges is luxurious and powerful, I believe we must be very much looking forward to it. From October 21 to 23, the fourth "Dacheng Cup" Dispute Resolution Contest civil, criminal and English international arbitration finals are about to be held in Shenzhen. Stay tuned!