12月13日，2024 ALB China 十五佳公司法务团队颁奖典礼在中国大饭店成功举办，ALB也于活动现场揭晓了今年度的十五佳公司法务团队榜单结果。

当晚，获奖团队代表与多位资深律师共赴盛宴，庆贺过去一年的成绩，也就出海、合规、支持业务发展等诸多热点话题展开交流。

中伦律师事务所合伙人唐周俊律师首先带来致辞。唐律师回顾到，今年是ALB和中伦共同举办十五佳公司法务团队颁奖典礼的第十个年头，每一年，法律人都会共聚一堂，探讨法律群体所关心的议题。“在如今这个不确定时代，地缘政治、严格监管都给法务团队及其所在公司带来挑战。这一主题活动希望推动营造法律人生态圈，推动法务团队在公司治理、公司业务、战略推进中起到更大作用。”

随后，活动进入话题讨论环节，由中伦律师事务所合伙人许苇律师担纲主持，讨论主题为“扬帆之旅，法律护航：公司法务和律师在企业出海征程中的角色和价值”。

讨论邀请到美的集团全球总法律顾问康晋颖女士、中元汇吉生物技术股份有限公司企业事务中心法律事务部总监白羽女士、中伦合伙人程博律师、中伦合伙人侯彰慧律师作为分享嘉宾。

许苇律师说，过去几年，我们看到中国企业的竞争力在极致考验中不断强化，其中出海成为了醒目的经济趋势。她对几位嘉宾进行了介绍，随后提问各位对现阶段企业出海特点和趋势的体会和观察。

侯彰慧律师介绍了现阶段中国企业出海的三个不同动机：一是获取资源；二是获取市场；三是寻找第三方桥梁，主要解决出口管制下对发达国家的出口问题。

程博律师给出了“多元化”的关键词，包括出海行业、交易形式、目的地更多元。过程中，律师服务内容也发生变化，需要提供新的业务支持、服务思路、结构安排。

白羽女士介绍道，中元汇吉是总部位于重庆的体外诊断医疗器械领域企业，也是中小企业出海的代表。过去几年，公司在海外多地设立了子公司，挑战与机遇并存，其中海外运营、合规、劳工等挑战十分明显。

康晋颖女士则分享了对过去20余年中国企业出海趋势变化的观察。2023年以来，以美的为代表，企业出海数量更庞大、形式更灵活多样，复杂性更强，主要的交易类型包括并购、JV、绿地投资等。

许苇律师的第二个问题是：当前趋势下企业出海有哪些重点关注的法律问题？

白羽女士说，根据企业出海阶段、体量，目前中元汇吉主要关注劳动用工合规、反腐败反贿赂、出口管制和经济制裁问题。过程中法务团队扮演重要作用，与外部律师通力合作，根据公司战略和业务、风险偏好，把合规融入业务流程，保障企业行稳致远。

康晋颖女士介绍了美的所关注的一些特殊问题，例如并购交易中的交易确定性挑战。由于国际环境复杂、标的公司往往具备较大规模，导致并购过程中监管审查严格，FDI、并购申报、欧盟外国补贴条例、美国CIFIUS审查都带来挑战。

程博律师认为，在目前的出海项目中，中国律师扮演“军师”角色，为客户提供综合性一站式解决方案，不仅局限于提供法律建议，还需调用全球法律资源来协助实现客户目标。

侯彰慧律师则从绿地投资角度提出观察，提醒道，中国企业需特别注意每个海外市场的特殊性，有时中国本土经验在海外并不适用；此外中国ODI审查也会带来挑战，需要律师提供创新解决方案。

最后，许苇律师请几位分享出海项目中法务对外部律师的特殊要求。康晋颖女士提出了律所设立企业统一联络人、服务接地气、效率高的建议；白羽女士提出了专业性、沟通顺畅两大期待；程博律师介绍了中国律所海外资源配搭灵活、更贴近客户的特点；侯彰慧律师则介绍了中伦海外布局的7家办公室情况，坦言中伦希望帮助客户匹配最合适的海外资源，符合客户、项目具体需求。

意犹未尽的讨论环节后，活动进入高潮的颁奖环节。多位中伦律师为获奖团队颁发奖杯，团队也于现场发表获奖感言。

颁奖典礼随后进入晚宴环节。获奖团队、在场律师在岁末之时，于轻松亲密的氛围中继续展开交流，回首过往成绩，也展望新一年的工作与生活。

李崇文律师代表中伦致祝酒辞。他告诉ALB：“这是一个星光熠熠的夜晚，很高兴能够见证这一美好时刻，也再次对获得殊荣的卓越团队表示祝贺！虽然当前国内外形势复杂，各行各业都面临压力，但中伦有幸和ALB一起为企业提供支持和帮助，构建由法律媒体、律师、企业法务共同组成的法律服务生态体系，共同克服困难形势，砥砺前行！”

未来，ALB也将不负使命，持续为中国企业法务及律师搭建多元交流平台，始终站在“浪头”，护航法律行业发展。

ALB and Zhong Lun joined hands on the 10th Top 15 In-House Teams awards ceremony

On Dec. 13, 2024, the 2024 ALB China Zhong Lun Top 15 In-House Teams awards ceremony was successfully held at the China World Hotel in Beijing. During the event, ALB unveiled the winners of this year’s Top 15 In-House Teams list.

The evening gathered award-winning teams and experienced lawyers for a celebratory dinner, where they exchanged insights on trending topics such as globalization, compliance, and supporting business growth.

Zhong Lun Law Firm partner Tang Zhoujun kicked off the event with opening remarks. He noted that this year marks the 10th year of collaboration between ALB and Zhong Lun for the Top 15 In-House Teams awards ceremony. Each year, legal professionals come together to discuss key issues affecting the legal community. “In these uncertain times, geopolitical tensions and stringent regulations pose challenges for legal teams and their companies. This event aims to foster a legal ecosystem that empowers in-house teams to play a more significant role in corporate governance, business operations, and strategic advancement,” said Tang.

Zhong Lun Law Firm partner Tang Zhoujun opened the event with remarks highlighting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of collaboration between ALB and Zhong Lun for the Top 15 In-House Teams awards ceremony. He emphasized that every year, legal professionals come together to discuss key issues impacting the legal community. “In these uncertain times, geopolitical tensions and stringent regulations present challenges for legal teams and their companies. This event aims to foster a legal ecosystem that empowers in-house teams to play a more significant role in corporate governance, business operations, and strategic advancement,” said Tang.

The event then transitioned to a panel discussion, moderated by Zhong Lun partner Xu Wei, under the theme: “Navigating the Journey: The Role and Value of In-House Teams and Lawyers in Supporting Companies’ Global Ventures.”

The panel featured distinguished speakers, including Kang Jinying, Global General Counsel, Midea Group; Bai Yu, Legal Affairs Director, Corporate Affairs Center, Zybio Inc.; and Cheng Bo, Maria Hou, both partners at Zhong Lun Law Firm.

Xu remarked that in recent years, Chinese enterprises have strengthened their global competitiveness under intense pressure, with globalization becoming a prominent economic trend. After introducing the panelists, she invited them to share their perspectives on the current characteristics and trends of Chinese companies going global.

Hou outlined three primary drivers for Chinese enterprises expanding internationally: resource acquisition, market expansion, and leveraging third-party bridges to navigate export controls targeting developed nations.

Cheng emphasized the diversity of industries, transaction structures, and destinations in overseas ventures. This diversification necessitates new types of legal support, innovative approaches, and tailored structural arrangements from lawyers.

Bai shared Zybio’s experience as a mid-sized medical device company based in Chongqing. The company has established subsidiaries in multiple overseas locations over recent years, facing challenges such as compliance, labor regulations, and operational hurdles, alongside opportunities.

Kang reflected on over 20 years of trends in Chinese companies going global. Since 2023, Midea and similar enterprises have seen larger-scale, more flexible, and complex outbound ventures, including M&A, joint ventures, and greenfield investments.

Xu then asked the panelists about key legal considerations for companies venturing abroad under current trends.

Bai highlighted four focus areas: labour compliance, anti-bribery measures, export controls, and economic sanctions. She stressed the critical role of in-house teams in integrating compliance into business processes in partnership with external lawyers, aligning with company strategies and risk preferences to ensure stable operations.

Kang noted specific challenges in M&A transactions, such as ensuring deal certainty amidst complex international environments and regulatory scrutiny. Factors like FDI reviews, merger filings, the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation, and CIFIUS investigations in the U.S. significantly complicate deals involving large-scale target companies.

Cheng likened Chinese lawyers in outbound projects to "strategists," providing holistic, one-stop solutions that extend beyond traditional legal advice. Leveraging global legal resources, they help clients achieve their goals. Hou focused on greenfield investments, cautioning that local market nuances often render domestic experience ineffective abroad. She also noted challenges posed by China’s ODI reviews, which demand innovative legal strategies.

The evening then peaked with the awards ceremony, where multiple Zhong Lun lawyers presented trophies to the winners, who delivered acceptance speeches to mark the occasion. The event concluded with a celebratory dinner, where award-winning teams and lawyers mingled in a relaxed atmosphere, reflecting on past achievements and looking forward to the coming year.

In a toast, Zhong Lun partner Li Chongwen said, “Tonight is a shining moment. It’s an honor to celebrate these remarkable teams. Despite today’s complex domestic and international landscapes, Zhong Lun is proud to partner with ALB to support businesses and foster a legal ecosystem that unites media, lawyers, and in-house teams. Together, we will overcome challenges and forge ahead!”

Looking ahead, ALB remains committed to its mission of providing diverse platforms for communication and collaboration among Chinese in-house counsel and lawyers, staying at the forefront of the legal industry to navigate its development!