距离2025年海南自由贸易港初步建成的目标达成还有两年时间，过去几年疫情的负面影响或许耽延了自贸港的发展，但海南在重重挑战之下，依旧不断扭转过度倚靠房地产行业的经济格局，新兴产业发展已初现规模。海南法律服务行业在经历了2019年的爆发之后，也逐渐迈上寻求长期、健康发展的道路。
作为中国制度创新的又一重要尝试，2020年《海南自由贸易港建设总体方案》公布以来，不断有新规新政在海南落地，促进这座岛屿上的不同产业实现快速发展。虽然疫情不免放缓了发展脚步，但过去三年，自贸港建设的进展依旧不容小觑。
廖晖律师是中伦律师事务所海口办公室执行委员会主任，他告诉ALB，过去几年一个明显的感受是“外资的活跃程度逐步提升。自贸港建设以来，海南实际使用外资年均增长超六成，这是一个地区开放程度的重要标志”。
伴随资本而来的还有高水平的投资者。廖律师观察到，许多央企、国企陆续到海南设立区域总部，跨国企业对此也跃跃欲试。今年3月，海南省商务厅印发了《促进总部经济发展管理办法》，希望吸引四种类型，即跨国公司地区总部、综合型（区域型）总部、高成长型总部、国际组织（机构）地区总部来到海南，“增加海南的国际化元素，鼓励拥有核心技术、知识产权，或者具有新业态、新商业模式的总部入驻并成长壮大”。
“随着2025年底前全岛封关运作日益临近，高水平开放承诺逐步落实，我们有很大信心，2025年后海南自贸港发展将迈入新台阶，律师事务所作为为市场经济服务的中介机构，也必然会获得更大的发展机遇。”廖律师说道。
哺育新产业
过去几年，海南最“肉眼可见”的变化或许就是新产业的不断落地发展。德恒律师事务所三亚办公室合伙人王硕律师指出，自贸港方案下，海南加速推动以旅游业、现代服务业、高新技术产业、热带特色高效农业为主导的现代产业体系，“四大主导产业占全省GDP比重已提升至70%……对于法律服务也提出了新要求”。
作为海南本地人，廖晖律师对当地产业转型感受尤为深刻。他指出，1990年代以来，海南的发展一直以房地产和旅游业为主导，经历了几次泡沫，“这是海南产业发展最大的痛，一届领导一届思路给海南产业发展带来了不确定和没有后劲。这样既浪费了时间，又错过了发展机遇……可以说过去30年，海南一直在寻找自身的产业化方向”。
因此，他对自贸港建设三年多来的产业政策十分认可。“一方面是坚决去房地产化，推出了全国最严限购政策，可以看到海南房地产业的停滞甚至萎缩。”廖律师说。与此同时，几项大力发展的新产业则收效明显。
“首先是国际消费，有中免集团全球最大的免税城落地海口；第二是国际教育，自贸港是全国唯一许可国外机构展开独资办学的地区，目前海口哈罗国际学校、德国比勒费尔德应用科技大学洋浦项目等都在落地，吸引了高净值家庭前来就学。”
“第三是国际医疗，博鳌乐城是中国唯一可以引进发达国家创新药械、无需临床直接使用的地区，未来将更好地应对中国人口老龄化问题；最后，作为中国独特的热带气候地区，南繁种子、热带海洋渔业、航天等能够发挥气候优势的产业也是未来海南倚重发展的方向。”
新产业的发展离不开资金支持，廖律师说，他们在法律服务过程中明显感受到了涉外业务、企业投融资业务的较大发展。“例如去年海南自贸港建设投资基金成功设立，其管理规模100亿元，支持海南省重点产业、重点园区发展和重大项目建设。基金设立以来，我们承接了多项其关于子基金投资、子基金设立、基金整合的业务，能够感受到私募股权基金领域业务正在飞速发展中。”
赵亮律师是锦天城律师事务所海口办公室管委会主任，他坦言，过去一年半以来自贸港构建现代化产业体系成绩卓然，尤其一系列重点园区的建设，有效促进了新产业集群发展。
“以海口复兴城互联网信息产业园为代表，海南省数字产业发展较快，尤其着力促进数字内容加工领域的游戏、影视等产业发展。”赵律师说，“此外，高新技术产业快速发展，截至2022年底，高新技术企业超1500家，其中互联网、国际数据服务领衔增长。”
与此同时，金融业也显示出强劲动力，“离岸金融与信托、私募基金业已捷足先登，QFLP政策落地红利迸发，QDLP试点获批，额度50亿美元”，赵律师说。
为积极融入新产业发展，锦天城海口办做了不少努力，包括参与新产业领域的案件探索、研究自贸港制度政策并参与自贸港金融法律政策研究与制定、举行交流会及讲座以链接各界人士等。
今年3月，锦天城还和英国鸿鹄律师事务所在海南达成新合作，双方将利用自贸港政策，在“离岸”与“在岸”间的银行与金融、大宗进出口贸易、知识产权保护、海商海事等领域开展合作，“帮助客户接洽国际领域的法律事务，共同解决投资者境内外投资落地面临的难题”，赵律师评价道。
谈到自贸港过去几年新产业的落地及其对法律服务的需求，德恒律师事务所海口办公室执行主任林如锦律师也有着切身观察，尤其是“生物医药和海运港航物流产业的迅速发展”。
林律师说：“海口国家高新区在过去几年打造千亿级高端医药和医疗器械产业集群，逐步推进国际医药进出口结算中心和配送中心建设，汇聚形成国际医药研发基地和临床试验基地。生物医药产业迅速成为海口经济发展的支柱产业之一。”
而海运港航物流产业的发展主要集中在洋浦保税港区，“作为率先实施‘一线放开、二线管住’进出口管理制度的海关特殊监管区，给予新开航线、稳定运行航线、省内集装箱驳船航线等不同程度的资金奖励，实现航运物流要素加速集聚，2022年洋浦货物贸易进出口总值达到了951.8亿元”。
伴随新产业发展，德恒海口也借助总部生物医药、海商海事团队的优势经验，结合海南本土化产业发展需求，持续探寻更好地服务于新产业的方法。
对此，德恒三亚的王硕律师有着深入思考，他认为，对新产业的服务不只包括表层的项目支持，更包括底层的制度研究。为此，“德恒三亚侧重于更符合自贸港实际需求的法律服务模式的探索与创新，积极助力自贸港法治体系的完善，促进岛内整体营商环境的优化，严格顾问企业经营管理活动的合规审查和风险管控，推动一带一路国际商事调解中心调解平台的普及应用等，为海南自贸港建设奉献力量”。
被冲击的法律服务业
许多人或许还记得，2019年，伴随自贸港概念推进，以及当年9月《海南经济特区律师条例》的颁布，法律服务业曾掀起一股“海南热”。王硕律师告诉ALB，从新政开始实施的2019年10月到今年3月，“海南新设律师事务所254家，增加了178%；律师人数增加2507人，翻了一番”。
这样的增长无疑给海南法律市场带来了质变。赵亮律师指出：“海南律所数量及律师人数短期暴增，导致律师行业产能供给与自贸岛经济增速存在错配、律所规模两极分化。”但他坦诚，外部力量的快速进入也促使海南法律服务行业在较短时间内步入了成熟阶段。
成熟体现在几方面。“一是法律服务需求、种类增多，新兴法律服务事务产生并发展，如自贸港在着手探索新的金融交易模式，尤其是碳排放权交易和能源交易、文化IP的交易结算、专利和知识产权保护、高新科技企业税务申报、绿色债券、绿色信贷和绿色融资等相关金融法律服务等。”
其次，伴随“2020年海南接连成立国际仲裁院、国际商事调解中心和自贸港知识产权法院，争端的解决平台不断增多”，也促进了传统争议解决业务的成熟化、高端化发展。
廖晖律师曾担任海南省律协会长，对当地市场有着深刻观察。他认为，自贸港建设实际上给海南法律服务市场带来了 较大冲击。
他解释道：“2019年以前海南市场比较封闭，国家层面也持续促进房地产业发展，可以说海南律师的日子比较舒适，业务收入相对不错。但自贸港政策颁布以后，房地产的萎缩必然带来法律服务市场的萎缩，海南律师的日子也变得困难了。”
但他认为大环境的变化对海南律师来说同样是机遇，大发展带来大开放，大开放带来大竞争，大竞争也会促进行业的大发展。“包括我们刚刚说到的新产业，以及投资基金、项目并购、金融证券等大项目的落地，催生了很多新的高端业务，如果海南律师没有专业性、国际性，就很难抓住这些业务。”
德恒的林如锦、王硕律师同样观察到传统法律服务领域竞争的逐渐激烈，以及新服务领域蕴藏的机会。林律师指出，尤其像自贸港建设迫切需要的金融资本、商务合规、海关与国际贸易、知识产权、跨境投资和并购、医疗健康等领域，“急需德恒这样的综合大所进行补强”。王律师则强调，新兴产业特别需要已经对行业有较深熟悉度的律师参与服务，“只有熟悉新兴产业、新兴服务领域的政策、标准，能够把控相关业务的风险、重点和难点，才能提供相对成熟的法律服务和产品，进而才具有竞争力”。
律所的生存之道
在一个参与者不断进场、服务内容持续变化的市场，律所采取怎样的发展策略，才能站稳脚跟、持续发展？有趣的是，本次参与采访的律所海南办公室都是跟随自贸港政策进驻海南的，他们的故事也为上述问题提供了很好的答案。
2019年成立以来，中伦海口办公室已经发展到27人的规模，其中包括3位合伙人，创收保持着逐年增长的趋势。廖晖律师告诉ALB，他曾在海南本地的一家规模大所做过主任，加入中伦后，他有机会实践将一线律所品牌在海南这样一个“容量有限、题材特殊”的市场落地，过程中积累了许多思考，也带给他很大乐趣。
廖律师坦言：“中伦的品牌、专业、运行模式能够在一线城市创造出很大的业务空间，但在海南，我们决定走精品化、专业化定位，主要服务于高端客户和业务，例如海南发展控股、海南金融控股、海南股权交易中心、海南自贸港基金、海南省财金集团、海口综合保税区等省内头部企业，我们都有幸和有机会为它们提供法律服务。”
“我们甚至主动舍弃了一些传统业务，不再去内卷的比拼价格，因为如果一味的比拼价格，最后损害的最终一定是客户的利益。我们的希望是：同样的业务，我们要做得更好；别人做不了的业务，我们要能做，为海南自贸港建设提供当地法律服务团队专业和高效的解决方案。这三年我们一直在努力，很辛苦、很多困难，但我们的方向不会改变。”
2022年，锦天城海口办公室注册成立，一年多来律所人员已达到70人，包括10名合伙人、3名高级合伙人，业务上“以稳定与维护存量业务、加强拓展增量业务为主，计划在自贸港的利好条件下拉动新型业务展业”，赵亮律师分享道。
虽然发展规模令人瞩目，但赵律师指出，锦天城海口办同样旨在“塑造不盲目追求规模，而追求质量的精品所”。在他看来，海口办营业以来已获得了可观营收，是借助于精细的服务；积极拓展符合自贸港发展方向的涉外、金融、医药、航空、教育等业务；以及对于涉外、复合型人才的有效培养和接纳。
德恒也是在2022年落地海口，目前律所员工发展到了20人，主要服务于国内外争议解决、企业风险控制及合规、国有企业规范化管理、融资并购、破产重整、资本市场、公司证券、劳动法、税法等领域，客户集中于金融、医药、房地产领域，以及各自贸区及省、市级政府部门。
回看过去近一年的发展经验，林如锦律师说，作为外地律所品牌，德恒在发挥既有品牌优势的同时，也深刻意识到海南当地资源加持的重要性。“德恒海口正是德恒融合本土律所而来，可以为客户提供既扎根海南本土实际情况，又兼具全球视野的特色化法律服务。”他说。
与此同时，全国性律所品牌的资源优势，在王硕律师看来则是未来竞争力的所在。他告诉ALB，2018年自贸港概念刚一提出德恒便来到三亚，可以说一路伴随自贸港建设不断成长、壮大，如今律所已拥有近20人的服务团队，包括4名合伙人，人员结构上呈年轻化、专业化发展，律师能熟练运用英、法、日语等提供服务，在诉讼仲裁、公司治理、资本市场等领域服务于颇具深具影响力的客户。
他观察到，“随着自贸港建设的全面深入，涉港澳、涉外法律事务需求与日俱增，德恒三亚可以作为桥梁，联合德恒各海外分所，第一时间响应客户涉外投资、国际商事业务、跨境并购、债券基金、银行融资、争议解决等领域的各项需求，提供优质的跨境法律服务”。
下一步计划
伴随今年疫情封控措施全面放缓，疫情后国家对医疗、消费等板块的着力强调，海南自贸港恰逢其时，律师也期待着当地经济和法律服务板块的进一步增长。
林如锦律师强调，下一步德恒海口将重点关注于跨境贸易与投资、金融创新、知识产权保护、航运与物流，以及税务领域，“为海南自贸港企业提供优质、高效、专业的法律服务”。
王硕律师则期待着医疗健康、康养产品、消费产业，以及现代金融服务业的快速发展。尤其最后一点，“随着2025封关节点到来，现代金融服务业会再上一个台阶，未来在私募基金管理、境外汇款支付、票据融资等领域可能会有更高的自由度，相关市场主体定会拓宽营业领域，配套的法律服务需求也会大增。”
为了支持自贸港下阶段的高水平开放，王律师告诉ALB，德恒三亚今年成立了外国法查明中心和海南自贸港立法与政策研究中心，前者可以为企业海外投资、涉外贸易、涉外争议解决等提供全流程法律查明服务，后者则将围绕自贸港前瞻性法律和政策问题，配合政府课题，也为社会客户提供咨询。
赵亮律师告诉ALB，下一步锦天城海口办则将聚焦于离岸金融与信托、银行与私募基金、家族办公室、进出口贸易、知识产权保护、海商海事，以及跨境电商领域的服务。
廖晖律师则分享道，未来中伦海口办一方面会继续做好诉讼仲裁、工程和项目开发等传统领域业务，另一方面也会重点关注投资并购、资本市场、融资业务、私募股权和投资基金等非诉领域，“这些是中伦有专业优势的领域，也是我们加入中伦平台后最希望为海南市场发展的领域”。
此外，廖律师坦言，经过三年打基础，证实“中伦模式在海南自贸港的发展是可行的”，中伦海口将进入“五年做发展”的阶段，“未来将是我们的成长扩张期，会有目标地邀请海南优秀的专业律师团队加盟中伦平台，把中伦在海南自贸港的专业服务做得更扎实，影响力更广泛，我们坚信海南的明天一定会更好 ”，他说。
EARLY MOMENTUM
Only two years remain until the target date of achieving the initial establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port by 2025. Although the pandemic has had a negative impact on Hainan’s progress, the region has successfully moved away from relying too heavily on real estate. Despite facing several obstacles, new industries are emerging and showing signs of growth. The legal sector in Hainan, which has experienced significant growth since 2019, is also moving towards a path of sustainable and long-term development.
Emerging as a new cornerstone of China's institutional innovation, the "Overall Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP)" announcement in 2020 set the stage for a series of novel policies and regulations in the island province. These measures have propelled swift advancement across diverse industries. Although the pandemic undeniably tempered overall progress, the past three years have been witnessed to significant leaps in FTP construction.
Liao Hui, the director of Zhong Lun Law Firm’s Haikou office's executive committee, shares insights with ALB, highlighting a discernible trend over recent years — the "steady increase in foreign investment activity." Hainan has experienced an annual average foreign investment growth rate surpassing 60 percent, indicative of the region's burgeoning openness.
Amid the influx of capital, prominent investors have directed their attention to Hainan. Liao observes the establishment of regional headquarters by numerous central and state-owned enterprises, alongside the eagerness of multinational corporations to tap into the region's opportunities. In a bid to attract more corporate headquarters, the Hainan government introduced a fresh set of measures in March. These initiatives aim to enrich Hainan's international presence and foster the settlement and expansion of headquarters equipped with core technologies, intellectual property, or innovative business models.
"With the deadline for the island's comprehensive unveiling by the close of 2025 drawing near, and as high-level openness commitments gradually materialize, our law firm, dedicated to serving the market economy, is poised to access amplified developmental prospects," Liao asserts.
NEW INDUSTRIES
In recent years, the most conspicuous transformation in Hainan has been the ongoing evolution of new industries. Wang Shuo, a partner at DeHeng Law Offices’ Sanya office, highlights that within the framework of the FTP plan, Hainan has expedited the advancement of a contemporary industrial system propelled by tourism, modern services, high-tech sectors, and tropical agriculture. "These four primary industries currently contribute to 70 percent of the province's GDP, which also ushers in novel requirements for legal services."
A native of Hainan, Liao possesses an intimate understanding of the regional industrial shift. He notes that since the 1990s, Hainan's growth has been dominated by real estate and tourism, both of which have encountered multiple bubbles. "This aspect has been the most significant challenge to Hainan's industrial progress, with shifts in leadership causing uncertainty and missed opportunities. Over the past three decades, Hainan has struggled to ascertain its distinctive industrial direction."
Consequently, he deeply values the industrial policies enacted in the past three years. "On one hand, there has been a resolute departure from real estate, coupled with the introduction of the country's most stringent property purchase restrictions in Hainan." Concurrently, several newly established industries have achieved notable outcomes.
"Firstly, there's duty-free consumption, with the world's largest duty-free mall establishing itself in Haikou. Secondly, international education has gained prominence, as Hainan FTP stands as the sole region in China where foreign institutions can establish wholly owned schools. Presently, institutions like Harrow Haikou International School and the Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences project in Yangpu are being established, attracting high-net-worth families seeking quality education."
"Thirdly, healthcare has taken center stage, with Boao Lecheng designated as the exclusive area in China allowed to import advanced medicine and medical devices from developed nations without necessitating clinical trials. This will significantly address China's aging population challenges. Finally, owing to its distinctive tropical climate, Hainan's development hinges on industries that can harness its climatic advantages, such as tropical seed breeding, tropical marine fishing, and aerospace."
The establishment of new industries relies heavily on financial support. Liao notes substantial growth in foreign-related business and corporate investment and financing activities. "For instance, the successful establishment of the Hainan FTP Construction Investment Fund last year, with a management size of 10 billion yuan, has supported the growth of pivotal industries and major projects in Hainan. Since its inception, we've undertaken numerous projects related to fund setup, investment, and integration, evidencing the swift evolution of the private equity fund sector."
Zhao Liang, director of the management committee of AllBright Law Offices’ Haikou office, acknowledges that over the past year and a half, the FTP's construction has yielded remarkable achievements in cultivating a contemporary industrial system, notably through the advancement of key parks that have effectively fostered the growth of new industrial clusters.
"For instance, the Haikou Fullsing Internet Industrial Park embodies the rapid progress of Hainan's digital industry, focusing on bolstering the digital content processing sector. Furthermore, high-tech industries have burgeoned. By the close of 2022, there were more than 1,500 high-tech enterprises, primarily centered on internet and data services," notes Zhao.
To actively integrate into the development of these new industries, the Haikou office has invested substantial effort. In March of this year, AllBright forged a fresh collaboration agreement with the UK-based firm Bird & Bird in Hainan, capitalizing on the FTP's policies to engage in cooperation across sectors like banking and finance, bulk import and export trade, intellectual property, maritime affairs, and more.
Regarding the recent introduction of new industries and their corresponding legal service demands, Lin Rujin, executive director of DeHeng's Haikou office, also offers firsthand insights, particularly concerning the "swift growth of the biopharmaceutical and maritime port logistics sectors." With the emergence of these new industries, DeHeng Haikou has leveraged the strengths and expertise of its headquarters' teams in biopharmaceuticals and maritime law to explore and innovate more effective legal service models tailored to the actual needs of the FTP.
LEGAL IMPACT
The "Hainan Fever" that swept through the legal services industry in 2019 remains vivid in the memory of many. This fervor accompanied the introduction of the free trade port concept and the issuance of the "Hainan Economic Special Zone Lawyer Regulations" in September of that same year. Wang Shuo from DeHeng informs ALB that from the implementation of these new policies in 2019 until March of this year, "254 new law firms were established in Hainan, marking an astounding 178 percent increase, while the number of lawyers surged by 2,507, effectively doubling the previous count."
Undoubtedly, such rapid expansion has engendered a qualitative transformation in Hainan's legal market. Zhao Liang of AllBright underscores, "The swift and momentous surge in law firms and lawyers in Hainan, while a short-term phenomenon, has led to a disparity between the legal industry's capacity and the island's economic growth pace." Nonetheless, he concedes that the rapid influx of external dynamics has also propelled Hainan's legal industry into maturity within a comparatively condensed span.
Liao Hui, formerly the president of the Hainan Lawyers Association and currently of Zhong Lun, offers a perceptive analysis of the local market. He asserts that the FTP's construction has wielded a substantial impact on Hainan's legal services sector. "Prior to 2019, the Hainan market held a relatively insular stance, allowing Hainanese lawyers to lead relatively comfortable lives with satisfactory business income. However, following the FTP policy's inception, the decline in the real estate sector inevitably led to a contraction in the legal services market, presenting challenges for Hainan's legal practitioners," Liao elucidates.
Nevertheless, he perceives the changing environment as an opportunity for local lawyers. "Encompassing the new industries mentioned earlier, alongside the initiation of significant ventures such as investment funds, project mergers and acquisitions, finance and securities, these evolutions have engendered numerous high-end opportunities. However, seizing these prospects would prove demanding for Hainanese lawyers lacking professional expertise and international acumen," Liao adds.
Lin Rujin and Wang Shuo have also discerned the escalating competition within the traditional legal services sector, along with the prospects arising from emerging domains. Lin highlights that realms like financial capital, business compliance, customs and international trade, intellectual property, cross-border investment and mergers, and pharmaceuticals and healthcare "call for comprehensive services from major firms like DeHeng." Concurrently, Wang underscores the necessity for lawyers proficient in specific industries to provide precise guidance in these burgeoning sectors.
SURVIVAL STRATEGIES
In a constantly evolving market characterized by new entrants and shifting service demands, how can law firms formulate development strategies to maintain their position and continue thriving? Interestingly, the law firms interviewed have all established offices in Hainan following the FTP policy, and their narratives offer insights into addressing this question.
Since its inception in 2019, Zhong Lun Haikou has expanded to a team of 27 individuals, including 3 partners, with revenues exhibiting a consistent upward trajectory. Liao Hui informs ALB that transitioning from his previous role as a director in a prominent local firm in Hainan to joining Zhong Lun provided him the opportunity to employ a top-tier law firm's brand in a "limited capacity, unique theme" market such as Hainan. This journey has prompted much introspection and contentment.
"Zhong Lun's brand, expertise, and operational model might yield substantial business prospects in major cities, yet in Hainan, we made a conscious decision to emphasize boutique, specialized positioning, catering to high-end clients and enterprises like Hainan Development Holdings, Hainan Financial Holdings, Hainan Equity Trading Centre, Hainan Free Trade Port Fund, Hainan Provincial Finance Group, and Haikou Comprehensive Bonded Zone," Liao conveys.
"We even voluntarily relinquished certain conventional business areas, eschewing price-based competition, as doing so would ultimately undermine clients' interests. Our aspiration is: for the same endeavor, we must enhance its execution; for undertakings others can't manage, we must be capable of addressing them, offering adept and efficient resolutions. Despite encountering numerous challenges over the past three years, our trajectory remains unwavering."
In 2022, AllBright Haikou came into existence, and in a little over a year, the team has burgeoned to 70 members, including 10 partners and 3 senior partners. Despite this remarkable growth, Zhao Liang underscores that AllBright Haikou also aspires to foster a "boutique firm that pursues quality rather than undirected scale." The office has achieved notable revenue since its inception, relying on meticulous service and active expansion into foreign-related, financial, medical, aviation, and education sectors that align with the FTP's developmental direction.
DeHeng also set foot in Haikou in 2022, and presently boasts a staff of 20, primarily rendering services in domestic and international dispute resolution, enterprise risk management, compliance, financing and mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcy and reorganization, capital markets, corporate securities, labor law, and tax law. Their clientele is primarily drawn from financial, medical, and real estate domains, alongside various governmental bodies.
Reflecting on the preceding year's development, Lin Rujin states that DeHeng has leveraged its existing brand strengths while deeply appreciating the significance of local resources. "Effectively, DeHeng Haikou stems from an amalgamation with a local law firm, offering clients specialized legal services that are grounded in Hainan's current state while retaining a global outlook," he shares.
Simultaneously, Wang Shuo believes that the resource advantages of a nationwide law firm brand are pivotal for future competitiveness. He informs ALB that with the FTP's progress, the demand for Hong Kong, Macau, and foreign legal affairs is progressively increasing. "DeHeng Sanya now serves as a bridge, collaborating with our overseas offices to address various requirements of clients in foreign investment, international commercial transactions, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, bond funds, bank financing, and dispute resolution, offering seamless and high-quality cross-border legal services."
NEXT STEPS
With the relaxation of pandemic controls this year and a strategic emphasis on sectors like healthcare and consumption as pivotal post-pandemic drivers for China's economy, the stage is perfectly set for the advancement of Hainan FTP. Lawyers are eagerly anticipating further expansion in the local economy and the legal services sector.
Lin Rujin underscores that the forthcoming trajectory for DeHeng Haikou will concentrate on cross-border trade and investment, financial innovation, intellectual property, and shipping and logistics. Meanwhile, Wang Shuo holds particular anticipation for the swift progress of the healthcare, wellness, consumer industries, and modern financial services. As the 2025 milestone approaches, signifying Hainan's jurisdiction beyond China customs, modern financial services are poised to ascend to a higher level. This could potentially entail greater freedom in realms such as private fund management, overseas remittances, and bill financing, consequently fostering escalated demand for related legal services.
Zhao Liang discloses to ALB that AllBright Haikou will channel its efforts into offshore finance and trusts, banking and private equity funds, family offices, import and export trade, intellectual property, maritime law, and cross-border e-commerce services in the upcoming phase.
Liao Hui shares that in the forthcoming period, Zhong Lun Haikou will persist in excelling within traditional domains like dispute resolution, engineering, and project development. Additionally, the office will pivot towards non-litigation realms such as investment and mergers, capital markets, financing, private equity, and investment funds. These fields align with Zhong Lun's professional strengths and enthusiasm to contribute to Hainan's market evolution.
Furthermore, after establishing the office's foundation over three years, Liao feels that the "Zhong Lun model is viable in Hainan FTP's development." Zhong Lun Haikou is now entering a "growth stage," aiming to engage top-notch professionals in Hainan within targeted practice areas through integration into the Zhong Lun platform. "We firmly believe that Hainan's future holds promise," he asserts.