Shenzhen Qianhai Court Introduces First Batch of Pilot Lawyer Mediators, Including 22 Foreign Lawyers
In response to the "Opinions on Carrying Out Pilot Work on Lawyer Mediation" jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Justice, the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Justice, Qianhai Court, and the Shenzhen Lawyers Association recently signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Lawyers Participating in Litigation Mediation." Qianhai Court introduced the first batch of 88 lawyer mediators, including 22 foreign lawyers and lawyers from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
The first batch of lawyer mediators at Qianhai Court includes foreign lawyers.
The first batch of lawyer mediators at Qianhai Court consists of 88 lawyers from 15 law firms, including 4 joint venture law firms and 22 foreign lawyers and lawyers from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, fully responding to the international needs of cross-border commercial entities in the free trade zone and cooperation zone.
To establish a standardized working mechanism for lawyers participating in litigation mediation, Qianhai Court specially formulated the "Regulations on Implementing Lawyer Mediation Work," which specifies the detailed procedures and rules for lawyers participating in litigation mediation in terms of mediation procedures, mediation systems, and mediation guidance. Based on the Qianhai Court's litigation-mediation connection center's promotion of mediation regulations, professional lawyer mediation was introduced, and multiple working mechanisms such as neutral third-party evaluation, recording of undisputed facts, recognition of non-objection mediation plans, and joint mediation of Hong Kong-related cases were improved and supplemented, forming a more standardized and multi-layered diversified dispute resolution mechanism.
Additionally, lawyer mediators can apply foreign laws, laws of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, international conventions, international practices, and common mediation rules according to the parties' wishes. This cooperation on lawyers participating in litigation mediation further integrates dispute resolution resources in the free trade zone, promoting the formation of a more international legal service market in the free trade zone.
News Background:
In September 2017, the Supreme People's Court and the Ministry of Justice jointly issued the "Opinions on Carrying Out Pilot Work on Lawyer Mediation" (hereinafter referred to as the "Pilot Opinions"), deciding to launch pilot lawyer mediation work in 11 provinces (municipalities directly under the central government).
