Fan Zhang Receives Bronze Award at JINGSH International Legal Services Case Competition for Excellence in Cross-Border Litigation
On January 7, 2025, Lawyer Fan Zhang, Director of the Foreign Legal Affairs Department at JINGSH Chengdu, was honored with the Bronze Award at the JINGSH International Legal Services Case Competition, held at the JINGSH Headquarters in Beijing.
Launched in November 2024, the competition attracted nearly 100 case submissions from across the JINGSH global network, covering 21 specialized legal fields, including:
- International trade,
- Cross-border mergers and acquisitions,
- Intellectual property protection,
- International arbitration and litigation.
The competition aimed to recognize outstanding legal practice in managing complex foreign-related matters and to promote the professionalization and standardization of international legal services.
Award-Winning Case: Hong Kong–South Korea Cross-Border Debt Recovery
The awarded case involved assisting a Hong Kong enterprise (H Company) in recovering significant outstanding payments from a South Korean company (K Company).
Initially based on smooth cooperation through letters of credit, the relationship shifted to credit sales, leading to a substantial accumulation of unpaid debts.
Despite multiple negotiation attempts, K Company delayed repayment using various pretexts, prompting H Company to seek legal redress.
After conducting a comprehensive pre-litigation investigation, Fan Zhang’s legal team discovered:
- K Company’s stable financial condition contradicting claims of hardship;
- Asset transfers and corporate restructuring suggesting risk of enforcement difficulties.
Considering jurisdictional strategy and procedural advantages, the team filed litigation at the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court on October 25, 2022.
Throughout the proceedings, the case addressed complex legal issues, including:
- Statutes of limitations under Hong Kong and Korean law;
- Application of the CISG (United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods);
- Price dispute resolution and forensic handwriting analysis.
In October 2024, H Company secured a first-instance victory, followed by immediate enforcement through South Korea’s provisional execution procedures.
Professional Significance and Legal Impact
This case highlights several key risks in international trade, such as:
- Misuse of financial asymmetry to delay payment obligations;
- Strategic underreporting of import prices;
- Abuse of bargaining power to force debt restructuring.
Fan Zhang’s successful handling of the case demonstrated:
- Expertise in multi-jurisdictional litigation strategy;
- Mastery of international trade law (CISG) combined with regional laws;
- Advanced skills in evidence management, financial investigation, and tactical litigation.
Her work has provided valuable insights for Chinese enterprises navigating cross-border transactions and reaffirmed the importance of proactive legal risk management in international commerce.
“Winning this award reflects our commitment to providing intelligent, precise solutions for clients facing international legal challenges,” said Lawyer Fan Zhang.
“We will continue to integrate global legal expertise to empower businesses in achieving secure and successful international operations.”
