欧洲华人律师协会
Association for Chinese Lawyers in Europe, A.s.b.l
The 2023 Annual Meeting of the European Chinese Lawyers Association (ACLE) and the 10th Anniversary of the Association were successfully held in Zurich.
2024-04-06 23:02:28

In early spring, March, when snowy pear blossoms filled the sky, the European Chinese Lawyers Association (ECLA) held its Annual General Meeting and a seminar on the theme of "Legal Challenges for Chinese Enterprises in Europe in the New Era" from March 9 to 11, 2023 in Zurich to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the official founding of the European Chinese Lawyers Association (ACLE).

As a non-profit general welfare organization promoting communication, information sharing and cooperation between Chinese lawyers practicing in Europe, and a platform organization providing excellent Chinese lawyers to Chinese companies investing in Europe, ACLE has attracted more and more lawyers, jurists or legal professionals of Chinese descent or nationality from various European countries to register as members of the Association in recent years, and by the end of 2022, there are nearly a hundred members on the register. The Annual General Meeting was attended by 36 members in Zurich, and a number of members participated in the meeting by delegating their attendance to other members or participating online. The AGM listened to the report of the previous Board of Directors and elected Gu Qun (Sweden), Zhu Yifan (Germany), Shang You (France), Bai Junyi (Italy), Hu Xinyu (France), Zhang Shu (Switzerland), Duan Jing (Netherlands), Zhang Shiyang (Czech Republic) and Xu Jingfu (Spain) to form the new AGM Board of Directors. The new Board also unanimously elected Mr Gu Qun as Chairman of the Association.


As part of the annual conference, a seminar entitled "Legal Challenges for Chinese Enterprises in Europe in the New Era" was organized with a number of legal, corporate and asset management experts with extensive practical experience in the investment, development and management of Chinese enterprises in Europe.


During the seminar, speakers discussed a wide range of common issues related to investment and business activities in China and Europe. Among them, topics related to M&A practices and regulations of Chinese companies in China and Europe, post-investment integration of M&A, de-investment agreements, legal compliance practices of companies in Europe, dispute resolution, management and planning of entrepreneurs' personal assets, etc. were discussed in depth, and the experts summarized a large number of inspiring and practical suggestions and insights based on their own working experience.

The successful organization of this seminar helped Association members practicing and working in Europe to enhance their professionalism and broaden their horizons. It also provided valuable experience and inspiration to strengthen cooperation and development between lawyers and businesses, and promoted commercial exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and European lawyers and the business community.


The annual conference was supported by Association member Ms Shu Zhang and the law firm BAR&KARRER, Switzerland.

The conference was sponsored and supported by Bär & Karrer, Zhonglun Law Firm, UBS Switzerland, IPG Howden and Henley & Partners.

 Appendix:

"Legal challenges for Chinese companies in Europe in the new era" List of speakers and topics (in order of presentation)



- Urs Kägi, Partner, Bär & Karrer, Switzerland, "Chinese PIPE Investment in Switzerland".

- Ms Shiyang Zhang, Lawyer, PRK Partners, Czech Republic, Topic: "Chinese investment and FDI control in the Czech Republic".

- Ms Chen Qiushuang, Partner, QS Funds, Topic: "The investment of a Chinese private equity fund in mergers and acquisitions in Germany".

- Mr. Gong Lefan, Partner, Zhonglun Law Firm, topic: "Riding the M&A and the PE Fund in Germany": "Riding the M&A and IPO Trend in China 2023: Executing Transactions in a Turbulent Market".

- Jeffrey Lee, Senior Advisor, IPG howden, on "Corporate Succession Planning and Risk Management".

- Cynthia Wrana, Senior Advisor, UBS, on wealth management solutions for Chinese customers, covering the financial needs of individuals, families and businesses. Corporate financial needs".

- Jacopo Zamboni, Executive Director, Henley & Partners, on migration trends and mobility planning for entrepreneurs.

- Jin Zhe (Consultant, IPG howden Switzerland), Julia Zhao (Senior Consultant, UBS), Jeffrey Lee (Senior Consultant, IPG howden), Sun Yicheng, (Head of China Affairs, Henley & Partners), Round table on the theme of life planning for entrepreneurs and companies: "Life planning for entrepreneurs and succession planning for internationally oriented Chinese companies".

- Marie-Cristine Kaptan, Attorney-at-Law, Bär & Karrer, Switzerland, Topic: "ESG compliance under Swiss law

- Derek Kwan, Client Investment Specialist, UBS Bank, on "Sustainable investment

- Lukas Beeler, Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey, Switzerland, on "Arbitration and litigation before state courts - key considerations from a Swiss perspective".

- Juerg Bloch, Partner, Niederer Kraft Frey, Switzerland, on "Cross-border disputes and enforcement - prevention and Swiss particularities". Cross-border disputes and enforcement - prevention and Swiss particularities

- Alice Meissner, Partner, MP, Austria, on "ESG-related disputes and the financing of such disputes".

- Cui Qianglong, Senior Manager, China Construction Bank Zurich Branch, on "China Construction Bank's location and services in Switzerland".

- Yu Zhisen, Finance Director, SBS Ecoclean Group, Germany, on "Post-merger management of manufacturing companies taken over by Chinese investors in Europe".

- Liang Jian, General Representative of Fosun Group in Germany, Managing Director of Hauck & Aufhäuser Bank, Germany, on "Post-merger integration of financial institutions taken over by Chinese investors in Europe". Investors in Europe

- Ge Chen, Managing Director, Air China Suisse, "Air China's Journey in Switzerland".