American lawyer dedicated to Chinese law industry for 13 years

Meeting endless opportunities in the next 40 years

As a mediator dealing with China's “Belt and Road” cases, Meg has a sense of mission. She once said that her biggest goal is to help Chinese young lawyers mature. She was proud to have served as the coach for the Shanghai Jiaotong University Moot Court team, and personally instructed and trained young lawyers of King & Wood.

In her honest words,“I want to educate the young generation of lawyers to realize that the significance of this profession is not only to make money. And working as a lawyer not only includes sending e-mails and writing contracts, but is also to keep a solemn sense of responsibility in mind and to think more about developing Chinese laws and contributing to society.”

For the current deepening of reform and opening up in China, she is excited to see the new development of the law in resolving "Belt and Road" disputes. For example, in October 2017, the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) implemented the International Investment Dispute Arbitration Rules, being China's first international investment arbitration rule set. Since the investment law systemsof most countries along the “Belt and Road” are not perfect, there is a high possibility of international investment disputes. This arbitration rule provides institutional guarantee for Chinese investors to invest abroad and also trustworthy investment dispute arbitration services for foreign investors investing in China. Thus, it has taken a solid step towards creating a more international, legalized and convenient business environment in and outwith China.

Moreover, first and second international commercial courts will be set up separately in Shenzhen and Xi'an to solve the cross-border commercial disputes related to the Belt and Road.“China has the potential to establish credible and reliable means to adjudicate international disputes. Ultimately, I hope to see more international disputes being adjudicated in China with foreign parties confident in those systems to provide fair and independent awards.”

When asked about the future development in the Chinese legal industry, Meg said modestly that she is still trying to achieve things in China.“We have had 40 years of reform, and we have another 40 years ahead. There is a future. Hopefully young lawyers contribute because I am helping to train them.”

In Meg’s view, China is full of opportunities, and Shanghai is more like a city of dreams.“There is nothing that can't be realized here.”

She simply wrote down “Technology advancement leaps” in capital letters to express her expectations.“I think they are the next step. China will really focus on things like artificial intelligence, development of software, and all the amazing things we would be able to do, because of the talent of companies like Tencent and Alibaba. These things have been translated into everyday life. They will do the same thing in our lifestyle that I saw happen in the past thirty years.”

Meg’s expectation of China’s continued journey of reform and opening up.

Story by Zheng Qian & Zeng Weilei