China Business Law Journal – October 2025

Rising tides, sharper edges

The outward momentum of Chinese enterprise shows no sign of slowing, but the journey ahead is no longer defined by calm seas. As companies look beyond national borders, they are met with shifting legal terrain, unpredictable headwinds, and the occasional storm born not of law but of geopolitics. For general counsel, the map of global business is being redrawn – not by steady lines, but by pressure points and fault lines.

It is no longer just about scale or ambition. Even the most meticulously planned overseas move can be thrown off course by a sudden regulatory change, a diplomatic chill, or a new layer of scrutiny in a foreign jurisdiction. Legal teams must now do more than protect the business – they are expected to anticipate the storm before it forms, to steady the ship’s course when the rules change mid-voyage.

Our cover story, Rising red mist, explores the surge in cross-border disputes facing Chinese companies as they expand into increasingly complex and contested international markets. From new arbitration challenges to the impact of foreign policy on contract enforcement, the story reveals how the evolving global order is reshaping the risks and the role of dispute resolution. The legal stakes are higher, the margins for error narrower, and the demand for foresight greater than ever.

Complementing this broader shift, The new game plan brings together leading dispute resolution lawyers to tackle the realities of cross-border conflict. Through case studies and practical analysis, the series explores how companies can recover assets through litigation and arbitration, while also decoding the evolving interplay between China’s revised Arbitration Law and global norms. As the rules change, so too must the strategies – and this series offers a new legal compass for navigating disputes at the intersection of Chinese procedures and international expectations.

Meanwhile, the way in-house legal teams engage with external counsel is transforming. Faced with tighter budgets and heavier workloads, legal departments are bringing more routine work in-house while demanding sharper strategic insight from their law firm partners. In Time for a refit?, we talk to general counsel across Asia to understand how they are reshaping the lawyer-client dynamic – leveraging technology, rethinking value, and forging new models of collaboration that speak to today’s economic realities.

Finally, we celebrate those who have not only adapted to change, but led it. The A-List 2025–26: Visionaries recognises China’s top lawyers – trailblazers who set the benchmark for legal excellence and social impact. From litigators to dealmakers, these are professionals whose work shapes industries and inspires the next generation.

As China’s legal and business landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: resilience, foresight and agility are no longer optional – they are essential.