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Dispute Resolution

When a China matter goes contentious

Disputes in China reward preparation — the right forum, evidence fixed early, and assets secured before they move. We represent foreign companies in litigation and arbitration, and we bring the cross-border perspective these matters usually need.

What we handle

Litigation & arbitration

Commercial

Contract & commercial disputes

Supply, distribution, service and payment disputes — brought or defended, in court or before an arbitral tribunal.

Corporate

Shareholder & JV disputes

Deadlock, control, minority-protection and JV break-ups — often the most sensitive matters a foreign investor faces.

Arbitration

Arbitration

Institutional arbitration (including CIETAC) and cross-border clauses — advising on forum and seat before, not after, a dispute.

Interim relief

Asset preservation

Pre-litigation and interim preservation to freeze assets — often the step that decides whether a win is collectable.

Enforcement

Enforcement

Enforcing judgments and awards in China, including against uncooperative counterparties and via the credit-sanction regime.

Strategy

Pre-dispute strategy

Demand letters, settlement leverage and evidence preservation — resolving matters before they escalate where we can.

FAQ

Common questions

Litigation or arbitration — which is better for a China contract?

It depends on the contract, the counterparty, and where assets and enforcement will sit. Arbitration can offer confidentiality and cross-border award enforcement; court litigation can be faster and cheaper for clear claims. The best time to decide is when you draft the clause — but we advise either way.

Can we freeze the other side's assets before we win?

Often yes. Chinese courts can order pre-litigation or interim asset preservation on the right showing and security. It's frequently the difference between a paper victory and actually recovering — so we consider it early.

We had the deal done here — can you defend it?

Yes, and there's an advantage when the same firm advised at entry: nothing is lost between how a structure was built and how it's defended. We act for foreign companies whether or not we set the matter up.

Facing a dispute in China?

Tell us the situation and where the assets are. We'll advise on forum, interim relief, and the fastest route to a collectable result.