Dr. Wang Zheng Speaks at the Peace Palace in The Hague on Behalf of Chinese Lawyers

From 13:00 to 17:00 local time on November 15, 2017 (20:00 to 24:00 Beijing time), the 2017 China-Europe Lawyers Summit Forum was held at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the most iconic building in the Netherlands and the seat of the International Court of Justice. The forum was chaired by Mr. Jos Hellebrekers, President of the China-Europe Law Foundation (CELF). Eighteen senior attorneys from across China gathered with renowned lawyers from various European countries at this cathedral of international justice to engage in profound discussions on the development of law firms and the future of the legal profession. Dr. Wang Zheng, Director of Zhejiang T&H Law Firm, was invited to deliver a keynote speech titled Online Law Firms: Future and Development at the summit.

The central themes of the forum were "Trends, Inspiration, and Cooperation," with the objective of forging a new model for extensive exchange between Chinese and European lawyers. Initiated by the China-Europe Law Foundation (CELF), the event was organized by LEX MAGISTER, FAWANG MEDIA GROUP LIMITED, and Zhongdi Hebang, with support from 66law.cn, Lvxin News, Fanfashe, Lvshitong, Intelligeast, Zhi10.com, Zhishan, and the European Innovation Industry Foundation (EIIF). The forum was made possible through the backing of the European Legal Tech Annual Conference, KU Leuven, the World Youth Lawyers Forum, Orange Group Netherlands, BNP Paribas, and the Central Bank of Luxembourg.

Highlights

Dr. Wang Zheng with BalRal, President of the European Legal Tech Annual Conference

Dr. Wang Zheng with Peter Wright, representative of the Law Society of England and Wales

Dr. Wang Zheng with Arthur Flieger, President of the Antwerp Bar Association and Chairman of Flieger Law Office

Dr. Wang Zheng with Mr. Jos Hellebrekers, President of the China-Europe Law Foundation (CELF)

In his address, Dr. Wang Zheng first expressed his gratitude to the China-Europe Law Foundation and the forum chairman, Mr. Jos Hellebrekers, for their invitation, which enabled the Chinese delegation to visit numerous European judicial institutions and law firms. He observed that European law firms boast a long and distinguished tradition, and that China's legal profession – having been restored only 38 years ago – still has much to learn and many areas in which to improve.

Dr. Wang noted that both European and Chinese law firms today are confronted with the sweeping trends of globalization in legal services and the digital age, presenting both opportunities and challenges, with multiple possibilities for the future. In this context, he emphasized that achieving innovation in firm operations, establishing robust talent development systems, and advancing the research, development, and upgrading of legal service products are essential to building an innovative law firm. Critical to this endeavor are effective firm management, leadership development, and organizational optimization. He further stressed the importance of responding to China's Belt and Road Initiative by creating new models of exchange and cooperation between Chinese and European lawyers – facilitating information sharing, business resource connectivity, mutual support in cross-border transactions (including intellectual property and investment and financing), and cross-border exchange and visiting programs for young lawyers. European and Chinese law firms, he argued, should learn from one another, draw on each other's strengths, and grow stronger together.

Forum Venue – The Peace Palace, Seat of the International Court of Justice

Following his initial presentation of the concept of "internet-based law firms" and the "Four Modernizations of Legal Services" at the 2017 Annual Conference of the Information Technology Committee of the All China Lawyers Association in September, Dr. Wang Zheng elaborated on these ideas during his sharing session. He emphasized that in the internet era, law firms should pursue professionalism and client experience as their primary development goals, and should adopt visualization, standardization, collaboration, and intelligence as the "Four Modernizations" standards for legal services.

Turning to the application and impact of AI in the legal services industry, Dr. Wang Zheng drew comparisons between domestic and international products. On the Chinese side, he cited FaXin (legal research and case analytics), Fadada (electronic contract signing), Limai and I Dong (lawyer knowledge bases), Wusong (online lawyer communities), and the e-Lawyer intelligent firm management system. On the international side, he referenced ROSS (legal research), Beagle (intelligent contract review), Premonition (case outcome prediction), DoNotPay (consultation services), and Third-Party Funding (TPF) in the legal finance sector.

During his speech, Dr. Wang Zheng formally introduced the e-Lawyer Alliance and the IForensic cloud-based legal service platform. He explained that the e-Lawyer Alliance is an innovative lawyer service platform that combines online and offline capabilities, built on mobile internet technology, anchored by local brand-name law firms, and standardized by professional legal services. The Alliance has already helped over 1,000 law firms in China achieve digital transformation and upgrading through its intelligent firm management systems. At the time, the e-Lawyer Alliance comprised 64 member firms, including 63 from 14 Chinese provinces and CLX Lao-China Law Firm from Laos. The Alliance has established a Management Committee, a Supervisory Committee, and a Lawyer Service Center, and has put in place a three-pronged strategic structure encompassing technical support, product development, and project operations. Dr. Wang extended a warm welcome to European law firms to establish close cooperation with their Chinese counterparts and jointly serve the Belt and Road Initiative.

Dr. Wang Zheng also demonstrated the IForensic system, explaining that through technological innovation, it would fundamentally transform the traditional legal counsel service model. The system effectively maximizes corporate interests while simultaneously creating multiple pathways for the steady and rapid development of lawyers – particularly young lawyers – representing a significant breakthrough and innovation in the traditional legal service model.

The keynote speech resonated strongly with the Chinese and European lawyers in attendance, sparking lively discussion. At the conclusion of the forum, representatives from both sides expressed their hope that this forum would serve as a catalyst for establishing long-term cooperative relationships between the Chinese and European legal professions, ushering in a new chapter of extensive global collaboration among lawyers.

Group Photo – Delegates of the 2nd China-Europe Lawyers Summit Forum