Jingtian & Gongcheng’s dispute resolution team is highly regarded for its strength in contentious work, focusing on both domestic and international disputes. The practice handles corporate, regulatory, securities, intellectual property, and insolvency disputes for a wide range of clients, including state-owned enterprises, financial institutions, and foreign corporations. The team also has significant expertise in arbitration, representing clients in complex cases before major domestic and international arbitration bodies such as CIETAC, BAC, HKIAC, SIAC, and the ICC. Its work spans a variety of sectors, including trade, investment, banking and finance, real estate, construction, energy, and intellectual property.
Chungang Dong, a Beijing-based partner and co-head of the firm’s dispute resolution practice, is a key figure in this area. Qualified to practice in both China and the United States, Dong has represented clients in hundreds of lawsuits before all levels of PRC courts. His cases cover a wide range of substantive areas, such as trade, investment, banking and finance, real estate, construction, energy, product liability, and intellectual property. Other key names include IP specialist Ye Zhao and government and regulatory practitioner Siyuan Liu.
In commercial and transactions, the firm secured a Rmb1.6 billion ($224 million) victory for China High-Speed Railway Technology Co in CIETAC arbitration proceedings and subsequent enforcement actions against Henan Luozhoujie Expressway Co. Led by partner Dong, the team successfully enforced a redemption clause tied to unmet investment objectives concerning a 13.249% equity stake. Following the February 2023 arbitral award, the team overcame enforcement challenges from the state-owned respondent, who contested the arbitration agreement's scope and alleged arbitrator conflicts. In September 2024, the local court rejected these non-enforcement arguments, establishing significant precedent for investment redemption rights and demonstrating successful award enforcement against state-owned enterprises in their home jurisdiction.
In intellectual property, the firm’s IP team achieved a precedent-setting victory in one of China's most closely watched standard-essential patent (SEP) disputes, representing OPPO against Advanced Codec Technologies (ACT). Led by Beijing partners Ye Zhao and Guo Chen, the team secured a landmark Supreme People's Court ruling that fundamentally reshapes China's SEP litigation landscape. The Court's final judgment established China's first comprehensive judicial framework for determining FRAND licensing rates, comparable agreements evaluation, and behavioral standards for technical negotiations. This milestone decision serves as a blueprint for future SEP litigation in China's telecommunications sector and strengthens China's position in global SEP jurisprudence.
The firm’s litigation clients include Liga Huawei, Nacional de Fútbol Profesional, Ningbo Ketian Magnet Co, Tebon Securities Co and Zhejiang Tangde Film and Television Co.
The firm has recently strengthened its contentious practice with several key appointments. In October 2024, Ping Liu joined as a partner, bringing expertise in litigation, criminal defence, anti-fraud and anti-bribery investigations, and cases involving economic, financial, and internet crimes. Yuan Zhou also came on board as a partner the same month, focusing on dispute resolution. Earlier in the year, Zhanjiang Zhang was hired in March 2024 as a partner specializing in intellectual property, litigation, and arbitration, while Jia Ma joined in May 2024 with expertise in criminal defence, securities litigation, corporate investigations, and data security.
Client feedback
"Both commercial disputes and labor disputes. Strategically thinking and practical solutions." – Commercial and transactions
"Well-known for expertise in Chinese laws and practices." – Competition/antitrust
"Provided professional support and efficient communication during the handling of dispute cases." – Competition/antitrust
“Jingtian & Gongcheng adopts flexible solutions to adapt to shifting market trends. They have deep, practical experience in many ‘first-of-its-kind’ deals and cases, which have been recognised by both clients and the legal industry." – Intellectual property
"Good navigation of the complex Chinese legal system, enabling the development of appropriate strategies to address a range of nuanced matters." – Intellectual property
Li Li
"Li Li's team responds promptly. The service plan provided by Li aligns with the actual situation of the company's business operations. Li's team delivers high-quality, efficient, and professional legal services."
"Having experience in multiple roles, including at the Intellectual Property Office, in-house counsel, and as a lawyer, they excel at understanding the needs of private businesses and offer creative solutions."
"Lawyer Li Li's team conducts thorough analysis based on the facts, tailoring case strategies to clients' needs. They actively seek solutions from both legal and commercial perspectives, paying close attention to details throughout the process. This includes case management, evidence collection, and drafting documents, effectively safeguarding clients' interests."
Qiang Ma
"Qiang is a great communicator, highly accessible, and actively involved in our matters."
"Qiang Ma is a highly experienced senior trademark lawyer with extensive expertise in trademark litigation."
"Senior, professional, and highly skilled in trademark strategy and trademark litigation."
"Qiang Ma performed exceptionally well in helping the company win the case."
"Qiang Ma is highly professional in handling trademark issues."
Jianbo Pan
"Provides commercially oriented legal solutions based on deep legal knowledge and experience. With profound insight into business and corporate operations, he offers practical, grounded advice and alerts clients to potential risks."
Xiaofeng Tian
"Well-known for expertise in Chinese consumer and anti-trust laws and practices."
