Zhou Qi, partner at Shanghai Four Dimensions Lema Law Firm, gave a lecture on maritime and maritime law practice at Hangzhou Tianxin Law Firm.

On the afternoon of March 26, a group of three from Shanghai Siwei Lema Law Firm, including partner Zhou Qi, consultants Qian Xifeng and Liu Chong, visited Hangzhou Tianxin Law Firm. Yu Dan, director of our Maritime and Mercantile Business Department, accompanied them and led a tour of our office environment. Afterwards, a lecture on maritime and mercantile law practice was held in the conference room. Siwei Lema is an international law firm specializing in maritime and mercantile law, having been awarded the "Annual Excellent Law Firm" award in the maritime and mercantile category in China by the renowned international legal magazine, 'Business Law', for six consecutive years. In 2018, it was ranked as the top maritime and mercantile law firm in China by Chambers and Partners. This January, our firm and Siwei Lema established a strategic partnership in the field of maritime and mercantile law, and we will be engaging in deeper cooperation in this area in the future.

The lecture was given by Zhou Qi, partner at Siwei Lema. Mr. Zhou is an adjunct professor at East China University of Political Science and Law and a visiting professor at Shanghai Maritime University. In his more than 20 years of practice, he has handled numerous maritime and mercantile litigation and arbitration cases for domestic and foreign shipowners, insurance companies, and P&I clubs in various maritime courts and arbitration institutions across China, giving him extensive practical experience. During the two-hour-plus lecture, Mr. Zhou, drawing on his rich theoretical knowledge and practical experience, provided a clear and insightful introduction to common issues in the maritime and mercantile field, including the characteristics of ship property rights, the order of payment in ship auctions, the 17 carrier exemption clauses, ship insurance, and pre-litigation preservation, as well as the establishment, jurisdiction, and special procedures of maritime litigation in Chinese maritime courts. Mr. Zhou also mentioned that maritime and mercantile cases are highly international in nature, and in most cases, dispute jurisdiction is agreed upon in international arbitration tribunals in London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Therefore, the entry barrier is high, requiring lawyers to have a certain level of English proficiency. He suggested reading more English original books to improve English skills. Furthermore, for lawyers who mainly handle general civil and commercial cases and have almost zero practical experience in maritime and mercantile cases, Mr. Zhou suggested starting by familiarizing themselves with Chapter 4, the most important chapter of the Maritime Code. He also stated that having experience in general civil and commercial cases is beneficial and not harmful to handling maritime and mercantile cases, as a solid foundation in basic legal knowledge is very helpful in handling such cases.

After the lecture, the attending lawyers and the three guests engaged in Q&A and discussions on issues such as jurisdiction in maritime and mercantile cases, the relationship between ship auctions and general corporate bankruptcy, and the specialized development of lawyers. The atmosphere was lively, and everyone was deeply impressed by Siwei Lema's high level of professionalism in the maritime and mercantile field and the charm of lawyers Zhou Qi, Qian Xifeng, and Liu Chong.

This themed lecture was the first interaction between our firm and Siwei Lema following the establishment of our strategic partnership. In the future, both sides will continue to strengthen cooperation and exchanges in the maritime and mercantile field and other legal areas, providing professional and high-quality maritime and mercantile legal services to clients in Zhejiang.