On August 15, 2025, the 9th session of the Xinglai Practical Salon was successfully held at Xinglai Law Firm in Beijing. This session focused on the topic of "Arbitration Procedures and Remedies," moderated by Wang Ying, Deputy Director of the Xinglai Law Firm’s Management Committee, and featured a keynote presentation by Han Meijun, Partner at Xinglai Law Firm. The event adopted a hybrid format—combining on-site sharing with live online streaming—drawing legal professionals from both offline and online platforms who came together to explore key practical insights into arbitration practice.

In an era when commercial disputes are on the rise, arbitration has emerged as a crucial tool for resolving business conflicts, thanks to its efficiency, flexibility, and professionalism. For legal professionals, mastering the key milestones and practical strategies of arbitration procedures is now an essential skill.

This session's speaker, Attorney Han Meijun, boasts over seven years of hands-on experience in resolving civil and commercial disputes. She has successfully handled numerous high-profile cases and is particularly renowned for her deep expertise in the field of arbitration. During the event, Attorney Han provided an in-depth analysis of the key steps and practical tips involved in each stage of the arbitration process. She began by highlighting the unique features and advantages of arbitration, emphasizing its core principles such as party autonomy, professionalism, independence, confidentiality, and efficiency—factors that make it a preferred method for resolving commercial disputes. Additionally, Attorney Han carefully outlined the boundaries between arbitrable and non-arbitrable matters, using real-world case examples to explore whether issues like tort disputes or PPP agreement conflicts can be effectively addressed through arbitration, offering attendees clear guidelines for making informed decisions on these complex topics.

Attorney Han also provided a detailed explanation of key issues such as the applicable law in arbitration and the selection of arbitrators. She analyzed, using real-life case examples, the rules governing the application of procedural and substantive law throughout the arbitration process, as well as important mechanisms like arbitrator recusal—equipping attendees with a deeper understanding and practical tools for applying arbitration rules effectively. Additionally, during the stage of challenging an arbitral award, Attorney Han thoroughly outlined the circumstances under which an award can be set aside, the corresponding procedures, and the standards for judicial review. By dissecting actual cases, she highlighted the challenges and critical points involved in such disputes, offering participants invaluable guidance to handle similar situations with confidence.

The arbitration agreement is the key to initiating arbitration proceedings. Attorney Han emphasized the importance of drafting it accurately, and through an interactive session, engaged participants in an in-depth discussion on common disputes arising in practice—such as improperly specified institutional names or inconsistencies between Chinese and English clauses—while sharing the latest judicial perspectives and approaches to resolving these issues.

This salon not only provided legal professionals with a high-quality platform for in-depth discussions and intellectual exchange, but also helped participants precisely identify key milestones in the arbitration process and effectively deploy various remedies—thereby enhancing their expertise in handling real-world arbitration cases. Moving forward, Starlaw Firm will continue to organize more top-tier, practice-oriented salon events, contributing actively to the growth and development of the legal industry.

Layout: Wang Xin

Review: Management Committee