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Jian ZHAO
Senior Counsel / Beijing
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Tel +86-10-5796-5006
Email zhaojian@zhonglun.com
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Practices

Litigation & Arbitration
Jian ZHAO
Over his nearly 30-year career in litigation and arbitration, Dr. Jian Zhao demonstrates a robust grasp of legal principles and profound insights into arbitration practice. He has accumulated substantial experience in solving major difficult commercial cases. Since 2001, Dr. Zhao has served as the chief arbitrator and sole arbitrator in handling a large number of international and domestic commercial arbitration cases, involving dozens of domains, including international trade and investment. Notably, his experience as arbitrator includes serving a Chinese arbitration institution, which is among the world's top five arbitration institutions, for a long time, during which time he reviewed nearly 10,000 arbitration awards and other settlement documents. Alongside his role as arbitrator, Dr. Zhao led the drafting of China's first and the world's third specialized arbitration institution International Investment Dispute Arbitration Rules, filling a gap in China’s arbitration legal rules. His academic achievements are also noteworthy. The academic stances advocated by Dr. Zhao, such as the expansion of the effectiveness of arbitration agreements and fostering pro-arbitration judicial supervision policies, have had a significant impact on the development of arbitration and judicial practice in China. In 2011, Mr. Zhao was awarded a special allowance by the State Council government for his outstanding contributions to the development of China's arbitration industry.
In terms of academic contribution, Dr. Zhao has published, among others, several books and more than 40 papers. His papers are seen in Cass Journal of Law, Journal of Comparative Law, Law Review, Chinese Yearbook of Private International Law and Comparative Law, Wuhan University Journal, Cass Journal of Foreign Law, Journal of International Economic Law, Procedural Law Review, International and Comparative Law Review, Tsinghua Law Review, International Commercial Law Review, Arbitration and Law, Arbitration in Beijing, Journal of International Arbitration, and so on.
Honors and Awards
For Individual
Special Government Allowance, The State Council of China, 2011
Memberships & Affiliations
Vice Chairman, China Society of Private International Law
Member, the Expert Advisory Committee, China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)
Member, International Advisory Board, Vienna International Arbitration Center (VIAC), Austria
Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK
Member, French Society of Comparative Law, France
Listed arbitrator, CIETAC, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, Shanghai Arbitration Commission, Qingdao Arbitration Commission, and Wuhan Arbitration Commission
Mentor of PhD Candidate, University of International Business and Economics
Research Fellow, International Arbitration Institute, Renmin University
Legal Counsel, Overseas Business Complaint Service Center For Chinese Enterprises, Ministry of Commerce, China
Contributing Editor, China Law Yearbook
Publications
"Research on Judicial Supervision over International Commercial Arbitration", Law Press China, 2000 (garnered the First Prize for Research Achievements of China Society of Private International law, 1996-1999)
Co-author and Contributor
"International Business Law in the 21st Century: Challenges and Issues in East Asia", Cambridge Independent Press, 2013
"Private International Law", Peking University Press, China, 2000
"Private International Law in China and Its International Unifications (Revised Edition)", Wuhan University Press, China, 1998
"Encyclopedia of Arbitration Law of The People's Republic of China", Law Press China, 1995
"Theory and Practice of Inter-regional Judicial Assistance" (The research subject of the National Youth Social Science Fund), Wuhan University Press, China, 1994
Papers
"Analysis on the 2021 Arbitration and Mediation Rules of the Vienna International Arbitration" (second author), Commercial Arbitration and Mediation, Vol. 5, 2021
"Approaches to the Revision of the 1994 Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China" (second author), Journal of International Arbitration, Vol. 20, No. 2, April 2003
"On the 2006 Revisions of the UNCITRAL Arbitration Model Law: Also on the Modifications' Impact on Chinese Arbitral Legislation and Practice", Chinese Yearbook Of Private International Law And Comparative Law, Vol. 10, Law Press China, 2007
"The Transformation of Government Functions and the Innovation of Chinese Arbitration Institution's Arbitration Fees Management System", Arbitration in Beijing, Vol.59, China Legal Publishing House, 2006
"On Some Legal Issues of International Commercial Arbitration", International and Comparative Law Review, Vol. 5, China Fang Zheng Press, 2003
"On China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Financial Disputes Arbitration Rules", Arbitration And Law, Vol. 4, Law Press China, 2003
"International Commercial Arbitration in China: Retrospect and Prospect", Chinese Yearbook of Private International Law and Comparative Law, Vol. 4, Law Press China, 2001
"Some Reflections on Mediation in China", Union des Avocat Internationale www.uianet.org, December 2001
"On Several Issues about Amending the 1994 Arbitration Law of China" (second author), Journal of International Economic Law, Vol. 4, Law Press China, 2001
"On the Arbitrability", Tsinghua Law Review, Vol.3, Tsinghua University Press, 2000
"On the Long Armed Effect of Arbitration Agreement", Chinese Yearbook of Private International Law and Comparative Law, Vol. 3, Law Press China 2000
"German Arbitration Law of 1998 (Book Ten of the Code of Civil Procedure)" (translator), International Commercial Law Review, Vol. 3, Law Press China, 2000
"On Several Issues of Arbitration Agreement", serialized on International Business Daily, May 2000
"On the Independence of Arbitration Clause", Yearbook of China Arbitration Involving Foreign Elements, 2000
"On the Provisions about 'the Parties Should Selected the Arbitration Institution through Arbitration Agreement' in Arbitration Law of China", Journal Of International Law, The Contemporary World Press, 1999
"On Jurisdiction Concerning the Jurisdiction", Procedural Law Review, Vol. 3, Law Press China, 1999
"On Manifest Disregard of Law in American Arbitration Law", Cass Journal of Foreign Law, Vol. 2, 1999
"Public Order and Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in International Commercial Arbitration", Chinese Yearbook of Private International Law and Comparative Law, Vol. 2, Law Press China, 1999
"On the Uniformization of International Civil Procedure Law" (first author), Law Review, Vol. 3, 1998
"On Several Issues about the Setting Aside Procedure", Law Science, Vol. 3, 1998
"On Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court Rules to Set Aside the Arbitration Award of the Shenzhen Hai Zhong Bao Fisheries Co., Ltd V. Tong Heng (Asia) Ltd." (first author), Chinese Yearbook of Private International Law and Comparative Law, Law Press China, 1998
"On UN Convention of Contracts for the International Sale of Goods", Wuhan University Journal, Vol. 3, 1993
"On UN Convention of Contracts for the International Sale of Goods: Also on the Feasibility of China's Ratification of the Convention", Wuhan University Journal, Vol. 4, 1993
"On the Provisions about Treatment Standards of the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement", Cass Journal of Law, Vol. 3, 1992
"Intermediate Congress of the International Academy of International Law: The Impact of Uniform Law on National Law: Limits and Possibilities, Commercial Arbitration: National Report of China” (first author), Arbitration In Beijing, Volume 67, China Legal Publishing House, 2008
His paper titled International Commercial Arbitration: "Global Trends and China's Response", won the First Prize of the Yicai Cup China Arbitration Essay Competition, 2022
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Education
Doctor of Law, Law School, Wuhan University
LL.M., Law School, Wuhan University
LL.B., Law School, Wuhan University -
Professional Experience
Senior Counsel, Zhong Lun Law Firm, 2023 to present
Deputy Director General, ICC China, 2021-2022
Secretary General of Shanghai Branch and Shandong Branch, Vice President of the Court of Arbitration, etc., China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, 1994-2021 -
Languages
Chinese
English