Henan bolsters foreign-related legal services to support high-level opening-up

As more Chinese enterprises expand overseas, the development of foreign-related legal services has entered a crucial phase. The Department of Justice of Henan Province has adopted a systematic approach to building a comprehensive service network, aiming to establish Henan as a new hub for foreign-related legal services in Central China and to support the province's high-level opening-up.

Strategic planning: Building a new framework for foreign-related rule of law

The Justice Department of Henan has proactively aligned with development needs by organizing symposiums on high-quality development of foreign-related legal services and their role in supporting enterprises' growth. These events brought together officials from provincial departments and representatives from foreign-related enterprises and legal service institutions to jointly discuss development strategies, aiming to precisely drive supply-side reforms through demand-side guidance.

Moreover, the department dispatched teams to the country's leading regions in foreign-related legal services, such as Guangdong province and Shanghai, to learn from their experience in international commercial mediation, arbitration mechanisms, and talent cultivation.

The department also spearheaded the drafting of a three-year action plan to enhance the province's foreign-related legal service capacity. The plan outlines a development path led by high-level institutional platforms, supported by high-caliber talent teams, focusing on service quality and efficiency, and backed by strong policy support, providing a clear road map for the sector's development.

Platform integration: Building an efficient service ecosystem

Building on the Zhengzhou Area of the China (Henan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Henan has established a provincial foreign-related legal services center. The center offers one-stop foreign-related legal services across eight key areas, including legal consultation, international commercial arbitration, notarization, commercial mediation and foreign law ascertainment, through 10 dedicated service windows.

The province has been improving its integrated online and offline service system, which includes a 24/7 hotline and the Henan Foreign-Related Legal Services Network. A "white list" system for foreign-related lawyers has been implemented, and information updates on foreign trade, outsourcing, and foreign-invested enterprises have been completed.

Henan has also established a partnership with the Benchmark Chambers International & Benchmark International Mediation Center, a prestigious Chinese non-profit legal service organization trusted by the Supreme People's Court, to strengthen cooperation in foreign law ascertainment. Other key measures include adding platform links to government service websites, introducing foreign-related service modules on public platforms such as "Zhenghaoban" to assist visa-free transit passengers, and released 40 typical foreign-related legal service cases to guide industry development and enhance the province's overall service capacity.

Brand building: Cultivating first-class legal service institutions

To address institutional barriers, Henan has implemented policies supporting joint venture law firms between the Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong or Macao special administrative regions (SARs). A local law firm has set up a branch in Australia, marking a step toward building a global service network.

The province has also launched a campaign to provide standardized, high-quality notary services, and compiled a manual for enterprise-related notary services, which offers checklist-based service guidance for enterprises in business establishment‌ and ‌overseas expansion‌.

The reach of foreign-related notary services continues to grow, now covering cities and major counties across Henan. Fifteen notary institutions have introduced overseas remote video notarization, effectively addressing urgent needs of enterprises.

Targeted services for enterprises going global

The Justice Department of Henan, in collaboration with the provincial Commerce Department and the Federation of Industry and Commerce, has organized matchmaking events between private enterprises and legal service providers, facilitating face-to-face exchanges between over 20 premium legal service institutions and 40 representatives from private enterprises. Specialized legal service teams have been formed to provide end-to-end legal risk management and compliance support for local enterprises expanding abroad.

In addition, judicial administrative organs at all levels have focused on key areas affecting the business environment, including ‌supply of legal services and ‌supervision over law enforcement‌. Through field visits to 90 enterprises, identified issues have been transferred to ‌provincial task forces‌ for resolution.

Talent development: Building a robust foreign-related legal workforce

To address challenges such as the small scale of foreign-related legal service organizations and a shortage of high-caliber talent, Henan's Department of Justice has established a comprehensive talent cultivation mechanism involving government support, industry leadership, and institutional engagement.

Moreover, the province has sent ‌332 lawyers‌ in five batches for immersive training in Beijing and Guangzhou, and has signed strategic cooperation agreements with universities including China University of Political Science and Law, Southwest University of Political Science and Law and Zhengzhou University, to co-build the ‌Henan Innovation Base for Foreign-Related Legal Talent.

Provincial and municipal lawyers' associations have organized over 10 specialized briefings to enhance lawyers' capabilities in supporting Chinese enterprises expanding into key overseas markets such as Japan, Germany, Southeast Asia, and Africa. A provincial foreign-related legal talent pool now includes 803 lawyers, with 91 classified as leading experts and seven included in the Ministry of Justice's national talent pool.

Collaborative efforts yield tangible outcomes

In March this year, the Justice Department of Henan, together with the province's Development and Reform Commission and Commerce Department, held a training session on enhancing the overseas capabilities of private enterprises, covering cross-border investment, intellectual property rights management, and compliance. Joint activities with the provincial Overseas Chinese Federation have also been launched to promote legal exchanges with overseas Chinese enterprises.

By 2024, the number of Henan lawyers handling foreign-related cases had increased by 257 percent, while related revenue grew by 57 percent. The province now has 41 foreign-related notary offices and 352 foreign-related notaries, handling 140,000 foreign-related notary cases annually. Notary certificates have been sent to more than 130 countries and regions. Through these efforts, Henan is advancing its opening-up with robust legal support.