On March 24, 2026, Legal 500, the internationally renowned legal rating agency, hosted the GC Summit China·Beijing 2026 at the Park Hyatt Beijing. The event brought together general counsel and legal heads from leading domestic and global corporations, and top law firm partners, for in-depth discussions on corporate legal risk control and compliance management innovation. Zhonglun W&D Law Firm was invited to attend and hosted a roundtable on “Sharing Commercial Hot Topics for Enterprises: 2025 Review & 2026 Outlook”, offering the audience an insightful and forward-looking professional session.

Gaochong Hu, Senior Partner and Director of the Professional Committee of Labor and Human Resources Law, addressed employee stock ownership plan, non-compete agreement, and trade secret protection. He reviewed typical disputes in 2025, with a focus on equity incentive dispute resolution, highlights of the Provisions on the Protection of Trade Secrets, and the convergence of cash and equity-based non-compete agreements. Looking ahead to 2026, he offered practical compliance guidance on corporate employment practices.

Bingling Zhao, Senior Partner and Director of the Professional Committee of Compliance and Risk Control Law, addressed anti-monopoly legal practices, outlining the latest industry and regulatory trends. She characterized current anti-monopoly landscape by three words: “strict, meticulous, and preventive”. Drawing on law enforcement updates, case studies, and the policy guidance set by China’s 15th Five-Year Plan in 2026, she urged enterprises to strengthen anti-monopoly awareness, prioritize ex-ante compliance, and enhance compliance management mechanisms. As anti-monopoly has increasingly become a core strategy in complex transactions and corporate disputes, compliance is no longer optional but imperative for enterprises.

Xiaoqin Liu, Partner and Director of the Professional Committee of Company and Merger & Acquisition Law, addressed M&A and restructuring practices. She reviewed the 2025 M&A market’s structural shift—defined by “industrial integration, risk mitigation, and new quality productive forces as drivers”—and discussed how the ban on proxy voting in the Regulations on the Supervision and Regulation of Listed Companies (Draft for Comments) affects transaction structures in listed company acquisitions. Looking ahead to 2026, Attorney Liu urged companies to strengthen due diligence, refine transaction structures, and closely monitor state-owned asset regulatory requirements, leveraging professional legal services to maximize value while mitigating risks.

As one of the Asia-Pacific’s most influential legal gatherings, the Legal 500 GC Summit continues to foster high-level dialogue between corporate in-house counsel and external legal counsel. This year’s summit drew nearly a hundred legal experts to explore how corporate legal teams can strengthen compliance governance through specialization and digitalization—enabling high-quality business growth amid a  complex and evolving global economy. 

As a leading comprehensive law firm in China, Zhonglun W&D Law Firm upholds the core values of professionalism, efficiency, and innovation, delivering comprehensive commercial legal services to clients at home and abroad. With a seasoned and specialized legal team, the firm provides end-to-end support from risk management and compliance counseling to dispute resolution. Its invitation to the Legal 500 GC Summit and its hosting of a dedicated roundtable underscore the firm’s active engagement in industry exchanges and commitment to insights sharing. Moving forward, Zhonglun W&D Law Firm will remain committed to the principle of “Client First, Professionalism Foremost”, further sharpening its practice capabilities and enhancing service delivery to offer robust legal support for enterprises operating in today’s complex and evolving legal environment—advancing both compliance and sustainable high-quality growth.