Greater China Legal History Seminar Series “A Short Legal History of China’s Belt and Road Initiative” by Prof. Lutz-Christian Wolff

This seminar discusses legal developments in the context of China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI). It first explains the historical background of BRI and discusses criticism the initiative has to face. The seminar then explores if and what BRI law has been enacted in the past and which other legal responses BRI has generated by different parties at the national and supra-national level. A special focus is on the question how law firms have reacted to BRI and how they should potentially react. The seminar concludes with general observations regarding the question if the past development allows predictions in regard to the future of BRI and related legal issues.

About the Speaker:
Prof. Lutz-Christian Wolff is Wei Lun Professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. After several years of studying, doing research and working in Shanghai, Taipei, Düsseldorf, Beijing, New York and Frankfurt he has been based in Hong Kong since 1999. Prof. Wolff specializes in Chinese and international business law, private international law and comparative law. His most recent work includes: The Law of Cross-border Business Transactions – Concepts, Principles, Skills, 2nd ed. (2017); Mergers & Acquisitions in China – Law and Practice, 5th ed. (2015); From a ‘Small Phrase with Big Ambitions’ to a Powerful Driver of Contract Law Unification? – China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the CISG -, 34 (Part 1) Journal of Contract Law (2017), p. 50; AI ante portas – the End of Comparative Law?, Vol. 7/2 The Chinese Journal of Comparative Law (2019), p 484. Prof. Wolff is also the editor of China Outbound Investments (2011 – Chinese translation 2012) and co-editor (with Prof. Xi Chao) of Legal Dimensions of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (2016). His article Legal Responses to China’s ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative: Necessary, Possible or Pointless Exercise? is forthcoming in the Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems Journal.

CPD credits are available upon application and subject to accreditation by the Law Society of Hong Kong (currently pending).