On 19 April 2024, our Partner Mr Eric Woo attended the 135^th Canton Fair at Guangzhou as the first Greater Bay Area lawyer from Hong Kong to provide legal services for exhibitors at the Canton Fair. 

Eric obtained the licence to practise as a Greater Bay Area lawyer last year. In an interview with Takungpo, Eric explained that the recent adjustment to the mutual recognition policy of judgments between Hong Kong and the Mainland has made it easier to enforce Mainland judgments in Hong Kong, which has also brought more opportunities to his business. He said, “Ever since I obtained my Greater Bay Area lawyer's license, the number of cases involving cross-border disputes that I have taken on has increased significantly.”

In another interview with Yangcheng Evening News and Guangzhou Lawyers Association, Eric commented that most Hong Kong lawyers received training in common law and English. As common law was practised in many countries and regions in the world, lawyers from Hong Kong could play an active role in handling legal issues between mainland enterprises and overseas clients.

Eric also said in an interview with Guangdong News, “I am very interested about this. It is the first time that there is such a platform for lawyers in the Greater Bay Area to provide legal consultation in the Mainland. This time I could communicate with clients directly, which was very special.”

For further details, please see:

News article on Takungpo

News article in Yangcheng Evening News

News article on Guangzhou Lawyers Association Weibo

News story on Guangdong News (from 2'12")