8 Apr 2025
International Pro Bono Legal Services Association Conducts Cross-border Legal Exchange in Huizhou to Enhance Legal Cooperation in the Greater Bay Area
On April 7, 2024, the International Pro Bono Legal Services Association (IPLSA), led by its founder and chairman, barrister Simon Ho, visited Huizhou, Guangdong Province, to engage in exchanges and discussions with local government, judicial institutions, and business representatives on new pathways for cross-border legal cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The visit included the "Cross-border Legal Lecture (Session II)" seminar and a signing ceremony for cooperation agreements, aimed at deepening the cross-border legal service system in the Greater Bay Area and promoting regional legal integration and talent development.
Jointly Discussing Cross-border Legal Affairs and Planning for the Development of the Greater Bay Area
The event was organized by the Huizhou Municipal Bureau of Justice, co-sponsored by the United Front Work Department of the Municipal Committee, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the People's Court, the People's Procuratorate, the Bureau of Commerce, the Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Huizhou Arbitration Commission, Huizhou University School of Law and Politics, and the Huizhou Lawyers Association. More than 70 guests attended, including Huang Shunheng, Party Secretary and Director of the Huizhou Municipal Bureau of Justice, representatives from the municipal lawyers' industry Party committee, cross-border lawyers, business associations, and business leaders.
As the founder of IPLSA, Simon Ho stated in his address, "Huizhou is a key hub city on the eastern side of the Greater Bay Area, and the construction of a cross-border legal system is crucial for regional economic and trade cooperation. IPLSA has always been committed to building a platform for cross-border legal cooperation, and this exchange will promote the connection of rules and the exchange of talent between the two places, injecting professional momentum into the 'soft connectivity' of the Greater Bay Area."
Huang Shunheng, Director of the Huizhou Municipal Bureau of Justice, extended a warm welcome to the IPLSA delegation and emphasized, "Huizhou is accelerating the construction of a market-oriented and international legal environment. We look forward to deepening cooperation with the Hong Kong legal community to jointly explore innovative practices in areas such as cross-border dispute resolution and corporate compliance."
Focusing on the Spirit of the Two Sessions and Proposing Legal 'New Infrastructure'
During the "Cross-border Legal Lecture" session, Simon Ho, in his dual capacity as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a practicing lawyer in the Greater Bay Area, systematically interpreted the latest deployment of the 2025 National Two Sessions regarding legal cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao region. He proposed three core recommendations:
Strengthen the construction of cross-border legal service institutions: Promote resource sharing between cross-border arbitration and mediation institutions to create a preferred destination for dispute resolution in the Greater Bay Area;
Cultivate a tiered team of versatile talents: Focus on enhancing lawyers' professional capabilities in areas such as the enforcement of cross-border judgments, identification of foreign laws, and international compliance consulting;
Deepen collaboration between government, enterprises, universities, and research institutions: Build a full-chain training mechanism of "knowledge + practice" through case studies, internship exchanges, and joint training.
Representatives from attending enterprises and legal practitioners expressed that the lecture content was both strategically insightful and practically valuable, providing actionable solutions to address international economic and trade risks.
Signing and Appointment to Build a Cooperative Platform
During the event, the International Pro Bono Legal Services Association signed a "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement" with the Huizhou Lawyers Association. Both parties will engage in in-depth cooperation in areas such as professional training, research topics, and resource sharing. Additionally, Simon Ho was appointed as the "Special Advisor on Cross-border Legal Services for Huizhou," and will support the construction of cross-border legal capabilities in Huizhou in the future.
About the International Pro Bono Legal Services Association (IPLSA)
The International Pro Bono Legal Services Association was founded by Simon Ho in 2018. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting pro bono legal practices and cross-border legal cooperation. Focusing on the legal needs of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the "Belt and Road" regions, the association provides multi-dimensional services such as training, consulting, and policy research to help build an open legal ecosystem.
Contact Information:
Secretariat of the International Pro Bono Legal Services Association
Phone: +852 2810 0863
Email: info@iplsa.net