The North Bund International Legal Services Port officially opened its flagship hub at Sinar Mas Plaza this week, marking a major step forward in Shanghai’s ambition to become a global center for legal and arbitration services.
The launch ceremony drew leading government and judicial officials as the city pushes to integrate legal resources into the heart of its economic modernization strategy.
Li Qian, Party Secretary of Hongkou District, and Zhou Wenjie, deputy Party secretary of the Shanghai Justice Bureau and head of the city’s legal profession committee, jointly inaugurated the new facility.
District Director Lu Ming delivered opening remarks at the event, attended by a roster of senior figures from the city’s legal, judicial, and arbitration sectors.
Lu underscored that Hongkou District is positioning its legal service zone as a cornerstone of North Bund’s transformation into a “living lab” for future cities.
By integrating the legal sector into the broader design of a world-class central business district, the district aims to enhance the rule of law while offering a replicable model of legal infrastructure supporting Chinese-style modernization.
He pledged that Hongkou would continue to refine the hub into a more efficient, comprehensive platform to support Shanghai’s reforms, international openness, and its aspirations to become a global legal and arbitration center in the Asia-Pacific region.
Built on a spatial framework of “one core, one belt, multiple nodes,” the legal services hub integrates eight key functions. Designed as a full-service, one-stop legal ecosystem, the hub combines core services such as legal consultation, notarization, forensic expertise, mediation, arbitration, administrative review, and litigation.
These legal resources are closely linked with high-end finance, tax advisory, intellectual property, and science and technology services—forming a connected network to support businesses through every phase of their growth, from startup to global expansion.
The hub functions like a “legal supermarket,” with dedicated zones such as a rule-of-law reception room and legal broadcasting studio.
Law firms within the building operate collaboratively, breaking physical and organizational barriers to create a seamless legal service experience. Resources are pooled and service capabilities shared, resulting in a more efficient and scalable system for clients.
For Wan Yang, a lawyer at China Commercial Law Firm, the impact is already tangible. She recently supported a Chinese electric vehicle brand in expanding overseas, managing legal consultation, logistics, and cross-border payments—all from within the North Bund legal hub.
“This kind of ecosystem dramatically improves the efficiency of doing business abroad,” Wan said.
Two specialized platforms were unveiled during the ceremony. The North Bund Enterprise Global Services Center focuses on helping domestic firms expand overseas.
Working in partnership with law firms, financial institutions, trade associations, and outbound businesses, the center forms a comprehensive “Going Global” alliance.
It provides end-to-end support across the full overseas business cycle—from initial exploration to operational assistance and risk management.
The North Bund Arbitration Services Center leverages partnerships with international arbitration bodies to establish an integrated platform for resolving commercial disputes.
It offers a unified mechanism that combines arbitration, mediation, and litigation, creating a “one-stop” solution for international legal conflicts.
The initiative encourages businesses to choose North Bund as a venue for ad hoc arbitration, aiming to build a reputation as a pro-arbitration district.
Currently, North Bund is home to 115 law firms and more than 2,200 lawyers. The area has already hosted landmark cases, including China’s first foreign-related maritime arbitration and court-supervised out-of-court corporate restructurings.
It has also been selected to host the International Air Transport Association’s Global Legal Conference in 2025—further cementing its standing as a venue for high-level legal dialogue.
With the legal services hub now operational, the district plans to expand its functional offerings and deepen integration into key industries such as finance, shipping, green energy, intellectual property, and outbound investment.
These efforts aim to establish a first-class, rule-of-law business environment and provide strong legal support for attracting foreign investment and facilitating overseas expansion.
As North Bund continues to evolve, its legal infrastructure is expected to play a critical role in supporting Shanghai’s high-quality economic development and international legal leadership.