First Week of 2026 Foreign-Related Legal Talent Training Program Successfully Held

The first week of the "2026 Training Course for Foreign-Related Affairs Legal Practice & Services", co-organised by five professional bodies – IPLSA, eBRAM, AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, IDRRMI, and GBAMAC – was successfully completed on 15–16 August at the Guangzhou Foreign-Related Legal Service Centre (Nansha International Talent Harbour).

The four‑week programme runs from 15 August to 7 September, with intensive weekend sessions. Designed with a balanced emphasis on theory and practice, the course begins in Guangzhou for the first two days and then moves to Hong Kong, giving participants first‑hand exposure to the legal environments of both jurisdictions. Core modules include international commercial mediation, an introduction to international arbitration, drafting of dispute resolution clauses, and corporate compliance. A networking luncheon is also arranged for industry discussions on the application of AI in legal services, all aimed at strengthening participants' professional competence in foreign‑related legal work. The cohort comprises practising lawyers, in‑house counsel, arbitration and mediation practitioners, and law postgraduate students from both Mainland China and Hong Kong. This convergence of legal professionals from both sides reflects the proactive synergy in cultivating foreign‑related rule‑of‑law talent in the Greater Bay Area. Upon completion of the entire course and passing the assessments, participants will be recommended as associate arbitrators or junior mediators of the partner institutions and may be included in the Mainland's foreign‑related legal talent pool, paving a clear pathway for their careers in foreign‑related legal services.

Mr. Junius Ho Kwan Yiu, BBS, JP, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, LegCo Member, and Founder and Chairman of IPLSA, said in his opening address that the nation is actively encouraging enterprises to "go global". When expanding into overseas markets, companies face a complex and ever‑changing international legal environment and must plan accordingly. Compliance, he stressed, is the "fundamental skill" for going global and the key to establishing a firm foothold abroad. He emphasised that the course, guided by renowned experts, helps participants consolidate their knowledge and broaden their international perspectives, preparing them for future contributions to the nation's foreign‑related rule‑of‑law development.

Experts invited to teach in the first week included Mr. Dennis Cai, Deputy Director of AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre; Mr. Albert Leung Chun Sing, Acting CEO of eBRAM; and Mr. Francis Law Wai Hung, Dean of AIDRN. The distinguished faculty combined theoretical instruction with real‑life case studies, receiving enthusiastic feedback from participants. Many noted that the case discussions and interactive exchanges gave them a deeper and more intuitive understanding of international dispute resolution mechanisms and cross‑border compliance practices. Participants from the Mainland said the course helped to fill knowledge gaps in common law systems and Hong Kong arbitration procedures, while Hong Kong participants gained a clearer grasp of national foreign‑related rule‑of‑law policies and Greater Bay Area practices. Both groups agreed that the course was "full of practical content and exceeded expectations".

A distinctive feature of this programme is its innovative "Guangzhou + Hong Kong" dual‑location model, which enables participants to learn about national policies and practices in a Mainland GBA city while also studying common law and international arbitration mechanisms in Hong Kong. This cross‑jurisdictional, cross‑regional immersive learning approach breaks the geographical limitations of traditional legal training and provides a professional development platform that bridges both jurisdictions and connects to the global stage.

The organisers have announced that the second week of classes will be held at The Henderson in Central, Hong Kong, focusing on comparative common and civil law, Hong Kong arbitration procedures, and national security laws – continuing the high‑quality teaching. Stay tuned.