Recently, the Hongkou District People's Court held an inauguration ceremony for the North Bund (Foreign-Related) Commercial Adjudication Studio, marking the launch of another innovative platform to support enterprises through the rule of law in the core area of the North Bund. Representatives from the North Bund Sub-district Judicial Office, the Shanghai Construction Trade Association, Shanghai Construction Group, and several commercial mediation organizations joined the event to witness this important milestone in promoting regional economic development.

At the event, Feng Jing, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice President of the Hongkou District People's Court, and Fang Bin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the North Bund Sub-district, jointly inaugurated the ¡°North Bund (Foreign-Related) Commercial Adjudication Studio.¡± The establishment of the studio is a key initiative by the Hongkou District People's Court to implement the strategic plans of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the CPC Hongkou District Committee for the development of the North Bund. It represents an important step in advancing the ¡°Legal Support Package for Enterprises,¡± aiming to leverage the area¡¯s strategic location to deliver one-stop judicial services¡ªincluding legal risk prevention, diversified dispute resolution, and commercial rule interpretation¡ªto both domestic and international enterprises, thereby contributing to an international and law-based business environment.

Fang Bin noted that the North Bund is now at a critical stage of its phased development¡ª¡°taking shape in three years, expanding in five, and reaching basic completion in ten.¡± As more multinational enterprises gather and major projects are launched, enterprises face increasing challenges in applying international commercial rules, managing contracts, and ensuring compliance. The studio¡¯s establishment is both timely and strategic. It will serve as a bridge between the sub-district and the court to jointly improve the business environment and inject legal momentum into the development of high-end industries in the area.

Feng Jing remarked that the studio serves as a "forward outpost" for extending judicial functions. It will focus on enterprise needs by offering accessible, hands-on legal services to help market entities prevent risks and resolve disputes. The court will leverage the studio as a hub to integrate judicial resources and enhance coordination with the sub-district, industry associations, and mediation organizations, making the rule of law a key driver of high-quality development in the North Bund.

At the event, the Typical Cases Handbook for Commercial Disputes in the Construction Industry was distributed to representatives of construction enterprises and mediation organizations. The handbook features selected rulings from the Supreme People's Court and Shanghai courts, summarizing adjudication rules on high-frequency issues such as construction contract management and corporate governance, providing enterprises within the jurisdiction with practical, visualized guidance.

At the subsequent symposium on resolving commercial disputes in the construction industry, the Commercial Division of the Hongkou District People's Court briefed participants on case adjudications over the past three years and, drawing on judicial practice, analyzed key issues such as project settlement, subcontracting, and apparent agency.

Representatives from the Shanghai Construction Trade Association and Shanghai Construction Group expressed hopes that the court would further clarify adjudication rules in similar cases, helping enterprises prevent disputes at the source. Representatives from the North Bund Commercial Mediation Center and other institutions advocated for a coordinated mechanism integrating courts, chambers of commerce, and professional mediation, aiming to reduce dispute resolution costs through early-stage mediation, training, and other measures, thereby easing the burden on business development.

The meeting concluded that the studio will serve as a central platform for regular communication among stakeholders. Joint efforts will include industry risk assessments, data sharing on disputes, and ¡°Law into Enterprises¡± initiatives¡ªall aimed at shifting conflict resolution in the construction sector toward early-stage prevention.

On the same day, the Hongkou District People's Court held a public hearing at the North Bund Circuit Court over a construction materials sales contract dispute. The judge guided the presentation and cross-examination of evidence around key issues such as contract validity, settlement basis, and breach liability, demonstrating the court¡¯s reasoning.

In-house counsel attending the hearing said the trial highlighted the importance of sound contract management and preserving transaction records. Representatives from mediation organizations noted that the hearing served as a textbook reference, enhancing the precision and professionalism of mediation practices.

The North Bund (Foreign-Related) Commercial Adjudication Studio will further enhance its services based on the ¡°Three Priorities¡± approach. First, it will deliver more targeted services by focusing on the North Bund¡¯s pillar industries¡ªmaritime finance, engineering construction, and cross-border trade¡ªthrough initiatives such as legal risk assessments and customized compliance guidelines. Second, it will diversify dispute resolution mechanisms by establishing a fast-track commercial mediation channel, engaging industry experts in mediation, and implementing a tiered filtering system to resolve disputes efficiently. Third, it will normalize legal outreach by embedding judicial services into the full lifecycle of enterprises through circuit trials, thematic lectures, and online courses, ensuring sustained and accessible legal support. The Hongkou District People's Court will continue to strengthen coordination with the North Bund Sub-district and industry associations. Through clarifying rules via adjudication, lowering resolution costs through diversified mechanisms, and raising legal awareness through legal publicity, the court aims to provide solid judicial support for the development of the ¡°Shanghai North Bund¡ªGolden Triangle of the Huangpu River in Shanghai¡± The rule of law will serve as a strong safeguard, enabling enterprises to invest and operate with confidence.