Law Society of England and Wales President Richard Atkinson visits Duan & Duan in Shanghai

On 27 May 2025 Richard Atkinson, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, visited the headquarters of Duan & Duan in Shanghai, together with Donna Evans, Head of International Policy, and Will Miller, International Policy Adviser.

The delegation was received by Wu Jian (吴坚), Equity Partner at Duan & Duan, who led the Duan & Duan team and chaired the meeting. The discussion focused on exchanges and visiting study programmes for Chinese and English lawyers and on developing lawyers for international work.

In short

• The President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Richard Atkinson, visited Duan & Duan's Shanghai headquarters on 27 May 2025.
• The discussion covered exchanges between Chinese and English lawyers and the training of lawyers for international work.
• Both sides agreed to take forward exchange and visiting study programmes.

Exchanges between Chinese and English lawyers

Wu Jian introduced Duan & Duan's experience in foreign-related legal services, including the master class for Chinese lawyers that Duan & Duan runs with the University of Cambridge, and said that Duan & Duan looked forward to possible cooperation with the Law Society on further visiting study programmes.

Will Miller spoke of the Law Society's interest in building a long-term platform for exchange with Chinese law firms. Donna Evans described the Law Society's strategy for international legal exchange, pointing to the potential for cooperation in areas such as financial technology, data protection and intellectual property, and said the Law Society would support visits and training programmes between Chinese and English lawyers. Richard Atkinson shared his perspective on cross-border economic crime, and spoke of deepening cooperation with Duan & Duan on its prevention and on compliance training.

The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales, the jurisdiction in which Duan & Duan UK LLP, the network's London member firm, practises. Contact of this kind between the Law Society and the Duan & Duan network supports the exchange between the two legal professions that underpins our UK–China cross-border work.

Report of the visit

This event was also reported by Duan & Duan: 英国律师协会主席Richard Atkinson一行莅临段和段律师事务所访问 (28 May 2025). Further Duan & Duan news is at duanduan.com/news.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Law Society of England and Wales?

The Law Society of England and Wales is the independent professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. It represents solicitors and supports their work.

Who from the Law Society visited Duan & Duan in Shanghai?

On 27 May 2025 Richard Atkinson, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, visited Duan & Duan's headquarters in Shanghai with Donna Evans, Head of International Policy, and Will Miller, International Policy Adviser. They were received by Wu Jian, Equity Partner at Duan & Duan, who chaired the meeting.

What was discussed during the visit?

According to Duan & Duan's report, the discussion focused on exchanges and visiting study programmes for Chinese and English lawyers and on developing lawyers for international work. Duan & Duan described its master class for Chinese lawyers run with the University of Cambridge, and Richard Atkinson shared his perspective on cross-border economic crime, including prevention and compliance training.

How does the visit relate to Duan & Duan UK LLP?

Duan & Duan UK LLP is the Duan & Duan network's London member firm and practises as a firm of solicitors in England and Wales. Closer contact between the Law Society and the Duan & Duan network supports the exchange between the Chinese and English legal professions in which the London member firm works.