Part I: Overview of Firm-Wide Operations

Mr. Tao Hairong (Chairman of the Management Committee) summarized the firm's recent trajectory as "steady progress with quality-controlled scaling." By upgrading internal control systems, expanding specialized training, and allocating marketing budgets across diverse practice areas, Watson & Band ensures growth reinforces professional depth. Regarding regional offices, Yancheng and Shenyang are operational, Urumqi is nearing completion, and feasibility studies in Tianjin are underway.

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Ms. Zhou Xueshuang (Party General Branch Secretary) highlighted a people-centric approach to Party building. Through cross-team meetings, joint initiatives with banks and local communities, mock trials, and cultural activities, the firm maintains warm organizational cohesion amidst rapid expansion.

Mr. Cheng Xi (Executive Director of the Criminal Law Practice Committee) outlined the strategic roadmap for specialized practice committees, positioning them as organizational "capillaries" that connect lawyers firm-wide to drive vertical specialization, horizontal synergy, and strategic upgrading.

Ms. Gao Ze (Deputy Managing Partner) officially announced that in 2027, Watson & Band will relocate from The Center to a standalone riverfront building at Xuhui West Bund along the Huangpu River. Backed by stable post-transition governance and West Bund's prime location, the new headquarters will serve as a landmark supporting the firm's strategy of "Rooted in Shanghai, Reaching the Globe," while offering colleagues a more comfortable, human-centric workplace.

Part II: Special Symposium on Cross-Border Legal Services

Mr. Liu Yizhou (Secretary-General of the Management Committee) reviewed Watson & Band's 30-year international practice, distilling its methodology into four pillars: visibility, identifying client needs, innovation, and value creation. He noted that the cross-border dispute resolution and IP capabilities honed over three decades of inbound work now form a transferable infrastructure supporting Chinese enterprises' outbound expansion.

Dr. Xiao Hua (General Manager of W&B IP Agency) emphasized the shift in cross-border services from linguistic translation to cultural understanding, highlighting the synergy between the law firm's litigation/transactional teams and the IP agency's full-lifecycle patent and trademark capabilities. He also addressed AI adoption, stressing that confidentiality, risk control, and human judgment remain irreplaceable.。

Mr. Qian Junliang (Managing Partner) analyzed how cross-border tax planning intersects with corporate structuring, contractual arrangements, and procedural compliance, positioning international tax advisory as a key arena for legal practitioners.

Dean Hou Xiaobing (Distinguished Guest Speaker) drew parallels with the 90th anniversary of the Long March, advocating a spirit of conviction, breakthrough, self-reliance, pragmatism, and synergy, while cautioning that outbound legal counsel must adopt country-specific strategies to manage local compliance, nominee, and tax risks.

Mr. Li Jiaqi (Member of the Cross-Border Practice Group) unveiled the Watson & Band Cross-Border Legal Services Manual, illustrating how individual lawyers' jurisdictional expertise is integrated into a cohesive global service network.

Ms. Cheng Feng (Partner) & Mr. Li Zhe (Young Lawyer Representative): Ms. Cheng shared practical insights on utilizing AI for multi-jurisdictional research and cross-border collaboration, while Mr. Li reflected on handling a customs trademark seizure in Vietnam, illustrating how the firm's institutional resources provide a "safety net" and growth platform for young lawyers.

Conclusion: United in Vision Before Sailing Abroad

The conference forged a clear consensus: by integrating specialized committees, young talent development, organizational cohesion, and a global service network, Watson & Band is translating the stability of its generational transition into dynamic momentum—embarking on a new chapter both at its future Xuhui West Bund headquarters and alongside Chinese enterprises expanding worldwide.