Global China, Cross-Border Law, and the Future of US-China Business

How do Chinese companies navigate legal disputes abroad? Has the US-China legal landscape fundamentally changed? And what role do lawyers play in bridging two increasingly divided worlds?

In this episode of Mapping Global China Conversations, we speak with Meg Utterback, Dispute & Compliance Partner at King & Wood Mallesons, one of Asia’s leading international law firms.

Drawing on decades of experience working with Chinese companies, and after spending 14 years living in Shanghai, Meg explains how China’s legal system has evolved, why Chinese firms continue expanding globally despite geopolitical tensions, and how international arbitration has become a key mechanism for resolving cross-border disputes.

The conversation explores: 

• How China’s legal profession has transformed since the 1980s
• Why King & Wood Mallesons continues investing globally while many firms retreat
• The impact of tariffs, sanctions and geopolitical tensions on international business
• International arbitration and the future of cross-border dispute resolution
• Common misconceptions about Chinese companies
• Why language and cultural understanding remain essential for the next generation of lawyers

As US-China relations become increasingly complex, understanding the legal, cultural and commercial dynamics shaping Global China has never been more important.