Legal Matters Q&A: Josh Wong

What is the biggest development you have seen in the legal world during your career?

When I first worked in China, the government only allowed large-scale manufacturing and retailing enterprises to be established and often it was only on the basis of a joint venture with a Chinese company.

Now, it is relatively common place for foreign companies to have wholly owned businesses in China including small trading companies which are increasingly being used to sell British products and services to the Chinese.

What law would you like to see changed?

I would like to see the laws on export controls and taxation across the EU simplified.

What is the most exciting work you have ever done?

I enjoy the complexity of multi-jurisdictional disputes. This year I acted for a UK trading company facing international arbitration proceedings brought by a Chinese supplier for alleged breach of contract.

The seat of the arbitration was in Stockholm, the language of the proceedings was English and the governing law was Chinese with principles of international law.

Who in the legal world do you most admire?

Judge Chen from the fly on the wall documentary series Law of the Dragon which was on the BBC recently.

He is the travelling Judge in Xuan’en region, Hubei Province that dispenses justice to remote Chinese villagers with no access to the normal courts.

What advice would you give someone starting out in the profession?

The best advice I can give is to get as much experience as you can of life and business outside law.