According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the global economic growth in 2023 was projected to reach its lowest level since 2001 (2.5%), far below the world average of 3.6% recorded between 2000 and 2021, except during the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 epidemic. Chinese law firms with a global outlook are also facing challenges and difficulties.

On November 9, 2023, JunHe was once again named the China Firm of the Year at the 2023 Who’s Who Legal Awards. JunHe partner Chen Ziruo, representing the firm, received the award at the ceremony held at Armoury House in London. It is the sixth time that JunHe has won this accolade.

Good and Bad Times

JunHe was established in 1989 and has been at the forefront of the legal industry in China. Over the past 34 years, it has overcome many challenges and obstacles and blazed a trail to where it is today. It was one of the first Chinese legal firms to establish overseas offices, and it has been a companion in the nation’s development since the late 1980s. In both good times and bad, JunHe has maintained its vitality and cohesion, demonstrating determination and the courage to innovate. This may be the reason why WWL has bestowed the award on JunHe six times. Chambers once commented, “They (JunHe) demonstrate precision and ensure high-quality work. They are like the magic circle of Chinese firms.”

Innovation and Breakthroughs

There is a Chinese saying that, ”Tao is the source of all things, and virtue is the foundation of all affairs.” Professionalism has always been the cornerstone of JunHe, while innovation has run deep in the firm. In recent years, JunHe has made significant strides in the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) field, earning accolades such as the ESG and Sustainability Law Firm of the Year at the ALB China Law Awards 2023, the Green Law Firm of the Year at the inaugural Multilaw Awards, and the Best Green Initiative Award at the CLECSS 2023 ESG Awards.