From 26 to 28 February 2025, Dr Zhan Hao and Ms Song Ying, partners at AnJie Broad Law Firm, participated in the ABA Asia-Pacific Conference held in Singapore Management University.

Bringing together over 200 legal professionals from around the world, the conference served as a platform for in-depth discussions on key legal and regulatory developments in the Asia-Pacific region. Covering topics such as AI, Competition Law, Corporate Transactions, Dispute Resolution, Legal Ethics, Restructuring and Technology, and Trade and Sanctions, the forum facilitated valuable exchanges on emerging trends and practical challenges.

Dr Zhan Hao contributed as a speaker in the panel discussion “Convergence or Conflict: Decoding the New Balance Between Antitrust and Intellectual Property in Asia.” In this session, the experts from various jurisdictions deeply explored the evolving intersection of antitrust and intellectual property rights across jurisdictions such as China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Australia. Discussions highlighted recent precedents and legislative changes, focusing on the challenges faced by innovation-intensive industries like high-tech and pharmaceuticals amid increasing antitrust scrutiny in global mergers, governmental investigations, and antitrust litigations.

Dr Zhan Hao shared insights on the evolving relationship between intellectual property (IP) and competition law and emphasized the importance of balancing innovation incentives with fair competition principles. Particularly, he stressed China’s Supreme People’s Court’s (SPC) constant efforts to refine the application rules of antitrust law in IP matters, highlighted the landmark cases such as Hitachi Metal and Huaming. Dr Zhan also addressed the increasing focus on standard essential patents (SEPs) and the potential rise in private antitrust litigation in China. Also, he advised stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors to closely follow upcoming antitrust guidelines and heightened scrutiny in merger reviews. The attendees highly appreciated Dr Zhan Hao’s presentation and applauded for his in-depth analysis and practical perspectives, which added valuable insights to the forum.

The event also provided opportunities to strengthen professional exchanges and communications through various networking sessions and evening gatherings at the Singapore Supreme Court and the Singapore Cricket Club.

We appreciate the opportunity to exchange insights with our global peers and look forward to continuing these conversations. Let’s stay connected!