As China–Africa economic and trade cooperation deepens and Chinese investment in Africa continues to expand, cross-border commercial disputes have become increasingly complex. Recently, a Tian Yuan Guangzhou team led by Pengfei Wu and Qingyong Chen successfully represented a well-known Chinese-funded enterprise operating in Africa in a cross-border investment dispute administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).

The arbitral tribunal ultimately upheld all of the client’s key claims. The client was awarded the full principal and interest of its arbitration claims, and the opposing party was ordered to bear the client’s arbitration and legal costs exceeding HKD 1 million. This significant victory highlights Tian Yuan’s professional strength in safeguarding Chinese enterprises in their overseas investments.

The case arose from a cross-border dispute caused by a breach of contract by a local partner during the client’s investment in an African country. The arbitration was governed by Hong Kong law and conducted in English. The dispute involved complex cross-border investment structures, multi-year financial audits and interference from parallel overseas litigation. In an attempt to avoid jurisdiction, the opposing party initiated local proceedings, making the protection of the client’s rights particularly challenging.

Upon being engaged, Pengfei Wu, who has extensive experience in African legal practice, assembled a team to conduct in-depth analysis of the case and formulate a comprehensive arbitration strategy. The team advanced the case across multiple fronts, including jurisdictional objections, substantive arguments and evidence organization, laying a solid foundation for the final victory. Qingyong Chen, a dual-qualified lawyer admitted in China and California, led the intensive three-day hearing. During the lengthy and complex cross-examinations of fact and expert witnesses, he engaged in rigorous confrontation with three opposing counsel. Through precise questioning and agile responses, he exposed contradictions in the opposing witnesses’ testimony and identified key flaws in the opposing expert evidence, leading the tribunal to reject the opposing party’s fraud defense and ultimately award interest and full cost recovery in favor of the client. The result was highly recognized and praised by the client.

This comprehensive victory at HKIAC marks a strong start to the Year of the Horse for Tian Yuan in the field of international dispute resolution. As one of the core forces of Tian Yuan’s cross-border legal services practice, Pengfei Wu has demonstrated exceptional professional expertise in complex cross-border transactions, overseas investment compliance and dispute resolution, supported by his deep understanding of African legal systems and extensive frontline project experience. The team also brings together a group of lawyers with both domestic legal expertise and international perspectives. Looking ahead, Tian Yuan will continue to leverage its international capabilities to provide professional and efficient services that support the global development of Chinese enterprises.

The legal team for this matter included Pengfei Wu and Qingyong Chen from Tian Yuan’s Guangzhou office, with assistance from legal assistant Xiaodan Ma.