Innovative Legal Transformations in Leading Companies

In the ever-evolving landscape of compliance and legal affairs, several companies are making significant strides. This article explores remarkable initiatives undertaken by various organizations, showcasing how innovative strategies in their legal teams enhance compliance capacities and operational efficiency.

Be Friends: Elevating Compliance Capabilities

Legal Team: Legal & compliance department of Be Friends
Team Leader: Zhang Zhiming, Vice President of Legal and Compliance

Be Friends, a prominent livestream e-commerce platform, marked a pivotal change with its backdoor listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in July 2023. This strategic move necessitated heightened compliance standards. In response, the legal team undertook a holistic reform, focusing on organizational restructuring and the establishment of specialized units, including a live-streaming compliance center and a business support center. They also introduced an intelligent legal compliance review system to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

Cui Dongsheng, Vice President of Be Friends, commended these reforms for revitalizing the department’s structure, emphasizing the improved efficiency and professional standards achieved. The transformations foster a culture of professionalism, respect, and communication, which continues to bolster the department’s capabilities amid intricate challenges.

CICC: Optimizing the Compliance Support System

Legal Team: Legal & compliance department of China International Capital Corporation
Team Leader: Joe Zhou, Chief Compliance Officer

The China International Capital Corporation (CICC) has launched an extensive renovation of its compliance support system. This initiative integrates legal services with business processes and assigns personnel to ensure standardized legal service delivery. They established committees focused on human resources and digital development, enhancing decision-making processes.

Chairman Chen Liang praised the department’s contributions in mitigating legal and compliance risks while promoting innovation. Under Zhou’s leadership, CICC adopted a “four comprehensive and one innovative” strategy, resulting in improved business support and service quality.

CR Capital: Developing a Comprehensive CRCL Management System

Legal Team: Legal affairs, compliance, risk & audit department of CR Capital
Team Leader: Feng Lin, General Counsel

CR Capital, part of the China Resources Group, has crafted a tailored CRCL (Compliance, Risk, Control, and Legal) management system that fortifies risk control throughout the investment lifecycle. By integrating a legal risk database and a dispute management mechanism, CR Capital enhances its overall compliance framework.

General Manager Qin Feng highlighted the team’s innovative approach, which aligns with industry standards while addressing regulatory requirements. This integrated system enhances internal controls, ensuring robust management of investment risks.

Engma Group: Establishing a Client Risk Assessment System

Legal Team: Legal department of Engma Group
Team Leader: Chen Jingjing, Director of Legal Affairs

With the economic downturn amplifying risk exposure, Engma Group responded by developing a client risk assessment system. This system includes comprehensive risk evaluations and real-time data analysis capabilities, allowing for better predictions and improved operational decisions.

President Zhuang Zhi noted that this innovation has significantly transitioned the legal department from a cost center to a revenue generator, allowing for new business opportunities while enhancing risk management efficiency.

Goldpac Group: Strengthening Protections for Sensitive Data

Legal Team: Legal team of Goldpac Group
Team Leader: Meline Huang, Company Secretary & General Counsel

After a challenging audit request from a US software partner, Goldpac’s legal team adeptly navigated potential threats to sensitive Chinese financial data. They called on national cybersecurity regulations to require a local audit, ensuring that proprietary data remained secure while fulfilling compliance demands.

CEO Hou Ping praised the legal department’s strategic negotiations, which reinforced the company’s protection against external pressures while maintaining operational integrity.

Hive Box Network: Implementing KPIs for the Legal Team

Legal Team: Legal department of Hive Box Network Technology
Team Leader: Li Qiongjia, Head of Legal Department

To integrate more fully into business operations, Hive Box’s legal department installed a performance management system with a focus on organizational structure. By establishing KPIs that extend beyond traditional legal expertise, team members now engage in business development, fostering a culture of collaboration and learning.

Head of Finance Zhou Xiangdong has highlighted the department’s adaptability and its role in supporting business explorations, setting the path for the team to emerge as a leader in legal operations.

Luk Fook Group: Innovative Management Strategies

Legal Team: Legal affairs department of Luk Fook Holdings (International)
Team Leader: Irene Cheung, Senior Legal Counsel

Luk Fook Group has adopted advanced management strategies to enhance compliance and rights protection. The department restructured into specialized groups, created risk management codes to guide partners, and established a comprehensive risk management system.

Chairman Wong Wai Sheung commended the team for its success in combating trademark infringements and for implementing strong operational standards, showcasing a proactive approach to legal and compliance challenges.

Midea Real Estate: Shared Legal Affairs Management

Legal Team: Legal affairs sharing center of Midea Real Estate Group
Team Leader: Shang Dongning, Legal Director

Midea Real Estate’s legal team centralized its legal operations to overcome internal challenges, resulting in significant cost savings. By increasing the self-handling rate of legal cases from 10% to 90%, the group achieved over RMB30 million in savings, illustrating the effectiveness of reform.

General Manager Liu Jun noted that this shift not only reduced costs but also enhanced in-house professionals’ expertise through hands-on experience.

Nestlé China: Digitizing Legal Affairs

Legal Team: Zone Greater China (ZGC) legal & compliance team of Nestlé (China)
Team Leader: Cai Ping, Head of Legal & Compliance, ZGC

In its drive for efficiency, Nestlé China has embraced digital transformation in its legal functions. By implementing systems for electronic signatures and contract management, the team ensures effective oversight and compliance. This proactive approach has enabled rapid responses to legal issues while aligning with business strategies.

The department’s accolades for fostering legal excellence underscore its commitment to sustainability within the region’s challenging market.

Ping An Health: Integrating Compliance into KPIs

Legal Team: Legal and compliance team of Ping An Healthcare Diagnostics
Team Leader: Zeng Ni, Director of Legal and Compliance Department

Ping An raised compliance awareness by integrating compliance metrics into annual assessments for various departments. This strategic approach not only clarifies responsibilities but also facilitates proactive measures against negative incidents.

General Manager Yang Xiaoyan reported significant improvements in operational standards and compliance management, highlighting the effectiveness of aligning compliance initiatives with business goals.

SonoScape Medical: Pioneering AI Legal Solutions

Legal Team: Legal and compliance department of SonoScape Medical
Team Leader: Hans Wang, Legal Director

SonoScape Medical has ventured into AI-driven legal tech with the development of intelligent tools for contract management and legal documentation. By incorporating AI systems, the legal team has improved their efficiency significantly, driving down costs while enhancing compliance accuracy.

The innovation reflects a broader trend in leveraging technology for legal processes, setting a powerful example within the industry.

Taikang Asset Management: Digital Compliance Management

Legal Team: Compliance team of Taikang Asset Management
Team Leader: Zhang Ning, Executive Director

Taikang Asset Management has pioneered a digital compliance engine, streamlining the investment process and increasing the efficiency of compliance management. This tool allows real-time compliance documentation, fostering collaboration among various departments and enhancing operational fluidity.

The impressive uptake of online compliance processing illustrates the transformation of traditional legal operations into a more integrated business function.

Tongkun Group: Achieving Self-Sufficiency in Legal Services

Legal Team: Legal department and corporate legal department of Tongkun Group
Team Leader: Yang Yongjun, Manager of Legal Department

Prayer to proactive compliance, Tongkun Group’s legal department established a comprehensive compliance management system that supports in-house legal representation. This initiative not only saved costs but also reinforced the legal framework crucial for the company’s stability and growth.

The transformative journey of Tongkun emphasizes the value of internal legal capabilities, marking a significant shift in operational strategy.

Zhaopin: Designing AI Legal Assistance

Legal Team: Legal department of Zhaopin
Team Leader: Sun Chuanyu, Senior Director

Zhaopin’s launch of “iEnjoyLaw,” an AI digital employee, revolutionizes the way legal inquiries are handled within the organization. By providing 24/7 support, the AI assistant simplifies complex legal questions and enhances overall efficiency.

This innovative approach to legal support reinforces Zhaopin’s commitment to leveraging technology for operational effectiveness, making it a front-runner in the integration of AI in legal functions.

ZX: Developing a Comprehensive Trademark System

Legal Team: Legal department of TanWan Games at ZX
Team Leader: Wang Xudong, General Counsel

ZX’s legal team has established a comprehensive trademark management system, ensuring streamlined operations from registration to dispute resolution. This initiative not only enhances brand protection but also strengthens the company’s competitive positioning in the market.

The proactive measures in intellectual property management demonstrate the importance of legal foresight in maintaining corporate integrity and fostering growth.

This collection of innovations showcases how organizations are navigating the intricate demands of legal compliance and risk management. By adopting forward-thinking strategies, these legal teams not only support their respective companies but also pave the way for future enhancements in the corporate legal landscape.