23
2025-09
As China’s society continues to age, the number of people living alone, single individuals, and women without children is steadily increasing. Consequently, how to ensure their ongoing livelihood and financial security after losing some or all of their civil capacity has become a growing concern for more and more families. Traditionally, the guardianship system has primarily relied on "statutory guardianship," where the order of legal succession determines who will serve as the guardian. However, real-life situations often prove more complex than what is outlined in legal statutes: some individuals have no suitable immediate family members available, others prefer specific friends or relatives to take care of them, and still others wish to proactively arrange for decisions regarding their finances and medical care in advance. In response to these societal needs, China’s *General Provisions of the Civil Law* first established the "voluntary guardianship" system in 2017, which was further refined when the full *Civil Code* came into effect in 2021. The voluntary guardianship system reflects the law’s respect for individuals’ autonomous wishes, while also serving as an essential tool to safeguard citizens’ personal and property rights.
2025-09-23
22
2025-09
Recently, Yu Cuilan, Senior Partner, and Su Na, Partner, from Zhongcheng Qingtai's Jinan office, traveled to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to conduct market research on legal services and engage in business discussions. This trip aims to systematically assess the investment environment in Central Asia, connect with local government and corporate resources, and help companies deepen and strengthen their international collaborations along the Belt and Road Initiative.
2025-09-22
22
2025-09
On September 17, the Shandong Provincial Department of Justice hosted the event "Being a Lawyer Who Satisfies the Party and the People—Promoting Ecological Protection and High-Quality Development in the Yellow River Basin" (Binzhou Station) at the Dagao Aviation Hi-Tech Industrial Park in Binzhou City. The theme of this event was "Rule of Law Safeguards the High-Quality Development of General Aviation and the Low-Altitude Economy." Zhang Lijie, a partner at Zhongcheng Qingtai Jinan Office, was invited to attend the event.
2025-09-22
18
2025-09
Honors | Zhongcheng Qingtai's Lawyer Geng Guoyu Named in IFLR1000 China Lawyers Ranking for 2025
Recently, the internationally renowned legal media outlet IFLR1000 released its 2025 China Guide. Geng Guoyu, Senior Partner at Zhongcheng Qingtai, was highly recommended in the guide for his expertise in the field of real estate acquisitions.
2025-09-18
18
2025-09
On the afternoon of September 16, Zhongcheng Qingtai grandly held the "Public Welfare in Progress" exchange seminar and welcome meeting at its Jinan office, warmly greeting lawyer Zhang Wei upon his triumphant return from the "1+1" China Legal Aid Volunteer Program, where he successfully completed his mission in Kashgar, Xinjiang. Senior partners Du Wentang, Shi Guangbo, Li Zhenzhong, Hu Youbin, and Zhou Jia Kui, along with Office Director Tian Wenhua and dozens of lawyers and staff members from the firm, attended the event. The atmosphere at the gathering was both solemn and heartwarming, reflecting deep respect for the lawyers who contributed to the aid effort in Xinjiang, while also reaffirming the firm's steadfast commitment to advancing public welfare initiatives.
2025-09-18
17
2025-09
In business practice, operators often put considerable effort into packaging design to promote their products. However, when these design elements inadvertently cross the boundaries of others' intellectual property rights, they can trigger complex legal disputes. This article will analyze a typical case in conjunction with relevant provisions from the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People's Republic of China, as well as insights drawn from judicial practices. It will delve into the definition of "trademark-like use" when incorporating another party's registered trademark into a product's "background image," examine the criteria for assessing "likelihood of confusion," and share valuable lessons learned during the handling of this case. The aim is to provide businesses with clear legal guidance and practical compliance advice on trademark usage in product packaging.
2025-09-17
17
2025-09
Perspective | Can the Bankruptcy Creditor Confirmation Ruling Based on "Res Judicata" Be Overturned?
Issue raised: While handling a lawsuit to confirm bankruptcy claims, the author encountered a situation where the claim had already been reviewed and confirmed by the administrator, who subsequently submitted an uncontested claims list to the court. The court then issued a civil ruling recognizing the claim as uncontested. This led the author to ponder: Can a claim confirmation lawsuit still be filed against this particular claim? Moreover, does the court's prior ruling on the uncontested claim carry res judicata effect? Finally, will the court dismiss the claim confirmation lawsuit outright, or will it proceed with a review of the case?
2025-09-17
17
2025-09
To further enhance villagers' awareness of the rule of law, support rural revitalization, and foster a positive environment that respects, learns, and applies the law, Zhongcheng Qingtai Jinan Office recently launched the themed activity "Empowering Rural Revitalization: Zhongcheng Qingtai in Action." Zhang Kai, Deputy Director of the office's Public Welfare Executive Committee, along with committee member Sun Yifang, and attorneys Lin Jinze and Ma Tiantian, visited Lunan Village in Ganggou Subdistrict, Licheng District, to conduct a public welfare legal consultation event.
2025-09-17
17
2025-09
The Deep Rock Principle, also known as the Equitable Subordination Principle, is designed to safeguard the legitimate interests of a company’s creditors from being compromised by shareholders or de facto controllers who exploit their control over the company. When shareholders or controlling entities abuse their shareholder rights, leading to confusion in the company’s corporate identity, engaging in unfair related-party transactions, or colluding maliciously with insolvent enterprises—thereby harming the lawful interests of external creditors—their claims must be subordinated to those of other creditors, ensuring substantive fairness under bankruptcy law. This principle is regarded in U.S. case law as a powerful tool for addressing issues related to affiliated creditor claims in bankrupt companies. In its reasoning section of Civil Ruling No. (2023) Supreme People’s Court Min Shen 2707, the Supreme People’s Court provided an interpretation and clarification of the Deep Rock Principle. Specifically, it explained that the equitable subordination principle—also referred to as the "Deep Rock Principle"—applied during bankruptcy proceedings dictates that claims held by a controlling company against a subsidiary cannot participate in the subsidiary’s distribution alongside other creditors if the subsidiary becomes unable to pay or enters bankruptcy proceedings. Alternatively, such claims should rank lower than those of other creditors in the order of repayment. Although China has not explicitly codified the Deep Rock Principle into its legislation, similar rules have been adopted through judicial interpretations, meeting minutes, and practical judicial applications.
2025-09-17
17
2025-09
In a limited liability company, shareholders are liable for the company's debts only to the extent of their subscribed capital contributions. While this principle safeguards shareholders' limited liability, it can also be misused by certain shareholders to evade debts, thereby harming the interests of creditors. In practice, when corporate debt disputes arise involving shareholders who fail to contribute capital as stipulated in the company’s articles of association—whether they contribute only partially or even withdraw their contributions entirely—it often raises the critical question: Can creditors demand that these shareholders assume joint liability alongside the company? Moreover, under what circumstances will courts uphold creditors' claims, allowing them to name these shareholders as co-defendants in debt-collection lawsuits against the company? This article will examine, based on the Company Law and related statutes and judicial interpretations, combined with real-world case examples, the legal grounds for holding non-contributing shareholders accountable, the specific types of liabilities involved, the applicable judicial standards, and the potential risks encountered in practice.
2025-09-17
Zhongcheng Qingtai Jinan Region
Address: Floor 55-57, Jinan China Resources Center, 11111 Jingshi Road, Lixia District, Jinan City, Shandong Province
