2017.03.09
On March 5th, the 2017 Chinese Lawyers’ Forum on Public Interest and Ceremony for Notable Public Interest Lawyers and Law Firms in China” was held at Oriental Hall in the KoGuan Law School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Among the top 11 awards announced at the ceremony, JunHe was honored with two annual awards – Best Public Interest Organization and Best Public Interest Litigation (Ms. Bai Tao). Mr. Shao Chunyang, the managing partner of JunHe Shanghai office, attended the ceremony and made an acceptance speech on behalf of JunHe.
Over the past 28 years, JunHe, as one of the most prestigious law firms that forms the “Red Circle” in China, not only has played a pioneering role in the reinvention and development of Chinese legal profession, but more importantly has also pursued legal justice with a compassionate dedication to the public good!
Public interest projects include having established JunHe Hope Primary School in an impoverished village in Hebei Province, helping hundreds of school-age children realize their dream of attending school; carried out cross-border negotiations with Malaysia Airlines over the course of two years on behalf of families of the passengers aboard Flight 370, seeking compensation and comfort for the bereaved families; provided great help in the establishment of the Serious Illness Treatment Foundation by Beijing Genomics Institute, the largest genetic testing and therapy company in the world, to provide HLA matching for children with severe thalassemia; brought happiness to more than 700 children from schools for migrant workers’ children through our “Giving Tree” program; assisted with the establishment of Chaoyang No.1 New Citizen School; helped the Solar System Left-behind Children’s Fund (太阳系留守儿童公益基金) in fundraising over RMB 70,000; aided teenagers from impoverished areas of Qinghai Tibetan Autonomous Region in continuing their education and offering them an opportunity to change the course of their lives; and – practicing the idiom Don't forget the well-diggers, when drinking from the well. – established scholarships for disadvantaged students of East China University of Political Science and Law, alma mater of JunHe’s founding partners.
Although the impact of these projects may be limited, the good will that inspires them runs deep! The JunHe team has been pursuing this path of compassion for 28 years, regardless of difficulty or obstacle!
Have you taken action to contribute to the public good?
Enclosed: JunHe’s history of public interest projects
Public Interest Legal Services
I. The Claim against Malaysia Airlines
1. Major participants: BAI, Tao, GONG, Jun, LU, Liang (Larry), SUN, Yi (Cliff), Dong Yibai, Pan Youliang
2. Overview: After the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared in March 2014, Ms. Bai Tao headed the negotiating team on behalf of families of the passengers aboard the plane, diligently and prudently carrying out negotiations with Malaysia Airlines and dealing with other legal matters entrusted by families of the passengers. After two years of exhaustive legal work, the negotiating team successfully reached a final settlement with Malaysia Airlines and secured compensation packages for the families which were considerable compared with China’s history of claims related to airline disasters. This case not only captured wide social and media attention, but also won high affirmation from the central government and Beijing Municipal Government.
II. Charitable Foundation by Beijing Genomics Institute
1. Major participants: WANG, Yi, Yung Yung Janet Hui
2. Overview: Founded in 1999, Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) is the largest genomic research and development organization in the world. With the vision of using genetic sciences and technologies to benefit mankind, BGI focuses on applying cutting-edge genomic research achievements in the healthcare, agricultural breeding, resource conservation and other fields, and promoting the commercialization of genetic research findings. With the help of JunHe, BGI and Shenzhen Media Foundation jointly established the Hua Foundation (华基金) which is committed to aiding low- and middle-income populations in China to use advanced genetic technologies in diagnosis and treatment of many diseases including leukemia.
III. Supervisor of QLove Golf Charity Foundation & Co-founder of Solar System Left-behind Children’s Fund (太阳系留守儿童公益基金)
Major participant: Mr. XIAO, Wei, managing partner of JunHe LLP
IV. Helped With the Establishment of SVP in Shanghai
1. Major participant: Mr. WANG, Yi
2. Overview: Social Venture Partners (SVP) is an innovative social venture model that stresses strategic grants, i.e. SVP partners devote time and provide expertise to public welfare organizations to improve these organizations’ capacity for long term development and ultimately realize their social impact. As one of the founders and early donors of SVP in Shanghai, Mr. Wang Yi consulted with Leping Social Entrepreneur Foundation on the model of cooperation between SVP and Leping, the registration for the new institute as well as project assessment and management.
V. Narada Foundation
1. Major participants: Yung Yung Janet Hui, LI, Qing, DENG, Liang (Teresa) , Cheng Xiangmei, He Bingyu, Liu Tingying
2. Overview: JunHe provides comprehensive legal services for Narada Foundation, especially in the New Citizen School Program, Ginkgo Fellows Program and many other funding programs, covering a wide range of legal matters related to companies, education, real estate, labor, tax, finance, etc. In the case of misappropriation of donations following the Wenchuan Earthquake, JunHe represented Narada Foundation in defending the suit and advised the Foundation on its rights and legal options.
VI. One Foundation
1. Major participants: BAI, Tao, Wang Ruiqi, Cheng Xiangmei, Yan Binglin, Sun Xuan, Min Nana, Niu Tingting, He Bingyu, Xu Jiechun
2. Provided comprehensive legal services for One Foundation, including reviewing many agreements for funding programs.
VII. Legal Services for the Public Interest — Thomson Reuters Foundation
1. Major participants: Yung Yung Janet Hui, TONG, Ke (Kirk), QU, Huiqing, DENG, Liang (Teresa) , Sun Piwei
2. Provided legal services for public welfare organizations or programs as recommended by the Thomson Reuters Foundation; provided legal training for the “Startup Café” Program; and took part in seminars organized by the Foundation on legal issues related to public welfare organizations.
VIII. The Nature Conservatory
1. Major participants: Yung Yung Janet Hui, ZHANG, Yue (Brett), NI, Tianling (Carey Nee), Min Nana, Sun Xuan
2. Provided legal advice regarding accepting of donations, marketing and establishment of charitable funds in China.
Other Public Interest Projects
I. JunHe Hope Primary School
1. Major participants: TANG, Yue, TONG, Ke (Kirk), HE, Fang, Li Xiaocheng, ZHOU, Yong (Z.), Wu Jian, Gu Yue, Liu Xiao, Yang Xiaoxiao, Pan Youliang, Sun Shutao, Lei Tianxiao, Lei Yu
2. Through an introduction by Hebei Fuping County Education Bureau, JunHe forged a relationship with Bai Shitai Primary School in Taiyu Township in April 2012. Founded in 1998, Bai Shitai Primary School has about 120 students and less than ten teachers. Despite being located in the most remote area of Fuping County and operating under the most difficult circumstances, the school must provide education for children from nearby 20 villages. JunHe assisted Bai Shitai Primary School in improving school facilities starting with the donation of goods and renovations. JunHe purchased computers, books, electric water heaters and sports equipment for the school and schoolbags for students, replaced old tables and chairs with new ones, fully renovated the school library, donated money to buy coals for heating in winter, built a solar bath house, and provided subsidies for students from impoverished families. After learning that the school’s water had been contaminated by local mines, Ms. Tang Yue organized a dedicated fundraising effort to allow construction of a new well and ensure a safe supply of drinking water for teachers and students. In September 2013, Bai Shitai Primary School was officially renamed as JunHe Hope Primary School. Recognizing that the school’s most precious resource are the teachers, JunHe also focuses on supporting the faculty. To this end, JunHe each year offers bonuses to young, specially-contracted teachers and provides subsidies for lower-paid substitute teachers. In October, Ms. Tang contacted Beijing Peixin Primary School and Fang Guyuan Primary School to arrange an opportunity for teachers of the Hope Primary School to visit and observe these primary schools in Beijing. With the improvements of the school facilities, JunHe has encouraged the school to provide quality education to students and help them in their overall development and enrichment. In 2014, Ms. Tang encouraged all employees of JunHe to donate to help the school form the first student drum corps in its village. In September 2016, the school formed a children’s choir with the encouragement and support of Ms. Tang.
3. Donation: Mr. Liu initiated an activity of public welfare photography in the PPP Group, which successfully raised over RMB 40,000 for JunHe Hope Primary School.
II. Giving Tree
1. Major participants: LI, Qi (Adam), WANG, Yi, Gu Yunfeng, Huang Lu, Wu Longying, Sun Yanping (since 2011)
2. Introduction:
Community Center Shanghai is a public welfare organization that cooperates with civil affairs administrations in Shanghai. It organizes the Giving Tree program every year to provide gift bags to more than 10,000 children from schools for migrant workers’ children. Providing these gift bags filled with winter clothes and school supplies (valuing RMB 200-300 each) illustrates the value of “Giving” to these children. Each year, the Giving Tree program staff prepare a list of items to be put into the gift bags according to the needs of the children. Each gift bag is given to a specific child, in which all items are purchased based on the information provided by schools such as the child’s name, height, age, favorite color and toy.
Employees of JunHe Shanghai office and their families and friends have been participating in the Giving Tree program since 2011, and personally deliver the gifts to the children.
III. Mr. Shao Chunyang Established a Scholarship in ECUPL to Help Poor Students
1. Major participant: Mr. SHAO, Chunyang
2. Mr. Shao established a scholarship for impoverished students at his alma mater East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL). He meets with each candidate individually to interview them and whether or not the student is ultimately awarded the scholarship, he offers this time to talk about his views on life, help them build self-confidence, and consider setting their goals in life. With the selfless help of Shao Chunyang, these students have graduated and prospered.
In addition to helping impoverished students of his alma mater, he also acknowledges the indebtedness to his hometown. Mr. Shao has financially supported his hometown in rebuilding roads and has also provided financial aid to several disadvantaged university students from his hometown via the local chamber of commerce. There are numerous examples of Mr. Shao’s public dedication and contributions to the community. Meanwhile, he also gives public lessons and lectures at ECUPL, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Fudan University Law School, Shanghai University of Finance of Economics and bar associations outside Shanghai. He generously donates his time for these lectures and has also covered his own travel expenses in order to offer students these educational opportunities.
IV. Aided Students of Huangnan No. 2 Minority High School
1. Major participants:CHENG, Yuan, CONG, Qing, TANG, Yue, Yung Yung Janet Hui, WANG, Jiangang
2. Overview:
Tongren is the capital of Qinghai Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. There are three high schools in Tongren – Tongren Minority High School, Huangnan No. 1 Minority High School and Huangnan No. 2 Minority High School. Most of the students of Huangnan No. 2 Minority High School are from impoverished families living in pasturing areas (including Henan County and Zeku County of Huangnan Prefecture).
Since 2009, more JunHe lawyers have voluntarily joined the team to help needy students in these areas, including Tang Yue, Xu Rongrong, Wang Jiangang, Cong Qing and others.
V. “Go Hand in Hand with You”
1. Aided two disadvantaged children in Jiangxi Province
2. Partner: Xinyu Volunteer Association
Founded in 2006, Xinyu Volunteer Association has developed into an organization with almost 1,000 members and officially registered with the civil affairs bureau on May 26, 2012. The structure of the association is as follows: the board, president, secretary general, department of finance, department of study assistance, department of community and department of elder assistance.
VI. Explore the City Water
JunHe organized its employees to visit waterways in Beijing on foot.
VII. Helped with the Establishment of Chaoyang No.1 New Citizen School
The firm helps migrant workers and their children improve their living conditions. Representatives of JunHe attended the opening ceremony of the school. And JunHe continues to provide the school with pro bono legal services.
VIII. Spring Buds Program & Project Hope
Made donations and helped children from impoverished families go to school. Children from six hope primary schools established with donations of Beijing Lawyers Association were invited to spend their summer holidays in Beijing, and six law firms including JunHe arranged the visit including educational and entertaining activities for the children.
IX. Established the “JunHe Scholarship for Talented Law Students”
JunHe is China’s first law firm that established a scholarship for excellent law students of universities and colleges in Beijing.
