ScottGuan2.jpeg Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network.

For our latest interview, we chose ILN member, Scott Guan of Jade & Fountain PRC Lawyers in Shanghai.

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?
An international practice with a focus on cross-border business transactions.

Who would be your typical client?
International companies and entrepreneurs doing business in China and/or with Chinese partners, and Chinese companies and entrepreneurs doing business outside of China and/or with foreign partners.

What would you like clients and potential clients to know about you?
That I am a devoted transactional lawyer, who is a bi-lingual, bi-legal, and bi-cultural deal maker.

What has been your most challenging case? Why?
To assist foreign clients in understanding and navigating through the legal system and business environment in China.  The fundamentals of business transactions are all similar in different places around the world, but the ways that they are presented and understood can be very different.  A truly effective and efficient legal advisor must be able to thoroughly understand the needs and challenges of their clients and act not only as their legal advisor, but also as their business partner and cultural consultant. 

What has been your proudest moment as a lawyer?
When a deal is closed and a sustainable win-win situation is created.

What do you do when you’re not practicing law?
Playing soccer with friends and now with my 5-year-old son as well.

What would surprise people most about you?
My personal experience of growing up with China in a rather dramatic way…China has changed so rapidly over the past 30 years and so have been our lives.  When I was in high school 20 years ago, I was on a boarding program.  All my expenses at the time paid by my parents were RMB70 (US$11 approximately) per month. Now, an ILN conference can easily cost much more for just 3 or 4 days.

What has been your most memorable ILN experience?
Visiting ILN member firms and making friends around the world.

What career would you have chosen if you weren’t a lawyer?
Part-time professor & freelance literature translator & part-time government think-tank consultant.

If a movie were made out of your life, who would you want to play you?
This person has not been born or made known to me yet.

How would you like to be remembered?
A proud Chinese, where the East meets the West.

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Photo of Lindsay Griffiths Lindsay Griffiths

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network’s Executive Director. She is a dynamic, influential international executive and marketing thought leader with a passion for relationship development and authoring impactful content. Griffiths is a driven, strategic leader who implements creative initiatives to achieve the…

Lindsay Griffiths is the International Lawyers Network’s Executive Director. She is a dynamic, influential international executive and marketing thought leader with a passion for relationship development and authoring impactful content. Griffiths is a driven, strategic leader who implements creative initiatives to achieve the goals of a global professional services network. She manages all major aspects of the Network, including recruitment, member retention, and providing exceptional client service to an international membership base.

In her role as Executive Director, Griffiths manages a mix of international programs, engages a diverse global community, and develops an international membership base. She leads the development and successful implementation of major organizational initiatives, manages interpersonal relationships, and possesses executive presence with audiences of internal and external stakeholders. Griffiths excels at project management, organization, and planning, writes and speaks with influence and authority, and works independently while demonstrating flexibility in thinking, especially in challenging situations. She also adapts to diverse and dynamic environments with constant assessment and recalibration.

JD Supra Readers Choice Top Author 2019

In 2021, the ILN was honored as Global Law Firm Network of the Year by The Lawyer European Awards, and in 2016, 2017, and 2022, they were shortlisted as Global Law Firm Network of the Year. Since 2011, the Network has been listed as a Chambers & Partners Leading Law Firm Network, recently increasing this ranking to be included in the top two percent of law firm networks globally, as well as adding two regional rankings. She was awarded “Thought Leader of the Year” by the Legal Marketing Association’s New York chapter in 2014 for her substantive contributions to the industry and was included in Clio’s list of “34 People in Legal You Should Follow on Twitter.” She was also chosen for the American Bar Association Journal’s inaugural Web 100‘s Best Law Blogs, where judge Ivy Grey said “This blog is outstanding, thoughtful, and useful.” Ms. Griffiths was chosen as a Top Author by JD Supra in their 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, for the level of engagement and visibility she attained with readers on the topic of marketing & business development. She has been the author of Zen & the Art of Legal Networking since February 2009.