Kopilović & Kopilović Partner Ivana Kopilović Speaks at the International Symposium on “Multilateralism and the Rule of Law” Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations

October 28, 2025
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The International Symposium on “Multilateralism and the Rule of Law”, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, was held in Shenzhen, China, from October 23 to 24, 2025. The event was organized by the Institute of International Law and the Institute of Law at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). More than one hundred judges, scholars, and representatives of international organizations from nearly 30 countries gathered to discuss the transformation of the global governance system and the future of the international rule of law.

Six Thematic Forums: Exploring the Frontiers of Global Governance and the Rule of Law

The symposium featured six parallel forums, covering a broad range of pressing international legal topics:

  • “The Global South” and New Developments in the Rule of Law;
  • Multilateralism and Emerging Issues in Global Governance;
  • Navigating a Fragmented World: Compliance and Risk Management in Cross-Border Transactions;
  • Universal Values of Humanity and Human Rights Development;
  • Diversified Dispute Resolution and the Rule of Law;
  • High-Level Openness and the New International Economic and Trade Order.

Experts and scholars from around the world engaged in in-depth discussions on these topics, reaching broad consensus and contributing intellectual insight to the promotion of a more just, inclusive, and sustainable global governance framework.

Ivana Kopilović’s Speech: Compliance and Risk Governance in Cross-Border Investment

At the forum on “Navigating a Fragmented World: Compliance and Risk Management in Cross-Border Transactions”, Ms. Ivana Kopilović, Partner at Kopilović & Kopilović Law Firm, was invited to deliver a keynote speech.

Drawing on Serbia’s legal practice in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative and cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries, Ms. Ivana emphasized the importance for multinational enterprises entering emerging markets to pay close attention to sectoral licensing, tax compliance, labor management, and data protection.

She noted that compliance is not merely a regulatory requirement but the foundation of sustainable international investment and a core element of corporate competitiveness.

Based on her extensive professional experience, Ms. Ivana highlighted the need for early legal due diligence, flexible contractual frameworks, and continuous communication mechanisms to effectively mitigate legal and reputational risks.

She concluded by noting:“In high-risk markets, contractual flexibility and risk control are equally important. The role of a lawyer is not only to identify risks but to help clients navigate them in a controlled and strategic way.”

Greater Bay Area Visit: Advancing Regional Development through the Rule of Law

Before the symposium (October 20–22), United Nations officials, international legal scholars, judges, and lawyers from nearly 20 countries and regions conducted a field study in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai, exploring the legal infrastructure and socio-economic development of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.

As an active participant in the conference, Ms. Ivana Kopilović joined the official delegation on behalf of Kopilović & Kopilović Law Firm.

In Guangzhou, the delegation visited the Guangdong High People’s Court, where they explored the digital court laboratory and intelligent judicial systems, witnessing how technology enhances dispute resolution.

In Shenzhen, participants visited Tencent Headquarters and Ping An Financial Center to learn about the application of AI and big data in governance and compliance, and they toured the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration to study its internationalized governance mechanisms and procedural innovations.

In Zhuhai (Hengqin), the delegation visited the Hengqin Guangdong–Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone, including the planning exhibition hall, the international legal services cluster, and the youth education center on constitutional and basic laws, gaining firsthand insight into the innovative model of legal integration between Guangdong and Macao.

The delegation also visited the CASS Rule of Law Think Tank bases in Qianhai and Hengqin, where discussions focused on how legal think tanks can better support regional innovation and foster international legal cooperation.

Finally, Ms. Ivana Kopilović was invited to visit Beijing Yingke (Shenzhen) Law Firm, where she engaged in a professional exchange on cross-border compliance cooperation, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the prospects for collaboration between Chinese and Serbian legal service institutions.

Kopilović & Kopilović law firm: Commitment to International Legal Cooperation and the Rule of Law

As one of Serbia’s leading law firms in commercial and cross-border investment law, Kopilović & Kopilović law firm provides full-spectrum legal services to both Chinese and international clients, covering corporate establishment, investment compliance, tax structuring, real estate transactions, and international arbitration. Our firm actively engages in legal cooperation and rule-of-law initiatives under the Belt and Road framework, offering high-quality legal services that enhance compliance, risk management, and cross-border growth.

Participation in this United Nations 80th Anniversary Symposium not only recognizes the firm’s professional excellence in international legal practice but also marks an important step in deepening international cooperation and advancing regional legal connectivity.

Looking ahead, Kopilović & Kopilović law firm will continue to uphold its principle of “Promoting Cooperation through the Rule of Law, and Advancing Development through Compliance,” further strengthening legal collaboration between China, Serbia, and Central and Eastern Europe, and contributing to the creation of a more open, fair, and sustainable international legal order.