Zhejiang lawyers provide legal services for cross-border investments in Morocco. [Photo/Tide News]

As Zhejiang-based businesses expand their global footprint, the province in East China is ramping up legal protections to help companies mitigate risks and resolve disputes in international markets.

Zhejiang was the first in China to establish a cross-agency foreign-related legal coordination group and introduce a comprehensive plan to enhance legal services for global commerce.

In 2024, the province's courts handled 709 foreign commercial disputes worth 1.34 billion yuan (about $185 million), achieving a 48 percent mediation success rate. Trade promotion agencies helped recover over 260 million yuan for businesses, with cases resolved through mediation tripling year-over-year.

Zhejiang has doubled its number of leading international lawyers since 2020, reaching 240 in February 2025. Last year, the province trained more than 2,700 foreign-related legal professionals and processed cases valued at nearly 10 billion yuan.

To keep pace with companies' overseas expansion, Zhejiang has set up 22 legal liaison offices across 19 cities in 12 countries, ensuring legal support is available wherever businesses operate.

Intellectual property protection has been a key focus. The province established eight dispute response centers abroad, saving businesses an estimated 370 million yuan in legal costs and helping them recover 400 million yuan in economic losses in 2024 alone.