Guo Cai

Ms. Guo Cai leads the International Law and Sports Dispute Resolution practice, Jin Mao Law Firm. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Ms. Cai is bilingual and admitted to practice law in People’s Republic of China and the State of New York. Before entering the sports sector, Ms. Guo Cai gained extensive foreign-related experience from practicing with a top-ranking PRC law firm and a Wall Street Law Firm, both highly regarded for their arbitration department.

Since 2008, Ms. Guo Cai has been thoroughly involved in the organization of international sporting events, first as a professional volunteer for the Beijing Olympics, and then as legal advisor for national and international sports organisations. With a steady increase of her sports law portfolio, she created and oversees the International Law and Sports Business practice within Jin Mao Law Firm in order to provide dedicated, industry-oriented service to sports clients. The LexVeritas practice group adopts the innovative feature to combine legal expertise with industry specificities, aiming to connect international best practice with the sports industry in China.

Ms. Guo Cai’s legal credential is solid, with particular strength in sports law, regulations and policies set in Chinese reality. Sensitive to business needs, she appreciates the value of diversity and thinks out of box. Her approach is always based on law but not refrained by it – she sees the big picture and is well positioned to advise clients who need not only legal opinions but also practical solutions. As a result, the practice particularly impresses clients with its problem-solving ability, the determination and competence to achieve client’s goals. In 2020, Ms. Guo Cai contributes to the debut of Sports Dispute Resolution in China (2020) published by the Beijing Arbitration Commission, the first time that sports has been broken out from entertainment for separate discussion. She is the co-author of this inaugural volume.

INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ARBITRATION)

• Represented World Snooker in its dispute against a Chinese contracting party and achieved World Snooker’s goal, with approximately USD 20 million at stake.
• Represented a Chinese state-owned enterprise in response to an ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) arbitration in Singapore initiated by its Southeast Asian partner; as the only Chinese lawyer in the team, responsible for facts investigation, witness statement drafting, document management, and drafting of submissions.
• Advised an Isrealian company on its potential investor-state arbitration against the Republic of Armenia.
• Represented a Chinese company in the education sector in response to an HKIAC arbitration initiated by its investors involving complex legal issues and multiple parties.
• Represented an American company in its successful enforcement of foreign arbitral award in Chinese court.
• Advised foreign companies including Apple Inc., Sanofi S.A., and the Dow Chemical Company on dispute resolution and PRC law.

SPORTS

• Successfully represented World Snooker in a Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC) proceeding against a State-owned company, which compelled the opponent to comply its contractual obligation while maintaining the Parties’ long-term cooperation.
• Successfully represented Matchroom, a company based in the UK and achieved its goal in a dispute with its Chinese contracting partner.
• Represented a major national sport association in CAS proceeding and managed the association’s filing of appeal, drafting of submissions and oral arguments at the hearing.
• Advised the e-sport operation of a major sport group based in Shanghai, China Represented a major national sport association in parallel international dispute proceedings before its world governing body; as the lead counsel, responsible for evidence collection, witness interview and drafting of legal submissions in English.
• Advised international sports federations on commercialization strategy and all aspects of legal issues, such as events contract, host-city contract, sponsorship, licensing and broadcasting rights; advised on compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• Represented a Serbian professional football coach in the dispute against a Chinese football club, concerning the enforceability of decision by Players’ Status Committee (PSC) of FIFAAdvised an international sports organization on its policy and strategic framework.
• Advised a sport agency company based in Singapore on player’s contract and commercial legal matters.
• Advised a sport development company based in Beijing in relation to an event licensing right purchased from its rights holder in UK.
• Advised a sport enterprise based in Shandong on its sports town project, which utilizes the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for sporting facility construction across Shandong Province, including the installation of a large-scale surfing facility on the seashore of Shandong.
• Advised a sport company and a football club based in Guizhou in relation to its youth training program involving employment of foreign coaches and cooperation with European football clubs.
• As a member of team, represented Michael Jordan in the litigation in relation to his name rights and trade mark against Qiao Dan sports.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

• Lawyer’s License, People’s Republic of China（passed in 2011；admitted in 2013）.
• Lawyer’s License, State of New York, The United States of America (passed in 2014, admitted in 2015).
• Member, American Bar Association.
• Member, Sports Law Section of Shanghai Municipality Bar Association.

LANGUAGE

• English
• Mandarin
• Chinese
• Cantonese