I did my PhD in law in the University of Glasgow during 2001-2003, and my research topic was the EU’s anti-dumping policy against China. The education at the University gained me in-depth understanding of the WTO international trade system and the basic trade legislation of the European Union. More importantly, it enabled me to conduct independent research into different legal areas without fear. Such research technique and attitude give me tremendous help when I developed my career as a lawyer.
I do not really treat myself as a female when I work. Nevertheless, general speaking, a female professional has to devote herself to the work in the most efficient way, so that she could have some time to take care of children. This is a challenge.
In each case, I strengthen my expertise and learn from my clients. They are fabulous people, and we trust each other. With such experience, I could handle more and more complex cases these days, while growing up from a law student to lawyer who could think and work independently.
Women are always very diligent. Under the same conditions, women could achieve as much as men could. It is the trend that in the next 100 years, more and more top legal professionals will be women, because they will be more confident and independent.
Women do not really need any support from men. I do not feel gender discrimination when I work as a lawyer. Who gets the client, who will be the team leader. In general, female team members are normally more diligent and careful than men.
we are developing a legal system without gender discrimination in China.”
Dr Qian is the senior partner in a Chinese law firm – Gaopeng Law & Partners. Her practice area focuses on international trade law, intellectual property and dispute resolution.
In the field of international trade and WTO disputes, Dr Qian has represented the Government of China, exporting producers and Chambers of Commerce in a number of landmark trade investigations, such as the EU’s first anti-subsidy proceeding against China (Coated Fine Paper), China’s first WTO dispute against EU (DS397) and US first 337 investigation against steel products from China (investigation No. 337-Ta-1002).
In the WTO dispute – EU Fasteners (DS397), Dr. Qian acted as the legal counsel to the Government of China, and the historic issue of “individual treatment” was settled in that case. As the result, EU deleted the discriminative rule of “individual treatment” (original Article 9.5 of EU Basic Anti-Dumping Regulation) on 3 September 2012, and the EU anti-dumping measures against fasteners from China was withdrawn on 27 February 2016.
Likewise, in the US 337 investigation against carton and alloy steel products from China (investigation No. 337-Ta-1002), Dr. Qian represented a major Chinese steel enterprise as respondent and won all the claims in that case.
