The continuous flow of resources shapes a blueprint, and thorough accumulation leads to great achievements. On January 30, 2024, the “Growing Towards the Sun, Moving Forward with Light” 2024 Annual Meeting of Beijing Longan (Guangzhou) Law Firm was held at the Zhengjia Wanhuo Hotel in Guangzhou. All colleagues from Longan Guangzhou gathered together to review 2023 and embark on a new chapter in 2024.
The annual meeting consisted of five segments: a speech by the director of the management committee and an annual summary, a party branch summary, annual commendations for the law firm, entertainment performances, and a dinner celebration. The summary and commendations segment was hosted by Chen Qiaodan, a senior partner of the Longan Guangzhou management committee. The performance and dinner segments were led by four lawyers: Liu Yanfeng, Chen Huan, Zhang Xueyun, and Lin Ziyang.
Lawyer Chen Qiaodan
Chen Huan, Zhang Xueyun, Liu Yanfeng, and Lin Ziyang (from left to right)
Growing Towards the Sun
(1) Speech by the director of the management committee and annual summary
At the annual meeting, Liu Xin, the director of the Longan Guangzhou management committee, seamlessly combined the speech with the annual summary of the law firm. Director Liu Xin reviewed the work of Longan Guangzhou in 2023, analyzing and summarizing it comprehensively in seven areas: the size of the law firm’s staff, annual revenue, professional development, cultural and sports activities, brand promotion, party building, and shortcomings. In 2023, Longan Guangzhou received the title of “Model Unit for Standardized Law Firm Management in Guangzhou”. While receiving important honors, the number of staff at Longan Guangzhou increased significantly, revenue grew despite the trend, professional development flourished, cultural and sports activities were successful, and brand promotion progressed steadily. Regarding party building, Director Liu Xin said the law firm has always given great importance to this work and will continue to support it, strengthening its role in guiding the firm’s development.
While summarizing the firm’s work, Director Liu Xin expanded her perspective to the entire legal profession. By analyzing changes in annual meetings across various industries, including the legal profession, she believed that the legal industry might face its “birth year” in 2024. Therefore, the legal service market should not be optimistic blindly; it is necessary to have a proper risk awareness and prepare accordingly. The increasingly strict tax regulations in the current environment must be taken seriously, and the firm’s financial management should be standardized. Additionally, due to the competitive pressure in the legal service market, competition will be more intense, and legal fees will become more commercialized and accessible, with a model of small profits but high sales becoming popular.
Then, Director Liu Xin pointed out that, in a context focused on “stabilizing expectations”, Longan Guangzhou, as a major national brand, should focus on both internal and external development. Internally, the firm should develop its own cooperation market and partnerships with other branches. Externally, in 2024, the law firm will actively try to expand business opportunities in the legal service market, creating more sources of work for its lawyers.
After analyzing the situation of the law firm and the industry in depth, Director Liu Xin also explored various aspects of Longan Guangzhou’s culture, such as the football team, the enthusiasm of cheerleaders, and the distribution of cooperation benefits. For the large number of young lawyers at Longan Guangzhou, Director Liu Xin offered six practical suggestions for their growth. Finally, Director Liu Xin delivered a concise yet meaningful New Year speech. He specifically asked what we need to do in the changing year 2024: to face all difficulties and challenges with an optimistic and positive attitude, to survive and develop through diligence, professionalism, and efficiency, to protect the dignity of the rule of law with conscience and integrity, and to fulfill the social responsibilities of a legal professional. In 2023, Longan Guangzhou had “floral blossoms all the way; thank you for being there”. In 2024, Longan Guangzhou will “grow towards the sun, moving forward with light”!
(2) Party branch summary
At the annual meeting, Ye Peng, the secretary of the Party branch of Beijing Longan (Guangzhou) Law Firm, presented a summary of the party branch’s work for the year.
Secretary Ye Peng summarized the work of the Longan Guangzhou Party branch in 2023 from five aspects: organizational construction, adjustments to the Party branch committee members, public welfare legal education activities, party building cooperation, and party member activities. In 2023, Longan Guangzhou added 9 formal party members, with 58 registered members and 1 candidate member. While strengthening organizational construction, the Party branch continued to engage in party building cooperation, participating in various party building activities with judicial offices and community committees. Many party member lawyers also actively participated in public welfare services at Tiannanhe Judicial Office, demonstrating the exemplary role of party members. Over the past year, the Party branch also organized activities such as party member movie watching, joint activities with the young workers department, and hiking in Conghua Xingxi. Party members actively participated in these activities, demonstrating the good image of party member lawyers.
(3) Annual commendations for the law firm
With fruitful results in the past year, to commend those who performed well in 2023, the law firm awarded 12 important awards: Special Contribution Award, Outstanding Partners, Professional Team Award, Major Business Achievement Award, Outstanding Lawyers, Lawyers and Teams with Improved Performance, Social Welfare Award, Outstanding Work Departments, Active Cultural and Sports Organizations, Outstanding Employees, “Continuous Writing” Award, and Outstanding Party Members.
List of Award Winners (unordered)
2023 Special Contribution Award: Liang Yuzhen, Chen Huan
2023 Outstanding Partners: Wu Rangjun, Ge Xiangrong, Chen Qiaodan, Ye Peng, Li Wenxiao, Xie Xin, Ye Junxi
2023 Professional Team Award: Yanshang Team, Ge Xiangrong Team, Wang Baoxin Team, Chen Gonghui Team, Youli Team
2023 Major Business Achievement Award (winners):
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Lawyer Yang Wenfeng
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Lawyers Wei Guoxiang and Feng Fangmei
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Lawyer Ye Peng
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Lawyer Chen Gonghui
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Dishi Legal Team
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Lawyers Liu Huan and Chen Changqin
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Lawyer Wu Rangjun and Yu Yao
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Lawyer Chang Wenbin 9. Lawyer Liu Yi
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Ge Xiangrong Team
2023 Outstanding Lawyers: Ke Cheng, Zhang Shuya, Li Dingbang, Zheng Zhongkang, Lin Zhipeng, Chen Luowei, Xiao Xian, Zhu Wenjing, Li Qiyao, Wu Jiongling, Liao Chujing, Huang Peng, Liao Tingting, Guo Xiaxi, Chen Guan, Zhang Siji
2023 Lawyers and Teams with Improved Performance: Ge Xiangrong, Chen Qinglan, Chen Banliang, Hao Hao, Liu Yi Team, Zhang Jing, Wei Guoxiang
2023 Social Welfare Award: Ye Peng, Chen Qiaodan, Pan Yanshi, Cai Jiaxin, Yang Zubin, Wang Jing, Jin Wanglong
2023 Outstanding Work Departments: Comprehensive Service Center, Young Workers Department
2023 Outstanding Cultural and Sports Organizations: Football Team, Running Club, Choir
2023 Outstanding Employees: Bao Erjiang, Feng Huichan, Mai Yanling, Lan Zhaoju, Cai Junru, Wen Qiuoting, Wei Rui, Guo Bingwei, Chen Wentao
2023 “Continuous Writing” Award: Ge Xiangrong, Zhang Jing, Ye Junxi, Chen Huan, Liang Xinyuan
2023 Outstanding Party Members: Ke Cheng, Cai Jiaxin, Dai Keying, Chen Wenxin, Luo Xiaxi, Feng Fangmei
Special Contribution Award
Outstanding Partners
Professional Team Award
Major Business Achievement Award
Outstanding Lawyers
Performance Improvement Award
Social Welfare Award
Outstanding Work Departments
Active Cultural and Sports Organizations
Outstanding Employees
“Continuous Writing” Award
Outstanding Party Members
(4) Entertainment performances
After a short break, the relaxed entertainment and dinner celebration segments began. These segments were hosted by the talented lawyers Liu Yanfeng, Chen Huan, Zhang Xueyun, and Lin Ziyang. The talented colleagues from Longan Guangzhou presented 8 performances, including violin, solo dances, dance shows, magic, choir, duet singing, and solo performances, making the event unforgettable for everyone present.
Performance 1: Choir
First appeared was the Longan Guangzhou choir, which is always a highlight every year. They sang deeply the songs “If Tomorrow Is the Next Life” and “On the Wings of Song” with their beautiful voices. For this performance, the choir invited Mr. Cao Kaijie, a member of the Choir Association of China, Guangdong, and Guangzhou, and the leader of the Guangzhou Xinghu Choir, as conductor. Ms. Zhou Nanzhu, a young piano performer, a member of the Guangdong Music Association, and a member of the Guangdong Piano Society, also assisted.
Performance 2: Dance Show
The Longan Guangzhou F5 men’s team—Chen Guan, Ke Cheng, Chen Zhongtao, Li Mengen, and Su Hang—presented a passionate and energetic dance show “Love Cha-Cha” and “Subject Three”.
Dance
Performance 3: Song “A New World”
Lawyer Li Dingbang, a young talent from Longan Guangzhou, brought a powerful song “A New World”. During the performance, Lawyer Li stepped down from the stage and interacted enthusiastically with the audience.
Performance 4: Violin
Lawyer Dai Keying’s violin performances of “Pastoral Song” and “Wild Goose” made people feel the vastness of the prairie under the wind, as well as the freedom of the wild goose in flight.
Violin
Performance 5: Song “Half Mountain, Half Sea”
Lawyers Chen Changqin and Qiu Penghui sat on high stools and performed the song “Half Mountain, Half Sea” with delicate voices.
Choir
Performance 6: Dance “Farewell at the Western Tower”
A oil-paper umbrella and a green dress. Lawyer Zhu Wenjing’s dance “Farewell at the Western Tower” showed the charm of the Jiangnan mist and rain.
Performance 7: Song “Lawyer King”
Lawyers Zheng Zhongkang and Xiao Minran adapted the song “King of Love Songs”, integrating the joys and hardships of the legal profession, the situation of the law firm, and the names of colleagues, singing deeply and touchingly.
Performance 8: Magic “Legal Puzzle”
Lawyer Peng Jinqiao, a professional magician who was delayed by the legal profession, performed his magic show as the finale. He creatively integrated legal concepts into the puzzle, showing a incredible magical world.
(5) Dinner celebration
As all the colleagues raised their glasses to celebrate, the dinner celebration of the annual meeting began. “The God of Wealth has arrived, the God of Wealth has arrived…” With festive music, Lawyer Kong Ming, dressed as the God of Wealth, came to everyone, giving them gold coins and chocolates as blessings.
Amidst the high enthusiasm of the colleagues, the dinner entered a lottery session. Following the good traditions of Longan Guangzhou, the high-level partners won many prizes, not only giving away the prizes but also receiving additional red envelopes. After several rounds of lottery, the number of prizes increased from 71 to 102, with a winning rate of 50%, creating a joyful atmosphere at the scene.
Lottery
The preparation team also set up a beautiful signing area, and the colleagues took photos to remember the event.
Finally, under the “click” of the camera, all the colleagues and partners took a memorable group photo.
Group photo of Longan Guangzhou partners.
Group photo of all colleagues from Longan Guangzhou.
In 2024, we look forward to continuing to work together with all colleagues,
Growing towards the sun, moving forward with light.