业精于勤、行成于思，走在业务、理论和实践的前沿
——专访2024 ALB China十五佳女律师：君合律师事务所合伙人连晶律师
连晶
君合律师事务所合伙人
君合律师事务所合伙人连晶律师从业24年，是业内少有的具有破产重组业务、投资并购业务以及能源、基础设施建设行业从业经验的专家复合型律师。她以在相关法律服务领域多年的深耕获得了客户与市场的青睐。今年，连晶律师上榜2024 ALB China十五佳女律师榜单，与ALB聊了聊她执业过程中的深刻经验、具体心得与对挑战与限制的应对之法。
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ALB：连晶律师，恭喜您上榜2024 ALB China十五佳女律师榜单！执业生涯中最令您印象深刻的经历是什么？
连晶律师，君合律师事务所合伙人：在加入君合之前，我曾在中石油海外子公司——中国石油天然气勘探开发公司，以及贝克麦坚时、孖士打等国际所工作多年。我在能源领域的行业背景与工作经验，对于继续从事破产领域是一种非常好的助力。
记得2022年做的一个案子令我印象非常深刻，那是阳谷祥光铜业有限公司等十九家公司实质合并重整案，由我担任管理人负责人。祥光铜业等19家公司实质合并重整案合并资产口径超过200亿元，合并负债超过600亿元，资产负债规模巨大，实体风险与类金融机构风险交织存在，可以说是非常罕见。除了成功挽救并保证了企业价值之外，我们还成功地引入了投资人，解决了上万名职工的稳定就业问题，为地方的社会稳定和经济高质量发展贡献了自己的力量。
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ALB：您是如何确定深耕于破产领域，并在该细分领域内不断深挖的？作为破产领域的专家，您在破产和行业领域紧密结合方面有何心得？
连晶律师：在当前市场环境下，各地法院都在强调，对于达到破产标准的企业，应依法妥善处理，这预示着破产业务将迎来蓬勃发展的阶段。
我们注意到，无论是中小型民营企业还是国有企业，都在考虑破产的可能性。市场优胜劣汰的规律意味着，当企业无法生存时，选择破产可能是一种理智且有益的选择。在破产过程中，我们也会积极挖掘企业的重整价值，寻找市场上的重整机会。
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ALB：如今，客户愈发看重律师的前瞻能力、法商思维以及服务质量。您如何适应这些转变？
连晶律师：破产业务是一项综合性极强的业务，对律师的法律知识、管理能力、综合能力都有很高的要求。因此，我们不仅要在专业上持续学习，还要在一线实践中不断积累经验。
对于破产律师的培养，我们强调专业基础知识、团队合作意识、沟通协调能力，以及应对复杂矛盾和冲突的能力。此外，我们还需要培养年轻律师强大的内心，面对困难和挫折时能够迎难而上，勇于担当。
我认为，律师应该比客户成长得更快，特别是破产律师。我们需要拥有成熟和强大的内心，与客户共同成长，并始终走在业务、理论和实践的前沿。
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ALB：就您观察，女性律师在职业生涯中都遇到了哪些挑战与限制？您又是如何应对的？
连晶律师：尽管在职业层面上我并未感受到明显的束缚，但我也确实遇到了一些挑战，这些挑战主要源自于家庭角色与职业责任之间的平衡。
我必须承认，这并没有完美的解决方案。我能做的，就是无论在哪个角色中都全力以赴，这意味着我需要在不同的场景之间迅速切换。如何妥善管理时间、如何在家庭和职业之间分配精力，是我们每个人都需要面对的难题。我的目标是，尽可能地平衡这两方面，确保在每个角色中都尽我所能。
Diligence Leads to Excellence, and Practice Perfects Theory
– An interview with 2024 ALB China Top 15 Female Lawyer, Lian Jing
Lian Jing, partner at JunHe, has been practicing law for 24 years. She is one of the few professionals in the industry with a unique combination of expertise in bankruptcy and restructuring, investment and mergers and acquisitions, as well as the energy and infrastructure sectors. Her extensive experience and dedication to these legal services have earned her the trust of clients and recognition in the market.
This year, Lian was named one of ALB China’s Top 15 Female Lawyers for 2024. In her interview with ALB, she shares insights from her career, discusses her professional journey, and offers her perspective on overcoming challenges and limitations.
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ALB: Congratulations on being named one of ALB China’s Top 15 Female Lawyers for 2024! What has been the most memorable experience of your career?
Lian Jing: Thank you! Before joining JunHe, I worked for many years with China National Petroleum Corporation’s overseas subsidiaries, including China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation, as well as at international firms like Baker McKenzie and Mayer Brown. My background in the energy sector has provided invaluable support in my bankruptcy practice.
One particularly memorable case was in 2022, when I led the restructuring of 19 companies, including Yanggu Xiangguang Copper. This substantial consolidation involved assets of over 20 billion yuan and liabilities exceeding 60 billion yuan. The sheer scale of assets and liabilities, combined with the overlapping risks of physical and quasi-financial entities, made it a rare and complex undertaking. Not only did we successfully preserve and enhance the company’s value, but we also secured new investment and safeguarded stable employment for over 10,000 workers. This project contributed significantly to local social stability and high-quality economic development.
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ALB: How did you decide to specialize in the bankruptcy field, and what drives you to continually deepen your expertise in this niche area? As a bankruptcy expert, what insights can you share on the integration of bankruptcy and industry?
Lian: In the current market environment, courts nationwide are emphasizing the need to properly handle companies that meet bankruptcy criteria, signaling a promising growth phase for bankruptcy practice.
We’ve observed that both small and medium-sized private enterprises and state-owned companies are increasingly considering bankruptcy as a viable option. The natural selection process in the market dictates that when a company can no longer sustain itself, opting for bankruptcy can be a rational and beneficial choice. During the bankruptcy process, we actively explore restructuring opportunities, uncovering the potential for revitalization in these businesses and seeking market-driven restructuring solutions.
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ALB: Clients today place increasing value on foresight, commercial acumen, and quality of service. How do you adapt to these changes?
Lian: Bankruptcy practice is highly comprehensive and demands extensive legal knowledge, management skills, and an all-encompassing set of abilities from lawyers. This requires us not only to continually refine our expertise but also to gain hands-on experience on the front lines.
In training bankruptcy lawyers, we emphasize a solid foundation in legal knowledge, teamwork, communication and coordination skills, and the ability to navigate complex conflicts and challenges. Additionally, we focus on building resilience in young lawyers, encouraging them to rise to the occasion when faced with difficulties and setbacks.
I believe that lawyers, especially those in bankruptcy, should strive to grow faster than their clients. We need to develop a mature and strong mindset, grow alongside our clients, and stay at the forefront of business, theory, and practice.
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ALB: What challenges and limitations do female lawyers commonly face in their careers? How have you managed these challenges?
Lian: Although I haven't felt significant constraints on a professional level, I have indeed encountered challenges, primarily stemming from balancing family roles and professional responsibilities.
I must admit, there’s no perfect solution to this. What I strive to do is give my all in whichever role I’m in at the moment, which means I need to be able to switch quickly between different settings. Managing time effectively and balancing energy between family and work are challenges we all face. My goal is to strike a balance as much as possible, ensuring that I give my best in every role I undertake.
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