Horizon Insights

Insights

We follow legal and industry developments and share practical judgment from our work on transactions and disputes.

AuthorWang Hangduo
Legal Review

Interpreting Chapter XIII on Marine Insurance Contracts in the New Maritime Law: A Legal-Aesthetic Study

On May 1, 2026, the revised Maritime Law of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "New Law") officially came into effect. Its Chapter 13, "Marine Insurance Contracts" (Articles 240–282, out of 43), replaced the original Chapter 12 (Articles 216–256, out of 41), marking the first systematic revision since its promulgation in 1993.

Legal Review

How Insurers Should Respond to the Overextension of Article 17 of the Insurance Law

Article 17, Paragraph 1 of the Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates the insurer's obligation to provide a "general explanation" regarding standard contracts. Paragraph 2 stipulates the "duty to inform" and the "duty to clarify" regarding the "exemption clause from insurer's liability" in standard contracts.

Legal Review

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Trump Administration Tariff Policy Unlawful: Judgment Summary

Note: Where feasible, the judgment summary (comments) will be published simultaneously with the judgment opinion of this case. This summary of judgment does not constitute part of the court's judgment opinion but was prepared by the judgment reporter for the convenience of readers. See United States v. Detroit Lumber Company, 200 U.S. 321, 337.

Firm News

Major New Rules: Significant Changes to Internet Court Jurisdiction from 1 November

On October 11, 2025, the Supreme People's Court issued the "Provisions on the Jurisdiction of Internet Courts" (Fa Shi [2025] No. 14), which will officially take effect on November 1. This adjustment marks a key upgrade of the Internet Court's function from "innovation in trial mechanisms" to "outgoing adjudication rules for internet governance," precisely responding to new legal needs such as the data economy and platform governance.

Firm News

Advancing the Public Interest Through Professional Service and Protecting Women's Rights Through Law

To actively respond to the national call for rule of law construction and effectively protect women's legitimate rights and interests, Lawyer Sunny Deng, partner and head of the marriage and family law team at Horizon Law Firm, has put into practice the social responsibility of legal professionals through concrete actions, actively participating in the Shanghai Women's Federation's regular public welfare legal duty services, and using her expertise to support the "legal protection umbrella" for women.

Firm News

Siyuan Zheng Invited to Shanghai's 2025 E-commerce Law Training Programme

To promote the standardized and healthy development of Shanghai's e-commerce industry, the "2025 E-commerce Law and Related Promotion Training," hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, was successfully held from September 24 to 25, 2025. The purpose of this event is to strengthen understanding and implementation of e-commerce-related laws and regulations, and to promote industry self-discipline and compliant operations.

Legal Review

Government COVID-19 Restrictions and the Application of Force Majeure Clauses: Lessons from a UK Case

On June 24, 2022, in the case of N KD Maritime Limited v. Bart Maritime (No 2) Inc (Shagang Giant) [2022] EWHC 1615 (Comm), the Commercial Tribunal of the High Court of England and Wales (hereinafter referred to as the Court) ruled on the "force majeure clause" stipulated in the contract...

Industry Updates

An Analysis of the Provisions on Automotive Data Security Management (Trial), Part II

Article 11 Important data shall be stored domestically in accordance with the law. If it is necessary for business needs to provide it abroad, it shall undergo a security assessment organized by the national cyberspace administration in conjunction with relevant departments of the State Council. For personal information data not included in important data, the exit security management of personal information data shall be governed by relevant laws and administrative regulations.

Industry Updates

An Analysis of the Provisions on Automotive Data Security Management (Trial), Part I

The "Several Provisions on Automobile Data Security Management (Trial)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") came into effect on October 1, 2021. As soon as the May release of the "Several Provisions on Automotive Data Security Management (Draft for Comments)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft for Comments") was released, it sparked heated discussion. At that time, we also interpreted the "Draft Opinions." If interested, please click: "Several Provisions on Automotive Data Security Management..."

Legal Review · Wang Hangduo

Notable Judgment: A Beijing Court's Response to Moral Pressure in an Insurance Subrogation Case

On March 11, 2015, Wang XX, an employee of a central state-owned enterprise, was operating a mechanical parking space in the community to retrieve a car. Without noticing that someone was inside the adjacent ××× parking space, he directly swiped his card to start lifting the parking space, causing the parking space where the ××× vehicle was parked to start sinking and resulting in damage to the ××× vehicle. After the related vehicle losses were compensated by Huatai Property Insurance Beijing Branch, the insurer subrogation was filed against Wang XX on the grounds that he failed to exercise due care and infringed on others' civil rights...

Industry Updates

A Brief Discussion of the Special Procedure for Enforcing Security Interests

When the debtor fails to repay the debt on time, in order to realize the secured property (i.e., auctioning or selling the secured property) to realize the creditor's rights, the common practice is for the creditor to file a lawsuit with the people's court to determine the main claim and then apply to the court for enforcement. However, realizing security interests through litigation is a complex and lengthy process. In response, the Civil Procedure Law stipulates a special procedure for realizing security interests, which is a non-litigation model for realizing security interests, which, compared to litigation models...

Legal Review · Edward Li

A Brief Discussion of the Special Procedure for Enforcing Security Interests

When the debtor fails to repay the debt on time, in order to realize the secured property (i.e., auctioning or selling the secured property) to realize the creditor's rights, the common practice is for the creditor to file a lawsuit with the people's court to determine the main claim and then apply to the court for enforcement. However, realizing security interests through litigation is a complex and lengthy process. In response, the Civil Procedure Law stipulates a special procedure for realizing security interests, which is a non-litigation model for realizing security interests, which, compared to litigation models...

Legal Review · Wang Hangduo

Proximate Cause and the Aleatory Nature of Insurance: Lessons from a Successful Claim Denial

I. Case Summary: Duan is a pilot for an airline. One day, he purchased a major illness insurance with additional pilot disability income loss insurance from R Insurance Company via his WeChat public account, with a premium of 4,459 yuan, and the insurance period was from December 21, 2019 to December 20, 2020. When applying for insurance, Duan clearly informed R Insurance Company on the insurance page that he had severe myopia and uploaded a Level 1 medical examination certificate. Immediately, R Insurance Company approved...

Legal Review

Will a Bank Transfer Record Be Enough for the Court to Order Repayment?

Mr. Cadmitted to receiving 395,000 yuan transferred from Mr. B, arguing that the funds were not loans with Mr. Aand requesting the court to dismiss Mr. A's claim.

Legal Review · Fiona Zeng

Comments on the Draft Provisions on Automotive Data Security Management, Part II

1. Strictly limit the collection of sensitive information such as GPS positioning and in-car voice and video to serving drivers or passengers, and allow drivers to authorize it once and terminate at any time, for easy viewing, and for time-limited deletion;

Legal Review · Fiona Zeng

Comments on the Draft Provisions on Automotive Data Security Management, Part I

Tesla, known for its arrogant public image, is now so obedient and quick to respond. What exactly is the content of the "Several Regulations on Automotive Data Security Management (Draft for Comments)" ("Regulations") mentioned on its official Weibo? It's worth reviewing.

Industry Updates

The Data Dispute Behind Didi's U.S. Listing, Domestic Penalties and Overseas Litigation

There are rumors online that Didi was fined for packaging sensitive user and road data into the United States. Didi's vice president has already stated online that this is a rumor:

Legal Review

The Data Dispute Behind Didi's U.S. Listing, Domestic Penalties and Overseas Litigation

There are rumors online that Didi was fined for packaging sensitive user and road data into the United States. Didi's vice president has already stated online that this is a rumor:

Legal Review

Is a Non-local Daughter-in-law Entitled to Relocation Compensation?

In this case, the tenant had already died at the time of demolition, and the tenant's spouse's household registration was not included in the household registration of the demolished house. The key point of contention in this case is whether the spouse with non-local household registration enjoys the benefits of house expropriation after the tenant's death.

Legal Review · Sunny Deng

Must Children Repay Their Parents' Debts? A Dispute Arising from a Borrowed Bank Account

Given that the loan in question was proposed by defendant Gu ** to the plaintiff, that defendants Gu ** and Gu # both confirmed that defendant Gu # did not use the loan, and that the plaintiff and defendant Gu # had no agreement regarding the loan, and defendants Gu ** and Gu # had already provided reasonable explanations regarding the use of Gu #'s bank account for delivery and repayment, the existing evidence cannot prove that defendant Gu # borrowed from the plaintiff. The plaintiff's claim for defendant Gu # to bear repayment responsibility is insufficient, and this court does not support this...

Industry Updates

Can Property Still Be Held in Another Person's Name?

Even though he already had two homes at the time, he still bought another property under the guise of a borrowed name, aiming to circumvent the purchase restrictions imposed by the State Council and Beijing, and to gain extra improper benefits through speculative purchases. If the judiciary allows such behavior to run rampant without restrictions, it is tantamount to condoning unreasonable housing demand and the rapid growth of speculative home purchases, encouraging dishonest parties to obtain improper benefits by circumventing national policy red lines. This not only contradicts the judiciary's duty to uphold social integrity and fairness but also...

Industry Updates

The Data Dispute Behind the Tesla Auto Show Protest

On the evening of April 22, Tesla publicly released the key 5.32-second data and text description of the car owner's minute before the accident; at the same time, they sent Ms. Zhang the original vehicle data from half an hour before the incident via email. On April 23, the husband of a female car owner defending her rights claimed Tesla infringed on her personal privacy rights and demanded the data be withdrawn.