China–US trade arbitration following an email compromise
Anonymised case · Professional reference
Background and challenges
During trade between a Chinese company and a US counterparty, overseas hackers compromised the company's email and diverted payments to an impersonating account. The funds could not be located and the counterparty refused payment. The company faced significant losses and needed to establish responsibility through cross-border legal proceedings.
Approach and implementation
The team represented the Chinese company in arbitration before a US international arbitration institution. It promptly preserved evidence of the email intrusion and coordinated with the China Chamber of International Commerce to obtain commercial certification that the receiving account was unrelated to the company. It assembled evidence on fund flows, contractual performance and account impersonation into a coherent legal argument.
Outcomes
The tribunal ruled in favour of the Chinese company, avoiding a USD 200,000 loss and clarifying responsibility in the cross-border transaction. The outcome resolved a payment crisis caused by the cyber intrusion.
Lessons for international cooperation and governance
Email compromise and payment impersonation pose increasing risks in cross-border trade. The case highlights the importance of evidence preservation across jurisdictions and recognition of international commercial certification in resolving disputes and protecting payments.