Staff profile

Jiantong Zhao is a Ph.D candidate in Law at Durham University, supervised by Professor Lei Chen and Dr. Can Eken. Her research focuses on private international law, international commercial litigation, and arbitration, with a particular interest in the weaponisation of anti-suit injunctions in cross-border proceedings. She holds an LL.B from the University of Exeter and an LL.M from University College London. In November 2024, she was called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn (unregistered Barrister). She also serves as Deputy Director of the Durham International Dispute Resolution Institute (DIDRI) for 2024–2025.

Beyond academia, Jiantong has practical experience in international dispute resolution, having worked in the shipping insurance sector in Shanghai, where she handled claims involving cargo damage, demurrage, hull damage, and crew injuries. She also assisted clients in trial and arbitration preparation, coordinating with law firms, counsel, and arbitrators in London, Hong Kong, and the United States. Additionally, she has interned with leading legal institutions and firms in China, including the Beijing Arbitration Commission, the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, JunHe LLP, and Hui Zhong Law Firm. Combining academic expertise with hands-on industry experience, she is passionate about bridging the gap between legal theory and practice in cross-border disputes.