This appointment is made possible through the generous philanthropy of Dr Lee Kai Hung, an Honorary Graduate of The University of Manchester, whose exceptional support through his family foundation helped to establish the Manchester China Institute and the Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery. Dr Lee’s legacy has created a lasting platform for advancing mutual understanding between China, the UK and the wider world.
The appointment of Professor Chen marks an important next step in realising that vision. As part of the University’s Challenge Accepted campaign, this support demonstrates how a global community of supporters is coming together to create opportunity, drive discovery and build a fairer future – enabling us to attract world-leading academics like Professor Chen and strengthen initiatives such as the Manchester China Institute for the benefit of society.
Professor Chen is an internationally recognised scholar specialising in comparative law, Chinese law and international dispute resolution. His research spans comparative private law, transnational commercial dispute resolution, and Chinese legal and regulatory development, positioning him among leading global experts in his field.
He was elected an Ordinary Member of Academia Europaea in 2026 and is also an Ordinary Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, as well as a Titular Member of the International Academy of Comparative Law. He has published extensively and serves on the editorial boards of several leading international law journals.
Professor Chen is an experienced international arbitrator and mediator, having acted in proceedings administered by major arbitral institutions worldwide. He currently serves as an International Commercial Expert Committee Member of the Supreme People’s Court of China and has been called to the Bar of England and Wales by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
Welcoming the appointment, Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities said: