What should I do if the lawyer's inaction causes the appeal period to expire?

If negotiation fails, the lawyer brings a lawsuit to the court, claiming that the lawyer shall bear the liability for breach of contract. Chapter VII Liability for Breach of Contract Article 107 of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Contract Law If one party fails to perform its contractual obligations or the performance of the contractual obligations is not in conformity with the agreement, it shall be liable for breach of contract such as continuing to perform, taking remedial measures or compensating for losses. Article 108 If a party expressly expresses or shows by his own behavior that he will not perform his contractual obligations, the other party may require him to bear the liability for breach of contract before the expiration of the performance period.