A pioneering firm in Chinese shipping law, Wang Jing & Co continues to handle the most complex marine matters, including high-level collisions and casualty cases. The practice serves shipowners, P&I clubs and charterers and has an international scope ranging from the Pacific to Britain and Greece. The firm has also begun to diversify its offering, taking on more work from the financing side as well as representing other shipping-related businesses. Managing partner Xiangyong Chen has 20 years of practice experience and has previously worked for COSCO Shipping Corp. John Wang in Guangzhou, Zongcui Zou in Tianjin and Hui Yuan in Qingdao are also key figures in a practice comprised of ‘first-class’ individuals.
Shipping: PRC firms in China
Wang Jing & Co
Practice head(s):
Xiangyong Chen; John Wang; Zongcui Zou; Hui Yuan; Rongcun Li; Jun Xu; Yongdong Han; Yong Zhao
Other key lawyers:
Xinwei Guo
Testimonials
‘Wang Jing & Co is truly preeminent in shipping. Their team is made up of truly first-class individuals, each with exceptional, market-leading, levels of knowledge and experience, specific to the sector in which they operate. They are clearly the number one choice for maritime disputes in China. Superb.’
‘In-depth knowledge of Chinese shipping and shipbuilding industry expertise and knowledge in both Chinese law and also English law arbitrations.’
‘They have real knowledge of international disputes and are an excellent choice for Chinese clients facing cross-border disputes. They have experience of working with cross-border teams and of tapping legal expertise in multiple jurisdictions on complicated matters.’
‘Mr Xiangyong Chen is extremely efficient and, despite his seniority, is very hands-on and gives you comfort that he has your matters under total control.’
Key clients
Skuld (Far East) Ltd
Gard (HK) Ltd
Steamship Mutual Management (Hong Kong) Limited
UK P&I Club
The North of England P&I Association Limited
The Swedish Club Hong Kong Ltd.
The Britannia Steamship Insurance Association Ltd.
Wintell & Co Law Firm
At Wintell & Co Law Firm, Mervyn Chen leads a team praised for its ‘attentiveness’ and ‘responsiveness’. Marine causalities (including collisions and salvage), bill of lading and charterparty, financing, insurance, exploration and shipping company and shipyard restructuring all fall within the scope of this practice. Clients from both China and Europe as well as other parts of the globe come to the firm for its shipping services. Cunqiang Cai, Changqing Yu, Jasmine Liu, Jason Chen and James Hu are key names to note in a strong bench of partners.
Practice head(s):
Mervyn Chen
Other key lawyers:
James Hu; Jason Chen; Cunqiang Cai; Changqing Yu; Jasmine Liu; Liang Chen
Testimonials
‘The firm places the Company’s requests and needs at a top priority.’
‘They value the long-term business relationship with the Company. They are also capable of providing practical solutions taking into account the Company’s commercial objectives and business nature.’
‘We work with Mr. Mervyn Chen and Mr. Liang Chen the most at the firm. They are very familiar with the shipping businesses and applicable laws and regulations in the PRC. They also know very well the latest case precedents which serve as useful references in handling the Company’s legal disputes in the shipping industry.’
‘Attentiveness, responsiveness and excellent reputation.’
‘The firm provides a first-class shipping service for very reasonable fees and has a high reputation amongst lawyers and P&I clubs for dependability.’
‘Mr Changqing Yu stands out as a very able lawyer. He is thoughtful and resourceful; he gives accurate advice and gets results in difficult cases before the court. I have recommended him to colleagues and have always received excellent reports about him.’
Work highlights
- Advised Shanghai Port Fuxing Shipping Service Co., Ltd. on purchasing, importing and operation of the first 20,000m³ LNG bunkering vessel in China.
- Representing the interests of the Panamanian general cargo vessel MV “Sea Justice” after her collision with the anchored Liberian oil tanker MT “A Symphony” in dense fog, off Qingdao port, China in April 2021.
- Represented PICC in the very first war risk policy dispute in China involving the vessel MV EVER JUDGER. The case involved parallel proceedings in CMAC arbitration and the PART 20 CLAIM in the High Court of Justice, United Kingdom.
Dentons China
Dentons China‘s wide ranging presence across the breadth of China also extends to the high seas. Sale and purchase of vessels, carriage contract and charter party negotiations, marine insurance and reinsurance, collisions and salvage, ship arrest and leasing are just some of the matters covered by this practice. Key names to note include practice head George Wang, arbitrator and litigator Darong Wang and financing expert Jingjing Wu.
Practice head(s):
Yingbo (George) Wang
Other key lawyers:
Darong Wang; Jingjing Wu; Bin Yuan
Key clients
AVIC International Leasing Co., Ltd.
Bright Palais Shipping Limited|PALAIS Shipping Co., Ltd.
Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
Minsheng Jiayang (Tianjin) Shipping Leasing Co., LTD
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd.
Agricultural Bank of China Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
SPDB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
Haitong UT Leasing HK Limited
Moutai (Shanghai) Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
Amlin Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and its member Five Ocean Corporation, Seoul, Korea
PICC Quanzhou Branch
Export-Import Bank of China, and its Xiamen Branch
Hong Kong Top Express Shipping Limited, Hong Kong Everfair Shipping Limited
PICC Rongcheng Branch
PICC Xiamen Branch
Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd.
CMA CGM S.A.
Work highlights
- Advised Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., (Client) and its overseas subsidiaries as borrower on carrying out a term loan facility with BNPP as lender of up to $50m involving ship mortgages over four vessels owed by the client.
- Advised AVIC International Leasing Co., Ltd., (Client) acting through its SPV incorporated in the Republic of Marshall Islands on conducting a sale and lease back project in relation to one BULK CARRIER.
- Gard P&I Club, and its members including the CMA CGM S.A., APL Co. Pte. Ltd., and Registered shipowners of M.V. “CMA CGM G.WASHINGTON”. Represented the Client involving some cargo claims arising from containers’ falling overboard a large container ship before three different maritime courts of PRC (XM, SH and GZ).
Wang Jing & GH Law Firm
The well-known shipping practice at Wang Jing & GH Law Firm is jointly led by Jing Wang and Wilson Wang and acts for charterers, banks, large SOEs and multinational corporations. Niki Zhang is another key practitioner, covering bill of lading disputes, charterparty claims, cargo claims, arrest of ships and other cargo-related matters. The team notably also advises on the employment contracts of seamen.
Practice head(s):
Jing Wang; Wilson Wang
Other key lawyers:
Niki Zhang
Key clients
Lotus Ocean Transportation Pte Ltd.
G2 Ocean
Marine Partners Monaco SAM
Ince Gordon Dadds LLP
Frank Forensic and Corporate Recovery Limited
V. Group
ReedSmith Richards Butler
Lau, Horton & Wise LLP
Noble Group Holdings Limited
Wikborg Rein LLP
Work highlights
- Acted for Lotus Ocean Transportation Pte Ltd., in charterparty and bills of lading disputes with the head owner, charterers, and local cargo receivers, regarding demurrage, prolonged stay of the vessel at port and alleged cargo damage concerning the carriage of a consignment of coal in bulk for discharge in Guangzhou, China.
- Acted for Bintan Mining Corporation to handle a series of cases of application for recognition and enforcement of Hong Kong arbitration awards and application for recognizing and enforcing Hong Kong and BVI court bankruptcy orders in China, valued at over $10m.
- Retained by Marine Partners Monaco SAM to act for 13 Filipino seamen in their claims against the shipowner under seaman employment contracts for unpaid wages and other remunerations and expenses and for ascertaining the crew’s entitlement to maritime lien on the vessel so as to take priority in compensation from the proceeds of sale of the “Angelic Power”.
Zhong Lun Law Firm
Zhong Lun Law Firm has an extensive shipping practice covering maritime tortious disputes including collisions and salvage cases as well as contractual disputes and non-contentious financing and structuring matters. Several partners in the group are now serving as arbitrators for the China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC), and litigation is a clear strong point for the team. Its clients include well known P&I clubs and cargo giants COSCO and Jiangsu Ocean Shipping Co. Chenbiao Li has two decades of experience advising on contentious shipping matters. Baosheng Zhang and Lijun Cao lead the dispute resolution practice and assist with shipping matters.
Practice head(s):
Baosheng Zhang; Lijun Cao; Chenbiao Li
Other key lawyers:
Zhenlong (Leo) Zhang
Key clients
Greathorse
Jiangsu Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd.
COSCO Shipping Logistics
Gard P&I Club
Guangdong Shipping
TT Club
China P&I Club
Skuld P&I Club
PICC
China Special Article Logistics
Work highlights
- Advised Greathorse on general matters about shipping and crew business.
- Advised Guangdong Shipping on charter-party disputes over Indonesian coal export restrictions.
- Advised SeaSun Marine on charter-party disputes about withdrawing vessel.
AllBright Law Offices
AllBright Law Offices‘ shipping practice is led by Cao Fang, who acts as general counsel to the Maersk Line in China, advising on complex contractual disputes before maritime courts. The firm also advises P&I clubs, financial leasing companies, shipyards and more. Haijun He specialises in advising shipbuilders, while Hongkai Xu focuses on a range of contentious shipping matters.
Practice head(s):
Cao Fang
Other key lawyers:
Hongkai Xu; Haijun He
Key clients
Shanghai Huihang Jiexun Network Technology Co., Ltd
Wan Jingfeng
Maersk A/S
Qingdao Jianyu Resources Development Co., Ltd.
China forest products (Singapore) Co., Ltd
Wan Jingfeng
Shenzhen Feichi Yacht Sales Co., Ltd
China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association
Mediterranean Shipping Company Sa
The North of England P&I Association Limited
AnJie Broad Law Firm
The AnJie Broad Law Firm shipping practice specialises in cargo and hull insurance matters, dispute resolution, and employment issues within shipping. Bing Yan is notable for work on offshore power projects, while Lei Chen works on contentious matters including bill of lading disputes and collisions. Shengmiao Qi, Shouzhi An, and Yong Wang are further key names and lead the practice alongside Yan and Chen. Wang brings previous experience working in municipal government navigation offices to his shipping law practice. An joined the firm from Guantao Law Firm in April 2022.
Practice head(s):
Bing Yan; Lei Chen; Shengmiao QI; Shouzhi An; Yong Wang
Testimonials
‘They are very responsive and always think of the client’s best interests.’
Key clients
PICC Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
China Pacific Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
Hua Tai Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
China Life Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
China Continent Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
China Taiping Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
China United Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
Boc Insurance Co., Ltd.
Tianan Property Insurance Co., Ltd.
Generali China Insurance Co., Ltd.
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Co., Ltd.
Sunshine Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
AXA Tianping Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd.
China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association
Fuyang Yinghuai Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd.
M+R Freight Forwarding GROUP
Milkyway Chemical Supply Chain Service Co., Ltd.
Ael-berkman Forwarding (HK) Limited
Shanghai Huayang International Logistics Co., Ltd.
Dragon Crown Group Holdings Ltd.
Milkyway Chemical Supply Chain Service Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu ETERN Co., Ltd.
AVIC International Mineral Resources Co., Ltd。
Jiangsu Hantong Group Co. Ltd.
Nantong Ocean Water Conservancy Engineering Co., Ltd..
ZF Offshore Co., Ltd.
Tianjin Dorian Ocean Engineering Co., Ltd.
Rajah & Tann LLP
Cho & Lee
Ince & Co.
Joint Rainbow Shipping Pte Ltd
Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Ltd.
Lotus Ocean Transportation Pte Ltd
Decent Shipping Company Limited
Xiamen Shipbuliding Industry Co.,Ltd.
XIN BO SHIPPING (PTE) LTD. / XIHE HOLDINGS (PTE) LTD.
Combined Rich Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the owner of an offshore wind power project on a CNY825m tort action against the damaged LNG pipeline bridge owner
- Advised PICC the hull insurer on an over CNY300m recovery case after a fire and explosion accident
- Advised ZPMC, the owner of a crane and its insurer on a $12m arbitration case against a shipowner and the P&I Club
DeHeng Law Offices
DeHeng Law Offices acts primarily for shipowners and insurers, providing advice on contractual matters, leasing and asset preservation, as well as other matters such as offshore engineering. Joint practice heads Xianwei Peng and Zhiyong Zhang are experienced litigators and arbitrators.
Practice head(s):
Xianwei Peng; Zhiyong Zhang
Global Law Office
Global Law Office advises clients on a range of shipping matters including ship arrest, international maritime arbitration and charter party disputes, among other areas. Yifeng Gao, Jingye Jiang and Ting Lei jointly lead the practice. Gao has acted for clients on numerous international arbitration cases in a career spanning more than 20 years and the team acts for domestic and foreign shipping companies, P&I clubs, insurance companies, import/export companies, project contractors and manufacturers.
Practice head(s):
Yifeng Gao; Jingye Jiang; Ting Lei
Key clients
China Electronics Import and Export Co., Ltd.
Runxing Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)
China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC)
Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC)
Work highlights
- Represented China Credit Trust (ship lessor) against Tianjin Port and Sea Shipping Co., Ltd., Tianjin Shunhang Shipping Co., Ltd and Ganghai (Tianjin) Construction Co.,Ltd. regarding “Gang Hai Jun 576”, the ship financial leasing disputes and distribution of bankruptcy.
- Serving as the Presiding Arbitrator at China Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission in Beijing in relation to a dispute arising from damage to power station equipment carried for international transportation.
Huang & Huang Co. Law Firm
Guangzhou-based Huang & Huang Co. Law Firm offers a wide-ranging shipping practice working on collisions, salvage, charter party disputes and more. Led by Hui Huang, the team advises some of the most well known P&I clubs including the Swedish Club and Skuld.
Practice head(s):
Hui Huang
Other key lawyers:
Yaquan Huang; Anhua Huang
Key clients
The Swedish Club
Gard AS
PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited, Cangzhou Branch
PICC Property & Casualty Co., Ltd., Guangdong Branch
British Steamship Protection and Indemnity Association (Bermuda) Limited
Skuld
CL LIANYUNGANG LIMITED
Zhuhai Port Holdings (Hongkong) Co., Ltd.
UK Mutual Steamship P&I
Ping An Property and Casualty Insurance Company of China, Ltd., Beijing Branch
DB Insurance Co., Ltd
TT club
China Taiping Insurance (HK) Company Limited
PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited Guangzhou Branch
Hebei Jiheng Chemical Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised Hebei Jiheng Chemical Co., Ltd. on a RMB730m claim arising from fire on board an ocean-going container carrier.
- Advised Zhuhai Port Holdings (Hongkong) Co., Ltd. on a RMB425m claim against a Chinese shipping company for breach of container leasing contract.
- Advised The Swedish Club and Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE on a RMB31m claim arising from collision between her and a bulk carrier which resulted in damage to both vessels and oil spill.
King & Wood Mallesons
Complex and sensitive insurance claims and trading disputes are staple work of the King & Wood Mallesons practice. Described by clients as ‘a law firm an international client can trust‘, the team is led by Edward Ma, who is very well respected in the field.
Practice head(s):
Ma Yanhui (Edward Ma)
Testimonials
‘Deep industry knowledge, strong network across the cities, a top respected name in the field.’
‘A law firm an international client can trust.’