Career Biography

Sophie Li leads the Legal function for Johnson Matthey in China, serving as Head of Legal, China across all business units and corporate functions. Her career reflects a strong trajectory in emerging legal leadership, known for her sharp legal acumen, collaborative leadership style, and ability to balance commercial ambition with regulatory integrity.

With over a decade of experience in corporate and commercial law, Sophie began her career in leading law firms in the UK and China before moving in-house. She holds an LL.M. in International Economic Law from the University of Edinburgh and is recognised for translating complex legal frameworks into practical business strategies.

At Johnson Matthey, Sophie has helped reshape the role of in-house counsel as strategic business partners. She led the transformation of the legal operating model in China, introducing triage workflows and business self-serve toolkits that allow her team to focus on high-value, high-risk matters. These innovations have improved legal efficiency and contributed to long-term organisational resilience.

She also champions a smart resource strategy, engaging trusted external counsel for low-risk, low-value matters. This ensures internal legal resources are focused on strategic decisions that drive business growth.

Sophie plays a key role in bridging global and local legal functions, aligning Johnson Matthey’s headquarters strategies with China’s business realities. Her work fosters collaboration across borders and ensures consistency in legal objectives while adapting to local regulatory environments.

Her leadership style is inclusive and grounded in a strong management mindset. She leads a dynamic, efficient legal team and is recognised for her ability to balance legal risk with commercial value. While still in the early stages of her in-house career, Sophie continues to grow as a trusted advisor and impactful legal leader.

Her inclusion into the Legal 500 GC Powerlist: China 2025 reflects both the contributions she has made and the potential she continues to develop. Her career is defined by strategic thinking, operational innovation, and a commitment to evolving how legal teams support business success.