How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

The Company, engaged in the management of a global network of ports, faces intricate legal compliance challenges and risks amidst the dynamic and competitive international supply chain landscape from time to time. Under such circumstances, I have led the Legal & Compliance Division (the “Legal Department”) to adopt a proactive management approach in response to the legal compliance challenges and risks involved in port operations and related services. The recent enforcement of the European Union’s regulation on foreign investment has caused significant impact on our operations, which resulted in strategic adjustments last year.

The Legal Department has fortified its holistic risk prevention system and compliance efforts. Close monitoring of regulatory changes impacting investments and mergers in EU markets and maintaining robust working relationships with local legal experts for timely risk alerts are our major developments targeting the key issues involved.

In response to escalating geopolitical conflicts affecting maritime routes, the Legal Department has devised comprehensive response plans for specific aspects of risk in association with our operations. This involves thorough analysis of the latest and proposed national and industry-specific policies to mitigate operational disruptions and comply with market access requirements.

My team has also actively familiarised itself with EU investment and merger mechanisms to ensure pre-emptive compliance assessments before engaging in EU transactions.

By enhancing external legal advisory networks and facilitating cross-departmental collaboration, the Legal Department is positioned to effectively support the Company’s long-term development strategy. Our overall approach aims to strengthen the Company’s resilience against evolving regulatory landscapes and geopolitical risks, positioning the Company to navigate uncharted waters arising from global uncertainties.

How do you balance being a legal risk manager with being a strategic business enabler, and where do you see the biggest tensions?

Balancing legal risk management with business strategy has been a cornerstone of my role as General Counsel, Board Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer at COSCO SHIPPING Ports. Legal and compliance issues function not as barriers, but as frameworks that enable sustainable, confident decision-making and risk management.

To strike this balance, I collaborate closely with the relevant business units to cultivate a risk-aware culture and mindset that view legal issues as precursors rather than impediments. This requires engaging early in commercial planning, working hand-in-hand with investment and finance teams, and maintaining open dialogue with the Board to align legal and compliance considerations with enterprise-wide goals.

Our recent investment in Egypt’s Sokhna New Container Terminal exemplifies this approach. As a vital part of our global network strategy, this project demanded careful navigation of geopolitical and regulatory risks while adhering to tight commercial and compliance timelines. I spearheaded the legal structuring of the transaction, coordinating across time zones with internal teams, external counsel, and government stakeholders to address complex local regulations and mitigate the anticipated long-term risks. This ensured our legal strategy reinforced our ultimate objective of expanding into key trade corridors.

The greatest challenge often lies in reconciling legal prudence with commercial ambition, particularly under time pressure and high stakes. My approach is proactive and solution-focused. I prioritise achieving business goals within a compliant, risk-mitigated framework rather than simply flagging obstacles. This mindset has positioned the legal function as a strategic enabler to facilitate the decision-making process of the Board.