With a broad client base including shipowners, P&I clubs, charterers, underwriters, cargo insurers, energy companies and shipyards, Clyde & Co LLP remains one of the most sought after shipping practices in the region. The team is capable of handling both litigious matters, such as collisions and maritime insurance disputes, and ship financing work. Practice head Ik Wei Chong, though primarily based in Singapore, works closely with the firm’s Shanghai office and has extensive experience representing clients in China-connected disputes and arbitrations. Also key are financing specialist Fei Kwok and experienced arbitrator Nicholas Lum. Associates Christian Liu and Flora Tang, who both have expertise in defending cargo and hull recovery claims, are also notable contacts. UK-based Andrew Rourke is integral to the China team, assisting state-owned PRC clients with arbitrations governed by English law.

HFW‘s Shanghai shipping team covers both wet and dry shipping work with particular strength in collisions, groundings and shipbuilding contracts. The department also provides its shipyard, salvage and ship financing clients with support in transactional and personal injury matters. Nicholas Poynder leads the practice and advises on both contentious and transactional work relating to the shipping, logistics and energy sectors. He is recommended for cross-border disputes work, including charterparty and bill of lading disputes. Supporting Poynder is collisions specialist Jenny Chester and master mariner Julian Davies. Also key are marine casualties and pollution matters expert Lucy Chen, who is a PRC qualified lawyer, and Thilo Jahn, who is experienced in handling shipping matters before English courts and a number of major arbitration forums.

Wikborg Rein has had a presence in China since 2002 and the firm has become a trusted partner to some of the largest players in the Chinese shipping market, including COSCO Heavy Industry shipyard and the China Merchant Industry Holding Company, as well as several international P&I clubs and offshore engineering firms. The team is also particularly notable for its offshore renewable energy expertise. The practice is headed jointly by international arbitration and litigation specialist Ronin Zong, transactional and compliance matters expert Yafeng Sun, and the offshore energy projects-focused Chelsea Chen. Claire Jiang, who regularly advises insurers and shipowners on contentious matters, is a further name to note.

DLA Piper covers work from dry shipping and marine casualty response to recoveries, shipbuilding and freight forwarding. The firm is also recommended for work related to and ensuing from shipping law, including debt enforcement and collection following arbitration cases. The team is jointly led by international commercial arbitration expert Xiaoshan Chen, working in Shanghai, and the Hong Kong-based Ernest Yang. Kevin Chan, who is also located in Hong Kong, supports on Shanghai office matters. The firm is noted for providing ‘a first class client service‘.

Stephenson Harwood is well-regarded in the fields of both shipping litigation and shipping finance and has further strengthened its offering with the hire of Paul Ho and Shirley Li, both joined from Ince & Co in October 2023. Evangeline Quek is the key name in the China-focused arm of the firm’s maritime law offering. Based in Shanghai, Quek offers significant expertise in shipping arbitration and is well-placed to advise on cross-border matters, having previously managed shipping disputes concerning Singapore, Taiwan, India, England and the Netherlands. Shanghai-based ship financing expert Simone Liu is also key, regularly advising PRC state-owned enterprises.