Practice Areas
Mr. Song is a professional maritime lawyer, who specializes in maritime and commercial arbitration and litigation. He sits as arbitrator of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Committee (CIETAC), arbitrator of China Maritime Arbitration Committee (CMAC). Mr. Song is also a supporting member of Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration and London Maritime Arbitrators Association.
Mr. Song is currently the Vice-chairman of CMAC, Member of Maritime Law Committee of All China Lawyers Association and the Honorary Member of International Maritime Committee. Mr. Song used to be the Executive Member of International Maritime Committee from 2011 to 2016 and Chairman of the International Maritime Committee of Inter-Pacific Bar Association in 2017-2019.
Mr. Song has represented both Chinese and foreign clients in over a hundred maritime and commercial arbitration and litigation cases before PRC courts at various levels including the Supreme People’s Court as well as domestic and overseas arbitral tribunal. He has also participated as arbitrator or expert witness in arbitral proceedings administered by CIETAC, CMAC, SIAC, SCC, LMAA and LCIA.
Mr. Song is consistently ranked as a Band 1 PRC lawyer in Shipping: Northern China by Chambers from 2022-2026.
Professional Philosophy: throughout my career, I have always insisted on handling cases personally, ensuring that every client receives the most professional and precise legal services. I am committed to providing efficient and transparent legal services to help clients achieve their business objectives, while upholding the dignity and fairness of the law.
Career
2019-Present
Hui Zhong Law Firm, Partner
2011-2019
Wangjing & Co. (Beijing) Law Firm, Partner/Director
2001-2011
Commerce & Finance Law Firm, Partner
1997-2001
Henry & Co. Law Firm, Senior Consultant
1985-1997
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Maritime Arbitration Department, Deputy Director
1983-1985
China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Department for Average Adjustment
Professional Memberships
China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Arbitrator
China Maritime Arbitration Commission (CMAC), Arbitrator
Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA), Member
London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), Member
China Maritime Law Association, Vice President
Maritime and Commercial Law Committee of the All China Lawyers Association, Member
International Maritime Committee, Honorary Member
Work Highlights
- Provided legal services for a state-owned ship leasing company in a case with profound impact on the shipping industry, successfully helping the client to “break free” from the “charter chain” and avoid significant litigation risks for the state enterprise. This case is now a required study for law students in the UK.
- Represented the Turnberry Glory in a demurrage dispute.
- Represented the Ocean Pride in a demurrage dispute.
- Represented a transportation company in a dispute over the import of crude soybean oil against Wilmar, achieving a complete victory over Wilmar.
- Represented the Bunga Saga Lapen in a cargo transportation contract dispute.
- Represented the Alpha Future in a cargo transportation contract dispute.
- Represented the Calico in a cargo transportation contract dispute.
- Represented a major foreign grain company in nearly 20 FOSFA arbitration cases against various domestic oil mills/traders.
- Represented a major domestic grain company in a lawsuit against the American company CHS, one of the few cases where Chinese parties have prevailed.
- Represented a famous insurance and reinsurance company before the Supreme People’s Court on a retrial case regarding the disputes over a maritime insurance contract between the client and a Chinese shipping company, successfully defended and won a complete victory for the client, and successfully corrected the erroneous judgments of the first and second trials. The amount involved in this case is approximately RMB 20 million.
- Represented a state-owned enterprise before the Supreme People’s Court, the Tianjin Higher People’s Court, and the Tianjin Maritime Court in the retrial case, second-instance case and the first-instance case regarding the disputes over two maritime cargo transportation contracts between the client and the Singapore subsidiary of a state-owned shipping company, and successfully defended the client with full victory respectively.
- Represented a freight forwarding company before the Fourth Intermediate People’s Court of Beijing and the Beijing Railway Transportation Court in the second-instance case and the first-instance case regarding the disputes over a highway cargo transportation contract between the client and a logistics company and recovered most of the losses for client.
- Represented a freight forwarding company before the Beijing Intellectual Property Court in the second-instance case regarding the disputes over trademark infringement and unfair competition between the client and a trading company, and successfully defended the client.
- Represented a freight company in the second-instance case regarding the disputes over insurance subrogation between the client and an insurance company before the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court.
- Represented a Hong Kong company before the Shandong Provincial High People’s Court and the Shandong Weifang Intermediate People’s Court in the second-instance case and the first-instance case regarding the disputes over the international goods sales contract between the client and a pharmaceutical company.
- Represented an investment enterprise before CIETAC regarding the disputes over a share transfer agreement between the client and other parties.
- Represented a large United States pipe company before CIETAC regarding the disputes over an international sale of goods contract between the client and its Chinese foreign cooperative company in China.
- Represented an investment company before CIETAC regarding disputes over an investment agreement between the client and other technology companies.
- Represented a technology company before CIETAC regarding disputes over a lease agreement between the client and a supermarket.
- Represented an insurance company before BAC regarding disputes over several export credit insurance contracts between the client and trading companies.
- Applied for recognition and enforcement of the arbitration award made by the SIAC on behalf of a well-known seed company in the Netherlands before the Intermediate People’s Court of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province.
