Fred Li

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution of insurance, maritime and commercial disputes

Career

2021 – Present, Senior Partner, SGLA Law Firm (China)

2017 – 2021, Partner, Wintell Law Firm (China)

2012 – 2017, Attorney, Wangjing and Co. Law Firm Shanghai Office (China)

2011 – 2012, Trainee Lawyer, Yoshida & Partners Law Firm (Japan)

2003 – 2004, Accountant, Agricultural Bank of China (Liaoning, China)

Professional Memberships

Member, Association of Chinese Lawyers in Japan

Member, Japan Maritime Law Association

Associate Member, The Association of Average Adjusters of Japan

Visiting Researcher, Waseda University

Member, Shanghai Law Society

Adjunct Professor, Shenyang University of Technology

Part-time Lecturer, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics

Publications

“Carriers’ Defenses under Chinese Law” – Quarterly Journal: Corporate Law and Legal Innovation (Japan), Feb. 2011

“Evolution of Off-Hire Clauses under Time Charterparties” – Law Research Review, No. 142 (Japan), 2012

“Maritime Liens in China” – Perspectives on Ship Finance Law (Japan), 2014

“Taxation Rules for International Transportation Business by Non-Resident Enterprises in China” – Journal of Maritime Law Studies (Japan), Nov. 2014

“Judicial Interpretation of the PRC Supreme People’s Court on Ship Arrest and Judicial Sale” – Journal of Maritime Law Studies (Japan), May 2015

“Translation of the Japanese Maritime Law” – Law Press China, 2015

“Legal Regime on Ship Arrest in China” – Journal of Maritime Law Studies (Japan), Nov. 2015

“Jurisdiction over Maritime Disputes in China” – Journal of Maritime Law Studies (Japan), May 2016

“Maritime Arbitration in China” – Journal of Maritime Law Studies (Japan), Feb. 2017

“Limitation of Maritime Liability under Chinese Law” – Journal of Maritime Law Studies (Japan), Nov. 2017

“Issues Relating to Insolvency of Chinese Shipping Companies” – Journal of Maritime Law Studies (Japan), Feb. 2019

Clients

PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited

Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries in China

 Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. and its subsidiaries in China

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited and its subsidiaries in China

The Japan Ship Owners’ Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association. 

China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association

The West of England Ship Owners’ Mutual Insurance Association 

 The United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association Limited. 

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. 

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

Chun An Shipping Ltd. 

TODA Corporation

Japan Wind Farm Construction Kabushiki Kaisha

Others

Languages Spoken

Chinese, English and Japanese

Work Highlights

Selected Dispute Resolution Experience：

M/V FC GRO**—Chemical Cargo Leakage Pollution Incident

Acted for Owners in a major pollution and liability dispute arising from a suspected chemical cargo leakage during discharge operations at Zhenjiang Port, China, which resulted in the suspension of local domestic water supply for nearly one week. Multiple claimants—including Zhenjiang Water Supply Company, Zhenjiang MSA, Shanghai MSA, Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau, local fishermen, and environmental NGOs—brought claims totaling nearly RMB 200 million.

Despite the Owners’ loss in the first instance, exposing them to substantial compensation liability, I was retained to lead the second-instance appeal and successfully identified critical flaws in the first-instance judgment. The final compensation was reduced to within RMB 5 million.

This case was selected by the Supreme People’s Court as one of the Top 10 Typical Maritime Cases of 2016.

KELS*** —Wreck Removal

In October 2022, a Korean-flagged chemical tanker sank in the waters off Quanzhou, China, at a depth of approximately 50 meters. Of the 12 crew members onboard, 5 were rescued by Taiwan District’s authorities and the remaining 7 by Mainland Chinese MSA. The case involved a significant environmental threat: the vessel was carrying approximately 4,000 MT of phenol, a highly toxic substance that, if released, could have caused catastrophic marine pollution across the surrounding area.

Recognizing the critical urgency and severity of the incident, the P&I Club and Owners immediately instructed me to attend the casualty scene on the day of the sinking. I took charge on site and coordinated all emergency response efforts, including supervision of full crew rescue operations, wreck removal planning and salvage strategy, selection and management of the salvage contractor, liaison with local MSA and relevant governmental authorities.

By adhering to the fundamental principle of preventing any disastrous marine environmental pollution, I remained deployed on site for over two and a half months, working under continuous emergency conditions. My efforts effectively mitigated Owners’ exposure and safeguarded the core interests of both the Shipowners and P&I Club.

M/V GLOBAL**

Represented Owners of the M/V GLOBAL** in a serious collision on the Yangtze River involving a PRC-flagged vessel which sank, causing the tragic loss of two crew members. I handled vessel release, death claims, wreck removal, cargo claims, and related regulatory matters. Despite significant pressure from local authorities and stakeholders, I safeguarded Owners’ interests and minimized their exposure and operational losses.

B* Electronics v. Y* Electric – Debt Recovery Arbitration

Acted for the creditor in an arbitration administered by the Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC). By leveraging the latest amendments to the PRC Civil Procedure Law and applying timely applications for asset preservation and enforcement measures, I secured full recovery for my client — the only creditor among the 231 claimants to be fully compensated.

Cross-Border Arbitration Award Enforcement Experience：

• Successfully enforced a GAFTA arbitral award against an international transportation company in Anhui Province, fully recovering a claim of USD 2 million.

• Successfully enforced another GAFTA arbitral award against a well-known food company in Hebei Province, recovering approximately USD 4 million.

• Successfully enforced a FOSFA arbitral award against a major food company in Inner Mongolia, recovering 70% of the claim amount through compulsory enforcement.

Selected Non-Contentious Advisory Experience：

• Advised a Japanese investment company on a share transfer transaction, including negotiation support, provision of legal opinions, and preparation of transaction documents.

• Advised a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer located in Changshu on bonded processing issues under the PRC customs regime, and successfully assisted in resolving related disputes.

• Provided legal advice to a major Japanese trading house in Shanghai concerning potential commercial bribery exposure and internal compliance enhancement.