Helen H Shi

Ms. Shi’s practice focuses on dispute resolution, including international commercial arbitration and litigation. Ms. Shi also serves as vice-president of the icc court of arbitration and co-chair of the iba asia pacific arbitration group.

Recognized by Chambers Partners as “an icon of arbitration”, Ms. Shi has acted in more than 100 cases, representing many multinational companies and large domestic enterprises in a wide range of disputes, including disputes arising from equity acquisitions, oil and gas projects, hotel management, aircraft leasing and construction. Ms. Shi represents clients in litigation before the Chinese courts and in arbitration before the ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, CIETAC and ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL rules.

Ms. Shi has also participated as an arbitrator in over 50 cases. Moreover, being an experienced legal practitioner, she has also provided Chinese legal opinions and testified as an expert in a number of Chinarelated overseas court cases and arbitrations, including court proceedings in Hong Kong and Canada as well as arbitration conducted before HKIAC and an ad hoc tribunal in London.

Before joining Fangda Partners in 2005, Ms. Shi practiced with an international law firm for six years in Beijing and New York City, focusing on dispute resolution. Her previous experience also includes three years as legal counsel at CIETAC in Beijing. Ms. Shi is qualified in China and the State of New York.

Whos Who Legal says: “Helen Shi is an acclaimed lawyer, recommended for her strong experience as both counsel and arbitrator in international commercial disputes.” Whos Who Legal, 2020

Chambers Partners remarks: “Helen is widely considered as one of the leading practitioners in the arbitration arena.” She is especially well known for handling SIAC and HKIAC cases and is regularly instructed by entities from the energy, media and investment sectors. She receives praise from many sources, one of whom remarked: “She is a clientoriented person and we have had good experience working with her. In terms of professional knowledge and ability to handle our needs, she is superb.” Chambers AsiaPacific, 2020

Before joining Fangda Partners in 2005, Ms. Shi practiced with an international law firm for six years in Beijing and New York City, focusing on dispute resolution. Her previous experience also includes three years as legal counsel at CIETAC in Beijing. Ms. Shi is qualified in China and the State of New York.

Admitted to practice in the PRC

Admitted to practice in New York

VicePresident of ICC Court of Arbitration

Vice Chair of the ICC China Arbitration Committee

CoChair IBA AsiaPacific

Former Member of the HKIACs Proceedings Committee

Listed Arbitrator for CIETAC

Listed Arbitrator for HKIAC

Listed Arbitrator for SIAC

“Mainland Chinese Courts Can Order Interim Measures in Support of ICC Arbitrations Seated in Hong Kong”, ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin (2020 ISSUE 1), April 2020

“Create a New Model of Mutual Assistance of Interim Measures in Different Jurisdictions Mutual Assistance between the Courts of the Mainland and Hong Kong for Preservation Measures in Arbitration Proceedings”, Legal Daily, April 2019

“Have PRC Courts Ordered Interim Relief Measures in Support of HKIAC Arbitration without an Express Legal Basis: What lies Ahead” , Kluwer Arbitration Blog, August 2018

“PRC Chapter”, Coauthor, Asia Arbitration Handbook, Oxford University Press, 2011

“China Chapter”, PLC Dispute Resolution Handbook Arbitration Handbook, 201011

Honors and Awards

Chambers Partners, Global, Leading Practitioner Arbitration (PRC) (2008present)

Chambers Partners, Global, Leading Practitioner Dispute Resolution (PRC) (2008present)

Included on the Who’s Who Legal list of leading international arbitration practitioners (2013present)

Asialaw, “Leading Lawyer in Dispute Resolution” (20122013) and Disputes Star of the Year (2016)

Renmin University of China Law School

LL.B

University of Pennsylvania Law School

LL.M