Rundong Liu

Practice Areas

Export Control & Sanction, Arbitration, Enforcement

Career

Dr Leo (Rundong) Liu is an expert in cross-border dispute resolution and risk management. Prior to joining DHH, he held positions in well-known arbitration institutions and law firms both domestically and internationally, served as Chief Representative of China for Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC). He has been employed by a number of Fortune 500 companies for long term legal service, adept at reaching clients' business objectives while achieving overall coordination of compliance and risk management.

He has led numerous high-profile government investigation cases, particularly in export controls & sanctions and anti-money laundering, accumulated extensive experience. He pioneered the integrated legal service encompassing standardized monitoring, compliance, risk control, response, lobby-support and dispute resolution for clients. Recognized for his expertise, he was listed by CHAMBERS & PARTNERS as Recommended Lawyer in Export Controls and Sanctions. In 2024, two cases led by his team on compliance with overseas investment as well as export controls & sanctions, were both selected by Xinhua (China’s dominating national media) as “Annual Legal Service Cases for Global Investment by Chinese Enterprises.”

He also successfully led litigation and arbitration cases with a total dispute in sum exceeding 10 billion RMB, and has appeared independently in international commercial arbitration and mediation cases. With the style flexible yet tough, he is well-versed in the rules and procedures of most well-known domestic and international arbitration institutions. He is adept at safeguarding client’s rights and interests while achieving the most favorable settlements. Famous for providing comprehensive cross-border enforcement services in complex cases such as enforce-ability investigation and criminal charge against transfer of enforceable assets and non-performance of valid judgement and awards, he has been recommended by his clients to be listed as the Elite Lawyer Most Recognized by General Counsels of Top Clients in 2023 and 2024.

Personal

Leo loves nothing more than having his children stay with him and take a nap enjoying sunshine together after lunch.

Clients

He has been employed by a number of Fortune 500 companies, especially for advanced manufacturing enterprises such as Inspur, Lenovo, Hon Hai Foxconn S-Group, Naura, also provided specialized legal service for SOEs such as Petro-China, CITIC, China Development Bank and China Railroad Construction International, as well as other multinationals such as ABB, Syngenta, Villeroy & Boch and Swiss Center, and others key clients leading their own industries.

Work Highlights

【Dispute Resolution】

Represented a Chinese party in applying for the enforcement of an arbitration award in five different jurisdictions in China and Europe, which was rendered by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), successfully obtained a favorable outcome for the client.

Represented a Chinese company in an international dispute over an international sale of goods contract with a European manufacturer and England retailer. Conducted arbitration proceedings in English at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) with urgent request from Client, successfully protected Client’s interests and highly regarded by Client.

Represented an Indian Client in a dual arbitration against a Chinese partner for breach of contract at the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Conducted enforceability investigations and secured key evidence, assisting the Client in obtaining a payment stop on a Letter of Credit (LC). Successfully mitigated the client’s losses and achieved a satisfactory outcome, earning high praise from the Client.

Represented a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE) in a project contract dispute with a Korean company, where the parties agreed to arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Successfully secured a satisfactory settlement for the client prior to the commencement of arbitration proceedings, effectively mitigating significant risks.

Represented a Chinese shareholder in a complex litigation, including offshore liquidation and arbitration, involving the intricate equity structure and domestic asset disposition of a company registered in the BVI. Achieved a successful outcome in reclaiming control over the company.

Represented Lenovo Group and its subsidiaries in a series of complex cases involving seven parties, including a national key data center construction projects. Provided representation in various courts, including defense and attack. Conducted comprehensive enforce-ability investigations and analysis, asset preservation, and coordinated pressure tactics, resulting in successful court settlements, successfully rejected opponent’s claim of RMB 160 million and recovered 220 million in return.

Represented Villeroy & Boch, a well-known German brand, in a series of litigation cases brought by multiple distributors in China. Through close collaboration with the company's legal team, conducted evidence review, warehouse investigations, and multiple interviews. Strategically prepared five lines of defense, ultimately achieved the courts to render dismissal of all claims made by the opposing parties.

Represented a private listed group in a case involving embezzlement and malicious bankruptcy by the Yuheng Group and its ultimate controller. Provided services including domestic asset tracing, recovery and enforcement, reporting criminal offenses, and enforcement settlement. Additionally, provided overseas services including asset investigations and enforcement of arbitration awards. Recovered 240 million in RMB.

Represented personnel from a foreign consulate and chamber of commerce in a case involving state-owned enterprise bankruptcy, successfully removed from the defendants.

Represented a well-known multinational enterprise in defense against antitrust litigation brought by distributors, providing negotiation and litigation-related services.

【Compliance and Investigation Response】

Provided export control compliance review and legal opinions for a large policy-oriented state-owned bank regarding a semiconductor industry financing project, establishing a risk management and compliance system for sanctions and export controls.

Provided long-term export control risk alerts and compliance reviews for a leading R&D industry enterprise's overseas projects. Provided legal reports for major overseas projects and subsequent risk management and transaction compliance design.

Established a risk management and compliance system for sanctions and export controls for a leading geological mineral exploration state-owned enterprise, identified external default risks and provided comprehensive training for their procurement, development, sales, and technical research teams.

Provided risk analysis and feasibility reports on sanctions and export controls for a large energy investment state-owned enterprise in investments and transactions in energy sectors of foreign countries. Assisted the client in smoothly completing overseas investments and establishing a compliance system.

Provided long-term services to a multinational manufacturing enterprise's semiconductor industry group, establishing a risk management and compliance system for sanctions and export controls and providing comprehensive training for their subsidiaries.

Provided export control risk analysis reports for multiple international trade projects of a leading medical device company in sensitive overseas regions, assisted in establishing transaction risk control systems and document reporting systems.

Provided legal services for a large international energy trading state-owned enterprise regarding its removal from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals & Blocked Persons List (SDN List), communicated extensively with relevant authorities in China and the United States, and assisted the client be removed from the list.

Provided export control compliance services for a large advanced manufacturing multi-national enterprise listed on the Entity List (EL List) by the U.S. Department of Commerce, assisted the client in communicating with Chinese regulatory authorities, engaged renowned U.S. lawyers for successful response in relevant clarification process.

Provided legal service for a well-known multi-national advanced manufacturing company in an anti-monopoly investigation conducted by China's NDRC, submitted investigation response materials and sought over USD 200 million penalty reduction.

Provided AML compliance and investigation response service for a well-known multi-national bank under investigation by a foreign government, successfully pass the supervision period;

Provided compliance and successful response representing a well-known multi-national advanced manufacturing and medical industry enterprise in investigations by Chinese and foreign government in related to bid-rigging and commercial bribery.

Advises several key cases representing foreign shareholders in initiating anti-fraud investigation litigation and enforcement against misconducts in China, including investigations, evidence collection and government responses regarding their domestic subsidiaries involving embezzlment, commercial bribery and bidding violations.

Industry Sector Expertise

Dispute Resolution

Arbitration (Mainland China) and International Arbitration

Criminal Prosecution against Evading Enforcement of Valid Award or Judgement

Cross-Border Enforcement

Regulatory Compliance and Investigation

Export Control and Sanction

Anti-Money Laundering

Anti-Commercial Bribery

Government Investigation Response (Mainland China)

Expert in these Jurisdictions

China(Mainland)

Singapore

United States

Languages Spoken

Chinese(Mandarian, Sichuan Dialect, Cantonese)

English

Professional Memberships

Council Member of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies (directly managed under Ministry of Commerce of China)

Council Member of the Beijing Council for Promotion of ADR

Executive President of the Weihai International Arbitration Court

Member of ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist)

Listed Arbitrators and Mediators of more than 15 domestic and international institutions

Publications

Leo is invited as Research Fellow or Mentor at top law schools in China, including China University of Politics and Law, the People’s Public Security University, Shanghai University of Politics and Law, and Heilongjiang University etc.

He participated in legislation and research invited by major central authorities in China, including research on PRC Arbitration Law Revision and Anti-Foreign Sanction Law implementation, as well as local legal reform including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hainan, etc. He also actively participated as member of task forces of American Bar Association AML commission in comments and communication with relevant China authorities in legislation tasks.

He published over 20 professional research, reports and articles, covering China Daily (Overseas), Legal Daily, People’s Legal Journal, Lexis and Mondaq, etc.

Education