Zhida Chen

Zhida leads Helmsman's Commodities Practice Group. He is known for his expertise in commercial, shipping, and international trade matters across the Asia-Pacific region. His practice spans both contentious and non-contentious matters, including complex litigation and arbitration, as well as high-value transactions and strategic advisory work. He is regularly instructed on matters that require nuanced legal analysis and practical, business-oriented solutions. Fluent in English and Mandarin, he brings a deep understanding of the Asian market to his work.

Zhida has been consistently recognised on leading legal publications, including Chambers, Legal 500, Benchmark Litigation, and Asialaw. Clients and peers describe him as “extremely intelligent and client-centric,” “very sharp-minded,” and “commercially focused.” He is praised for his “commanding demeanour in courtrooms,” “clear, commercial advice,” and “strong legal acumen combined with a commercially minded approach”– a rare combination in the legal world.

He graduated with First Class Honours in Law from the National University of Singapore, where he received multiple academic awards. He also holds a Master of Laws in International Legal Studies from New York University. Prior to commencing private practice, he served as a Justices’ Law Clerk at the Supreme Court of Singapore. He currently teaches as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the NUS Faculty of Law.