Lianjun has been a partner at Reed Smith Richards Butler since 2004. In Hong Kong, he serves as a senior partner and heads the commercial and transportation litigation practice. Lianjun is qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong, the Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China, and England and Wales. He has also been appointed by the Ministry of Justice of the PRC as a China-Appointed Attesting Officer.
Lianjun has extensive experience in dealing with legal issues and disputes relating to international trade, commercial transactions, transportation, shipping, cross-border investments, shareholders’ agreements, bond issuance, litigation and arbitration. His clients include well-known domestic and foreign enterprises and organisations.
Experience
Representative matters
Representative matters
Acting as an arbitrator in disputes relating to commercial, shipping, commodity and international investment, as well as shareholders’ agreements administered by many internationally recognised arbitration institutions including HKIAC, CIETAC, CMAC and SIAC.
Acting for clients in dealing with litigation, arbitration and mediation in international shipping, trade, investment, securities/bonds, financing and equity investment.
Negotiating major commercial, shipping and investment transactions on behalf of clients and drafting transaction documentation.
Acting as an arbitrator in disputes relating to commercial, shipping, commodity and international investment, as well as shareholders’ agreements administered by many internationally recognised arbitration institutions including HKIAC, CIETAC, CMAC and SIAC.
Acting for clients in dealing with litigation, arbitration and mediation in international shipping, trade, investment, securities/bonds, financing and equity investment.
Negotiating major commercial, shipping and investment transactions on behalf of clients and drafting transaction documentation.
Reviewing, drafting and negotiating long-term time charters and joint ventures contracts for LNG vessels.
Reviewing and advising clients on a long-term oil supply contract.
Reviewing and advising clients on a long-term gas supply contract.
Advising clients on various commercial, shipping and commodities contracts and transactions.
Advising clients on various joint venture contracts, ship financing contracts, charterparties, aircraft pledge contracts and shipbuilding and ship sale contracts
Acting as counsel in various arbitration and litigation matters in maritime, commercial and commodity disputes.
Acting as an arbitrator in a range of commercial disputes, including shareholder disputes, hotel management issues, contract disagreements and disputes over cross-border acquisitions (including HKIAC, CIETAC, SIAC and other institutionally appointed arbitration, as well as ad hoc arbitration).
Dealing with distribution contracts, bond dispute litigation and international arbitration in various jurisdictions, including case matters worth over €100 million.
Advising clients on commercial fraud, white-collar crime, subrogation, injunctions, anti-suit injunctions and other legal matters.
Advising clients on application for recognition and enforcement of Mainland, Hong Kong and foreign judgments and arbitral awards, as well as other legal matters.
Advising clients on disputes relating to construction and construction management contracts.
Advising clients on disputes over letters of credit and bank loans.
Advising clients on investment disputes, shareholder disputes and directors’ interests.
Advising clients on disputes in the international energy sector.
Advising and conducting arbitrations in various jurisdictions including Hong Kong, England, P.R. China and Singapore.
X Chartering v. Y (unreported, 3 March 2014, HCCT 20/2013) successful enforcement of a London arbitral award.
NewOcean Petroleum Company Limited v. OW Bunker China Limited and Cosco Petroleum Pte Limited (unrep., HCA 381/2015, 18 March 2016) (CFI); (unrep., CACV 156/2016, 29 December 2016) (CA) first appellate decision in Hong Kong in relation to disputes arising from the OW Bunker liquidation.
W v. P (unrep., HCCT 55/2015, 19 January 2016) striking-out application to set aside an arbitral award.
T v. A & V [2018] 3 HKLRD 730, [2018] HKCFI 1756 review of tribunal’s jurisdiction: effect of assignment and subrogation under PRC law.
Acted for a PRC bank in a successful application for summary judgment in the sum of over US$20 million involving a letters of credit dispute.
Chu Kong v. Lau Wing Yan [2019] 1 HKLRD 58; [2018] HKCA 1010 successful appeal: stay of proceedings in favour of arbitration.
Skyhigh Investment Limited v. Yu Jun, Yu Mengying and Yujime Investment Management Limited (unrep., HCCT 29/2019) – Mareva injunction.
Giorgio Armani SpA v. Elan Clothes Co Ltd [2019] 2 HKLRD 313, [2019] HKCFI 530 anti-suit injunction in aid of arbitration proceedings.
Pinpoint Multi-Strategy Master Fund v Gangtai Group Co., Ltd and Others [2021] HKCFI 1011 (Discharge of a Chabra Injunction Order).
Drafting and advising on voyage charters, COAs, time charterparties, ship management contracts, bareboat charters, shipbuilding contracts, and vessel sale and purchase agreements.
Acting as the designated arbitrator for arbitration institutions or clients in international maritime, marine subjects, charter and transportation disputes.
Dealing with disputes relating to charters, shipbuilding, ship management, ship financing, the sale and purchase of vessels, ship assistance, ship collision and logistics contracts.
Dealing with disputes and litigation relating to maritime and drilling platform charters.
Acting for and advising shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, insurers and consignors in litigation proceedings in Hong Kong and England.
Advising clients on cross-border ship liquidation matters.
Oceanic Group Pte Ltd & Anor v. The Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the Ship or Vessel “Oriental Dragon” [2014] 1 HKLRD 649 – ship manager’s right of arrest.
MV Ocean Victory – acting for the defendant in this landmark case on the issue of unsafe ports and safe port warranties (matter value US$190 million). The defendant was successful at the Court of Appeal, with the judgment overturning the first instance decision being handed down in January 2015. The plaintiff owners decided to appeal. The UK Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal on 10 May 2017.
MV Bulk Jupiter - acting for the time charterers of the bulk carrier “Bulk Jupiter” which was lost in the South China Sea on or about 2 January 2015 to resolve the charterparty dispute. This is a dispute concerning the alleged risks of liquefaction in the carriage of bauxite cargoes. This is also the first case relating to the sinking of a vessel carrying bauxite.
Shagang South-Asia (Hong Kong) Trading Co. Ltd v. Daewoo Logistics [2015] EWHC 194 (Comm) - represented Shagang South-Asia (Hong Kong) Trading Co. Ltd. in successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the sole arbitrator. The English court acknowledged Hong Kong’s position as a respected arbitration forum.
MV Nasco Diamond – represented the charterers of this vessel, which carried nickel ore, defending a claim (with a value of US$60 million).
Acting for CF Crystal in the Sanchi-CF Crystal collision, involving claims of over US$100-million after the Sanchi caught fire and sank.
DHL Project & Chartering Ltd v. Gemini Ocean Shipping Co Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 1555 - successfully represented DHL, with the English Court of Appeal upholding the judgment of Jacobs J in the High Court and clarifying the severability principle and the scope of Article 7 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
Recognitions
- Ranked as Band 1 in Shipping Litigation (China) by Chambers Asia-Pacific / Greater China Region 2017-2025
- Ranked as Band 4 in Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration (International Firms) China by Chambers Asia-Pacific / Greater China Region 2021-2025
- Li Lianjun is applauded by a client who appreciates that “he could totally understand our concerns and help with the solution quickly,” adding that “the advice he gave was easier for us to accept since he always thinks from our perspective.” He has notable expertise advising Chinese SOEs, with additional clients across the retail and shipping industries.
- Listed as a Leading Individual by The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2025
- Lianjun Li brings “vast insight into international trade, commercial transactions, and asset finance matters”.
Credentials
Education
Education
- University of Hong Kong, 2000, Postgraduate Certificate in Laws
- Manchester Metropolitan University, 1999, Postgraduate Diploma in Law, (Common Professional Examination)
- Stockholm University, 1993, Master of Comparative Laws
- World Maritime University, 1990, Master of Science in Maritime Administration
- Dalian Maritime University, 1989, Postgraduate in International Economic Law
- Dalian Maritime University, 1984, Bachelor of Science
Professional admissions & qualifications
Professional admissions & qualifications
- Hong Kong
- England and Wales
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China
Court admissions
Court admissions
- Supreme Court - Hong Kong
- Supreme Court - England and Wales
Professional affiliations
Professional affiliations
Arbitrators and Mediators
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – Fellow
- Law Society of Hong Kong – Panel Arbitrator
- Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre – Panel Arbitrator
- China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- China Maritime Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Singapore Chambers of Maritime Arbitration – Panel Arbitrator
- Singapore International Arbitration Centre – Panel Arbitrator
- Beijing Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- South China Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration) – Panel Arbitrator
- Qingdao Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Xiamen Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Wuhan Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Tangshan Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Hainan International Arbitration Court (HIAC) – Panel Arbitrator
- Zhuhai Arbitration Commission / Zhuhai International Arbitration Court – Panel Arbitrator
- BVI International Arbitration Centre – Panel Arbitrator
- Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators – Fellow
- South China International Arbitration Center (HK) – Panel Arbitrator
- Nanjing Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Xi’an Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Langfang Arbitration Commission – Panel Arbitrator
- Shanghai International Arbitration Center – Panel Arbitrator
- AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre – Panel Arbitrator
- Hangzhou Arbitration Commission (HZAC) – Panel Arbitrator
- International Dispute Resolution & Risk Management Institute – Arbitrator / Fellow
Professional Membership
- LMAA Supporting Members Liaison Committee (Asia Pacific) – Member
- China Maritime Law Association – Council Standing Member and Director
- Maritime Law Committee of All China Lawyers Association – (2000–2017) – Member
- Member Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board – (2016-2022)
- The Law Society of Hong Kong – Transportation and Logistics Committee – Member
- China Sub-committee of Hong Kong Shipowners Association – Member
- Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Group – Full Member and Chairman of China Committee
- Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration – Member of Arbitrators’ Representative Council
- Hong Kong Shipowners Association – Executive Member
- Hong Kong Chamber of Shipping – Founding Member, Director and Honourable Lega Counsel Adviser
Academic Affiliations
- Dalian Maritime University – Visiting Professor
- Shanghai Maritime University – Visiting Professor
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