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Sam LI
Equity Partner / Shanghai
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Tel +86-21-6061-3666
Email samli@zhonglun.com
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Practices

Litigation & Arbitration, Compliance & Investigation, Trade Compliance & Trade Remedies
Sam LI
Sam Li focuses on cross-border dispute resolution and regulatory compliance, offering profound analytical insight into complex legal matters. He has an extensive track record representing clients in international arbitrations before major institutions such as the ICC and HKIAC, as well as in domestic proceedings before CIETAC, SHIAC, SHAC, and various levels of PRC courts. Highly regarded for his strategic ability to identify and navigate core disputed issues, Sam brings a wealth of practical advocacy experience to every case. In the compliance space, beyond advising on day-to-day regulatory matters and compliance program development, Sam has managed numerous domestic and cross-border government investigations, crisis response mandates, and internal corporate investigations. His experience includes guiding clients through high-stakes compliance projects, such as FCPA anti-corruption investigations and economic sanctions defense. Additionally, he serves as the designated emergency legal counsel for dawn raids and unannounced regulatory inspections for several major multinational corporations.
Representative Matters
Representative international / cross-border dispute resolution cases
Represented a well-known design company in an arbitration case at HKIAC and the subsequent mainland enforcement procedures (according to the One Belt, One Road China International Commercial Arbitration Annual Report (2016), "this case marks the first time a Chinese mainland court has enforced an arbitral award rendered by a branch of a mainland arbitration commission established in a separate jurisdiction, which is of great significance for the internationalization of China's arbitration institutions and the resolution of disputes along the Belt and Road routes.")
Represented a Chinese design company in arbitration and parallel litigation proceedings before Indian courts arising from disputes over Indian projects
Represented a well-known pharmaceutical distribution company in an arbitration case at HKIAC
Represented a well-known American sports brand enterprise in an arbitration case conducted in English before the Shanghai International Arbitration Center regarding a dispute over a distribution agreement
Represented an Italian food production equipment enterprise in an arbitration case conducted in English regarding an equipment sales dispute before China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission
Represented a well-known automobile enterprise in PRC litigation cases related to an overseas arbitration case, involving disputes over shareholders' information rights, directors' non-competition and noncompliance, etc.
Conducted domestic reviews in connection with the evidence discovery procedures in several overseas disputes
Advised numerous international clients on the validity and enforceability of dispute resolution clauses, sovereign immunity issues, and the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and foreign judgments in the PRC
Assisted a foreign arbitration tribunal in the service of documents in China
Assisted a well-known high-tech enterprise in dealing with major investigations / lawsuits initiated by the US government
Assisted a PRC private oil conglomerate in dealing with a subpoena issued by a US grand jury
Other representative arbitration / litigation cases
Represented a local state-owned assets platform in high-stakes arbitration and enforcement cases against a major conglomerate arising from investment contracts, entrusted loan contracts, etc.
Represented a foreign-funded production enterprise in high-value litigation concerning compensation disputes over the government resumption of land use rights
Represented a prominent Chinese mobile device distributor in a series of distribution contract disputes, managing a portfolio of over a dozen lawsuits and arbitration cases across China
Represented a Middle Eastern investment fund in arbitration proceedings arising from a joint venture contract dispute
Represented a well-known foreign advertising firm in an arbitration concerning an advertising agency contract dispute
Represented a well-known foreign-funded paper producer in civil litigation regarding a transportation contract dispute
Represented a well-known foreign sports brand enterprise in the litigation concerning an import agency trade contract dispute
Represented a foreign-funded industrial company in a lawsuit over an equipment sales contract
Represented a well-known foreign-funded IT company in a series of financial leasing arbitration cases
Represented a New Zealand company in a lawsuit over venue leasing dispute
Represented a foreign bank in a domain name dispute lawsuit
Represented a Hong Kong funded company in a litigation concerning a patent investment dispute
Represented a British funded service enterprise in a litigation case concerning a trade secret dispute
Represented a foreign bank in criminal and civil litigation cases related to a pledge-related fraud
Represented the executive of a Hong Kong listed company in a criminal investigation conducted in China
Represented a foreign-funded steel company in the enforcement proceedings relating to a major loan dispute
Represented many well-known foreign-funded companies in labor dispute arbitration and litigation cases (including strike dispute)
Represented a foreign-funded automobile enterprise in several consumer rights litigation cases
Represented a well-known US funded IT enterprise in many consumer rights litigation cases
Represented a number of foreign clients in declaring bankruptcy claims in China
Other representative dispute resolution matters
Assisted a well-known American sports brand company in dealing with a crisis in China
Handled a major derivative transaction dispute
Assisted a national pavilion of the World Expo in withdrawing from the expo site
Assisted a Norwegian company in dealing with Chinese investment disputes
Assisted a Hong Kong-backed water company in resolving concession rights disputes
Assisted a foreign-funded company in dealing with a dispute over investment returns
Assisted a well-known luxury enterprise in handling disputes over distribution contracts
Assisted a well-known transportation enterprise in handling disputes over overseas joint ventures
Assisted a foreign bank in handling loan disputes
Assisted a state-owned bank in handling ship mortgage financing disputes
Assisted a bank card organization in dealing with the inquiry and charging disputes
Assisted a bank card organization in dealing with bank card theft disputes
Assisted an Australian bank in handling joint venture contract disputes
Assisted a foreign insurance company in dealing with the insurance compensation dispute of major personal injury and death events
Assisted a non-performing asset disposal company in the acquisition of non-performing assets
Assisted Hong Kong subsidiary of a large logistics company to deal with liquidation disputes
Assisted a foreign bank in dealing with disputes over infringement of trade secrets
Assisted several Nordic shipbuilding machinery manufacturers in handling intellectual property disputes
Assisted a Taiwan funded electronic product enterprise in dealing with product quality disputes
Assisted a foreign-funded pharmaceutical enterprise in dealing with patient product quality complaints
Representative regulatory compliance / investigation matters
Assisted a well-known catering enterprise in dealing with the investigation by the SEC
Assisted a central state-owned manufacturing enterprise in developing an anti-commercial bribery compliance system
Assisted a rare disease pharmaceutical company in developing an anti-commercial bribery compliance system
Advised multiple clients on the compliance of anti-commercial bribery
Assisted multiple clients in developing data protection and data exit compliance programs
Advised many clients in dealing with sanctions imposed by the World Bank and other multilateral banks
Advised a high-profile broadcaster on advertising law matters
Assisted many Fortune 500 companies in conducting internal investigations.
Conducted pre- and post-transaction compliance due diligence for many leading corporations
Assisted a well-known foreign-funded IT enterprise in responding to major product quality investigation
Assisted many German home appliance enterprises in managing product recalls
Assisted several foreign-funded enterprises in responding to investigations, including criminal investigations
Assisted a well-known private investment conglomerate in conducting internal investment project verification, covering criminal procedure and recovery process
Assisted a well-known foreign-funded company in dealing with major Chinese tax investigation
Assisted an insurance company in conducting a full review of its assets and operations
Assisted a well-known foreign pharmaceutical enterprise in responding to an inspection by the PRC Finance Department
Assisted a Singaporean bank in anti-money laundering matters
Advised a large state-owned enterprise on export control
Advised a Spain-backed company on an internal investigation into its PRC management team and the implementation of subsequent disciplinary actions
Assisted multiple foreign-invested companies in criminal reporting regarding employee misconduct and other offenses
Represented clients in labor disputes caused by internal compliance-related disciplinary actions
Prepared country-specific sanctions risk assessment reports for a major state-owned enterprise
Honors and Awards
For Individual
Next Generation Partners - Regulatory Compliance, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide, 2020-2022
Memberships & Affiliations
Arbitrator, Shanghai Arbitration Commission
Arbitrator, Shanghai International Arbitration Center (SHIAC)
Member, Legal Compliance Committee of Shanghai Bar Association
Off-campus postgraduate supervisor, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics
Member, Shanghai Arbitration Association
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Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications
PRC Bar, 2006
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Education
LL.M., Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (now Shanghai University of International Business and Economics), 2005
B.A., Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (now Shanghai University of International Business and Economics) (International Economics and Trade), Minor (Law), 2002 -
Professional Experience
Partner, Zhong Lun Law Firm, 2022 to present
Associate, Llinks Law Offices, 2005-2006
Associate, King & Wood Shanghai, 2006-2010
Counsel, Wikborg Rein Shanghai Office, 2011-2013
Senior associate & counsel & partner, King & Wood Mallesons Shanghai, 2013-2022 (seconded to KWM London office for a short period) -
Languages
Chinese
English