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CV

William LIANG

William LIANG was qualified as a PRC lawyer by PRC Department of Justice in 1993 and has accumulated for 30 years’ experience in PRC legal market, especially in all area of commercial and shipping litigation and arbitration as well as bankruptcy. Understanding Clients’ strategic drivers is critical to his approach, and he is significantly experienced in practices of litigation and arbitration in respect of commercial and shipping industries and in practical and legal aspects of doing business, negotiation and litigation in the PRC. William is also known as the one of seasoned litigators in the PRC and is respected for his high standard of professionalism.
William LIANG has substantial experience in resolving disputes arising from involving bill of lading, charter parties, cargo claims, logistics, marine casualties, marine insurance, ship building and repair contracts, the arrest of ships, personal injuries and death claims, maritime fraud, international trade, letter of credit, ship finance, investment, corporate matters. He has been instructed on a number of the most complex and high-profile disputes, including large-scale, multi-party and multi-jurisdictional disputes, over recent years by overseas Clients in a number of arbitration and litigation proceedings before arbitral tribunals and various domestic Courts and is substantially experienced in loss investigation and evidence gathering as well as strategy constructing. A significant part of William’s practice involves advising and representing a number of large enterprises including many multinational corporations and large-scaled Chinese enterprises.
In addition, William also advises on overseas clients in respect of foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate in China as well as other forms of foreign trade and economic cooperation activities.

Representative Matters

  • Represented Hankel in several logistics litigation cases;

  • Served as legal advisor to SK Corporation in South Korea to handle several trade cases;

  • Represented ALLIANZVERSICHERUNGS-AG (German Allianz Insurance Company) in handling several insurance recovery cases;

  • Represented China Shipping Development and Sea Express Inc. of the United States in arbitration in Hong Kong and in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the recovery of huge rent cases;

  • Represented Zhongcheng International Transport Co., Ltd. in handling international commercial and maritime fraud cases;

  • Represented Reybanpac, the world's largest banana export company, in handling international sales, chartering, and bill of lading disputes;

  • Represented Germany's SALZGITTER AG in handling letter of credit thawing and counterclaim cases;

  • Represented China Shipping Group in a dispute over the payment for repairs by a Greek shipowner (global selective seizure of ships, responding in Greek courts and suing in Dutch courts);

  • Represented Nanjing COSCO in litigation and arbitration of a commercial dispute in Singapore, the United States, China, and London;

  • Represented Gerald Metals Inc. in several trade disputes, joint venture equity disputes, and other disputes with Shenhuo Corporation;

  • Represented Zhongda Group Co., Ltd. (600704. SH) in handling the London arbitration case;

  • Represented C&Merchant Marine (000790. KRX) in the London arbitration case regarding COA disputes;

  • Represented a renowned Nordic shipowner in handling a shipbuilding contract dispute in China, applying for recognition and enforcement of the London arbitration award;

  • Represented UK Trans World in handling several warehouse receipt cases in China;

  • Represented Sinochem Shipping in handling the dispute over non bill of lading delivery of goods requested by ING Bank N.V. in South Korea;

  • Represented the British Steamship Mutual P&I Association in handling claims related to the "Gold Carrier" ship's collision with the 100000 ton wharf, several engineering ships, personal injury, and fuel leakage of the ongoing Nantong Langshan Port Phase III project;

  • Represented Trans World in a letter of credit fraud case involving an import company of Zhongshe (Nantong) Machinery and Equipment Import and Export Company;

  • Represented Jiangxi Copper Company in handling the insurance dispute over the sinking of the "Jiangyongguan" ship;

  • Represented Sinochem International in handling disputes over refined oil sales contracts;

  • Represented KAWANISHI WAREHOUSE in the highest court retrial case;

  • The case of releasing a foreign ship detained by China's border guards on behalf of a Western British Shipowners' Mutual Insurance Association and the criminal defense of the first case of illegal immigration in Jiangsu (the suspect's foreign crew members were deported separately);

  • Represented China Chemical International in purchasing several chemical product ships;

  • Represented fuel suppliers in the Greek "Summersat" round of debt registration and auction settlement case;

  • Represented Yonghui International Petrochemical Company in the fraud dispute over letter of credit and bill of lading;

  • Represented Sinochem Singapore in the case of a shipowner releasing goods without a bill of lading;

  • Represented STX Pan Ocean in multiple lease disputes;

  • Represented SK Shipping in handling ship charter disputes;

  • Represented North America Steamships Ltd. in the case of detaining goods in China and claiming huge freight Demurrage;

  • Provide legal opinions on logistics and transportation contracts under overseas general contracting projects, including customs, port area, and sea freight charter terms, on behalf of China International Shipping Corporation;

  • Represented Delphi, one of the world's largest automotive parts suppliers, in handling several customs administrative penalties;

  • Represented a famous oil transportation enterprise in handling domestic and overseas litigation cases related to letter of guarantee disputes;

  • Represented Zhejiang Textile Import and Export Company in the case of fraud against MAERSK (Maersk) bill of lading;

  • Represented a bank in negotiations and drafting and modifying contracts for a real estate project loan;

  • Provide legal advice for a certain bank on ship purchase and sale financing;

  • Represented a foreign-funded company to apply to the High Court for arbitration by the China International Trade Arbitration Commission, and applying for auction of a well-known Chinese trademark;

etc.


Honors and Awards

Advanced Individual Award for attorneys in Pudong New Area Government, Shanghai

Outstanding Individual Award within the legal and judicial sector of Pudong New Area of Shanghai

Top 10 Excellent Young Lawyers in Pudong New Area of Shanghai

Memberships & Affiliations

Arbitrator, Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai International Arbitration Center)

Postgraduate Tutor, Law School, Fudan University

Deputy Director, Finance & Securities Law Committee of Shanghai Bar Association

Member, China Maritime Law Association

Member, Committee on Admiralty and Maritime Law of All China Lawyers Association

Standing Director, China Changjiang Maritime Law Society

Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Panel Arbitrator, Shanghai Arbitration Commission

Member, Legal Counselor Team of Pudong New Area Government of Shanghai

Member, All-China Lawyers Association

Partner William Liang Speaks at Wuhan Maritime Seminar

Publications

“Listed Companies and Their Independent Directors Respond to the ‘High Price’ Securities Class Actions (Part 1) ”, Zhonglun Information, 2021

“Listed Companies and Their Independent Directors Respond to the ‘High Price’ Securities Class Actions (Part 2)”, Zhonglun Information, 2021

“Goodbye, 24% - Comments on the Latest Judicial Interpretation of Private Lending”, ZhongLun Information, 2020

“Civil Code Published! A Quick Look at Five Highlights of Contract Part”, Zhonglun Information, 2020

“Valuation Adjustment Mechanism Agreement During COVID-19 Period”, ZhongLun Information, 2020

“Mainland and Hong Kong Signed the Arrangement Concerning Mutual Assistance in Court-ordered Interim Measures in Aid of Arbitral Proceedings”, Zhonglun Information, 2019

“Six Major Considerations in the Post ‘Enforcement Compromise’ Era”, Zhonglun Information, 2018

  • Bar Admissions/Professional Qualifications

    PRC Bar, 1992
    Qualified to act for independent director of listed company by China Securities Regulatory Commission, 2007

  • Education

    LL.M., Law School of Shanghai Maritime University, 1996
    LL.B., Shanghai University Law School, 1992

  • Professional Experience

    Counsel, Zhong Lun Law Firm, Shanghai, 2008 to present
    Partner, Sloma & Co., 2003-2008
    Lecturer, Law School of Shanghai Maritime University, 1996-1998
    Managing Partner, Haixiang Law Firm, Shanghai, 1995-2003
    Attorney-at-law, Shanghai Lawyers Office for Maritime Affairs, 1993-1995
    Attorney-at-law, Yulan & Parnters, 1992-1993

  • Languages

    Chinese
    English