Personal Details
Zhida’s main focus lies in international commodity trade, trade finance, and “dry” shipping work (including charterparty and bill of lading disputes). He not only regularly appears in the Singapore courts, but also acted as counsel in international arbitrations, both ad hoc and institutional (including LCIA, ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, AIAC). Zhida is qualified to practise law in Singapore and England and Wales.
He also regularly advises clients on non-contentious matters, ranging from commodity sale contracts and charterparties to UN sanctions.
Proficient in Mandarin, his expertise is much appreciated by Chinese traders, including state-owned enterprises and listed companies.
In 2019, Zhida was appointed amicus curiae under the prestigious Young Amicus Curiae Scheme, which provides young practitioners with the opportunity to assist the Singapore Courts on novel points of law.
A former Justices’ Law Clerk within the Supreme Court of Singapore, Zhida came to us from the shipping and international trade practice of a Singapore “Big Four” law firm.
Zhida was awarded a number of academic prizes from the National University of Singapore. He also has a Masters of Law in International Legal Studies from New York University. He has been teaching as an adjunct at the Faculty of Law of National University of Singapore since 2014, and has recently been appointed as an adjunct assistant professor, one of the youngest at the Faculty of Law of NUS.
Education
Professional Experience
Duration
Award & Honors
Association /Affiliations
Notable Matters
- Worked on the first ever application to set aside a portion of the limitation fund for foreign claims.
- Successfully obtained Mareva and Chabra injunctions from the Singapore courts to aid arbitration.
- Acted for trade creditors Toyota Tsusho in the insolvency of the Brightoil group, including the arrest and judicial sale of six bunker barges in Singapore.
- Acted as lead counsel for a Swiss commodities trader against a Chinese refinery in an arbitration involving 3rd party email fraud.