Michelle Li

Head, International Arbitration, Construction & Projects (China)

Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP, Shenzhen Representative Office

“She is dependable, responsive, and highly skilled”, “We often want to hear what she thinks, especially on risk-benefit analyses, before making final decisions”, “Her combination of skills would be a rare find in the market and highly valuable to clients.” – Lexology Index, 2025

Michelle is the China Head of the International Arbitration, Construction & Projects practice at our Shenzhen Representative Office.

Michelle brings 20 years of experience advising Chinese and international clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors on contracts, claims, disputes, and transactional matters.  She is well-versed in many international standard forms of contract and frequently advises on EPC contracts and concession-based project contracts.

Her expertise spans a wide range of industries, including conventional energy (pipelines, FPSO, tanks, receiving terminals, oil rigs, LNG supply), chemicals, petrochemicals, mining, rail (heavy, high-speed, metro, freight), roads, and power generation (thermal, hydro, solar) sectors, for projects located in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Australasia.

In her contentious practice, Michelle assists PRC and international clients in arbitration, court litigation, and mediation in jurisdictions such as Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, London, and other Southeast Asian and African jurisdictions.

In her outbound practice, Michelle focuses on projects in the Middle East, Northern Africa, and South-East Asia, particularly for Chinese clients.

In Mainland China, Michelle maintains an active arbitration practice, primarily representing clients in the construction sector before various domestic arbitration commissions. Michelle is a listed panel arbitrator for over 10 Mainland Chinese institutions, including the Beijing International Arbitration Court and the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission.  Additionally, she is an accredited Expert for Construction Dispute Review by the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission.

Michelle is highly regarded in the market, having consistently ranked by leading legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500, and Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) in the areas of arbitration and construction, since 2019. 

She is most recently named Winner of the Real Estate and Construction Lawyer of the Year Award (Foreign Firms) in Legal 500’s China Award 2024 and is recognised as a “Growth Driver” in China Business Law Journal’s The A-List 2024.  She is also a proud sole recipient of Lexology’s Client Choice Award for Arbitration in China for both 2024 and 2025 and is recognised by Legal 500 on its inaugural China Arbitration Powerlist 2023.

Appointed by the Shanghai Association of International Economic and Technological Cooperation, she serves as a legal expert to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, consulting on overseas projects for Shanghai-based contractors. 

Since 2019, she has been a regular contributor to the International Arbitration and Dispute Settlement program at the Tsinghua University School of Law, teaching subjects such as construction arbitrations in APAC and resolving “One Belt, One Road” disputes.

Michelle is qualified to practice law in Hong Kong SAR and in England and Wales, and is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

NOTABLE CASES & TRANSACTIONS

  • Saudi Arabia – advised a Chinese contractor in relation to issues and claims arising out of its EPC contract for a processing facility in a major mining project in Saudi Arabia, including advising on the overall claim strategy, handling project correspondence, handling and responding to cost, time, additional works and quality claims, assisting with negotiations with the project owner to facilitate the handing over of the works, etc.
  • Bangladesh – represented a Chinese renewable energy solutions provider in its Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration against the project owner and its consortium partner over certain EPC contract disputes in connection with a solar power plant project in Bangladesh.
  • UAE – represented a Chinese contractor in a Singapore-seated ICC arbitration in relation to certain disputes (over entitlements to costs and time, as well as the lawfulness of contract termination) governed by English law arising out of the construction of a major conventional fuel storage facility in the UAE.
  • Vietnam – represented a British offshore oil company and prepared full-set arbitration commencement and Defence to Counterclaim documentation for various time and costs claims in an international arbitration against the Vietnamese project owner in connection with an oil facility connections project in offshore Vietnam.
  • Philippines – represented a Chinese contractor in a HK-seated UNCITRAL arbitration over a terminated transportation project in the Philippines, including managing multiple sets of parallel local court proceedings.
  • South Korea – represented a Chinese contractor in an arbitration before the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board over a payment and works quality dispute in connection with a facility modification project in Korea. The disputes were subsequently settled. 
  • Sudan – advised a Chinese contractor on various claims and disputes arising out of the construction of a thermal power plant in Sudan under an EPC contract and prepared arbitration commencement paperwork. The disputes were subsequently settled.
  • Hong Kong – represented a contractor in a HK-seated, HKIAC arbitration against HKSAR Government in relation to certain claims and disputes arising out of a number of school construction projects in Hong Kong.
  • Hong Kong – acted for a contractor in its prospective HK-seated, HKIAC arbitration against HKSAR Government arising out of certain harbour improvement marine works in Hong Kong, drafting a full set of commencement and SOC documents. The dispute was subsequently settled. 
  • Algeria – advised a Chinese contractor vis-à-vis its Middle Eastern consortium partner on suitable risk mitigation strategies for the consortium’s undertaking of a major chemicals processing project in Algeria.
  • Oman – advised, as project annual retainer counsel, a Chinese contractor in relation to claims and liability issues over the construction of a major conventional fuel storage facility in Oman.
  • Saudi Arabia – advised a Chinese contractor on its payment and works dispute with the project owner in relation to a housing construction project in Saudi Arabia.
  • Sudan – advised a Chinese contractor on the termination of a series of infrastructure projects in Sudan and handled the project close-out negotiations.
  • North African country – advised a Chinese contractor in relation to its supply contract disputes over a local steel mill project.
  • Nigeria – advised a Chinese corporation on its overall litigation and defence strategy arising under an exclusivity agreement with a Nigerian company in the privatization of the Nigerian electricity market, and managed the entire main and ancillary Nigerian local court proceedings with local counsel.
  • Mali – advised an Australian listed mining company on certain political risk insurance issues in relation to its mining concession in Mali.
  • Bangladesh – advised a Chinese contractor on issues requisite for the financial close of its waste-to-energy power plant project (on an IPP basis) in Bangladesh.
  • Australia/China – advised a Chinese petrochemical company on the handling of extensive upstream and downstream claims under various time charterparties and long-term gas supply contracts arising out of the mechanical breakdown of an LNG carrier, including handling claims correspondence and drafting claim reports.
  • Cyprus/EU – providing counsel to a Chinese company in connection with EU government procurement issues arising under its contract for certain energy facility construction in Cyprus.
  • Nigeria – advised a Chinese contractor on its substantial pipeline construction project in Nigeria, including advising on and preparing claims, drafting and negotiating supplemental agreements, advising on possible project close-out strategies, etc.
  • India – advised a Chinese contractor on its claims and project close-out strategies for a pipeline construction project in India.
  • Vietnam – advised a Chinese contractor on issues related to design change, regulatory compliance, construction permitting and termination of a commercial real estate development project undertaken in Vietnam, and consequent claims negotiation.
  • Kazakhstan – advised a Chinese contractor on various claims and liability issues during the project life of a contract, financed by multilateral lending agencies, to construct several expressways.
  • Hong Kong – advised a leading APAC contractor on its claims and mediation strategies in relation to a major dispute arising out of the construction of the MTR extension in Hong Kong.
  • Serbia – advised a Chinese contractor on the drafting and negotiation of an EPC contract for a municipal sewage treatment project in Serbia.
  • Belarus – advised a Chinese contractor on issues of unlawful contract termination, termination claims, as well as the merits of an investment treaty arbitration claim in connection with a large paper pulp mill construction in Belarus.
  • Indonesia – advised a Chinese bank on issues relating to the payment or injunction of various performance bonds issued in favour of a large-scale IPP project in Indonesia, including providing counsel over both the court proceedings in China and Indonesia.
  • Malaysia – advised a Chinese bank on issues of borrower repayment default under a construction loan agreement made in favour of a project in Malaysia, and managed the bank’s enforcement court proceedings in various jurisdictions.
  • Indonesia – advised a Chinese contractor on the management strategy of its foreign subcontractor’s payment and EOT claims submitted in connection with an oil and gas construction project in Indonesia.
  • Papua New Guinea – advised a Chinese contractor on its contract drafting and negotiation for an energy facility extension project in Papua New Guinea.
  • Dominican Republic – advised a Chinese contractor on its contract negotiation and project execution for a solar PV plant construction project in the Dominican Republic.
  • West Africa – advised a Chinese oil corporation in connection with the various disputes with the consortium subcontractor as well as with its consortium partner over an EPC contract for the construction of an FPSO procured for an offshore oilfield in West Africa.
  • South Pacific Island – advised a Chinese EPC contractor on the merits of both upstream and downstream claims in connection with its contract to design and build certain port facilities for the island nation.
  • Laos – advised, as project retainer counsel, a Chinese contractor on various issues over a power plant construction throughout the lifecycle of the project.
  • Malawi – advised a Chinese contractor on the drafting of complementary dispute resolution mechanisms for the full suite of its project contracts for Malawi’s first ever IPP.
  • Malaysia – advised a Chinese contractor on claims and liability issues in connection with a local hospital construction project in Malaysia.
  • Laos – advised a Chinese contractor in a major risk analysis under certain civil works subcontract documents proposed for a large-scale BOT hydro power plant project in Laos.
  • Malaysia – advised a Chinese main contractor on the drafting and negotiation of its civil works subcontract for a thermal power plant in Malaysia.
  • Hong Kong – advised a Chinese oil corporation’s Hong Kong subsidiary on certain Hong Kong law and regulatory issues for the construction of a cross-border gas pipeline network between Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR.
  • Hong Kong – advised a specialist contractor on its involvement in the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link Project, providing project lifecycle advice and claims drafting, assessment and negotiation support throughout.
  • Hong Kong – defended a contractor in HK court proceedings against money claims arising out of a government school renovation project in Hong Kong.
  • Guangdong, China – represented a leading international architects’ firm in its arbitration against the project owner, before CIETAC, over a landmark building project in Guangzhou.
  • Shanghai, China – represented a foreign-invested company in an arbitration before CIETAC against a local contractor over certain works quality disputes arising out of the construction of a manufacturing factory in eastern China.
  • Beijing and Jiangsu, China – advised a UK-headquartered medicinal and medical device MNC on the drafting of its full-suite project procurement contracts and managed the assessment and resolution of all of its claims arising in connection with the construction of two manufacturing facilities in Beijing and Suzhou respectively.
  • Jiangsu, China and Germany – advised a leading Chinese insurer on issues arising under an English-law governed CAR policy taken out for a shipbuilding contract, in connection with certain property damage suffered by a German third party equipment owner that occurred onboard in a Chinese shipyard.
  • Shenzhen, China – advised a leading international architects’ firm on its contracts and delivery of a new landmark skyscraper construction in Shenzhen.
  • Shanghai, China – advised a UK-headquartered consumer goods MNC on the drafting and negotiation of its contracts for certain modification works to be carried out at its food processing plant in Shanghai.
  • Chongqing, China – represented a leading international architects’ firm in two arbitrations before the Chongqing Arbitration Commission over certain landmark developments in Chongqing and Shanghai.
  • Shanghai, China – advised a leading international architects’ firm on its contract to provide consultancy for certain urban renewal project in Shanghai.

MEMBERSHIPS/ DIRECTORSHIPS

  • Listed Expert for Construction Dispute Review, China International Economic & Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission
  • Panel Arbitrator, Beijing International Arbitration Court
  • Panel Arbitrator, Langfang Arbitration Commission (Hebei Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Luoyang Arbitration Commission (Henan Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Chengde Arbitration Commission (Hebei Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Shaoxing Arbitration Commission (Zhejiang Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Jingdezhen Arbitration Commission (Jiangxi Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Chizhou Arbitration Commission (Anhui Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Tongling Arbitration Commission (Anhui Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Longyan Arbitration Commission (Fujian Province)
  • Panel Arbitrator, Binzhou Arbitration Commission (Shandong Province)

AWARDS/ ACCOLADES

  • Winner, Real Estate & Construction Lawyer of the Year Award (Foreign Firm), Legal 500 China Awards 2024
  • Global Elite Thought Leader: Arbitration in China (sole awardee), Lexology Index Client Choice 2025
  • Winner, in “Arbitration in China” category (sole awardee), Lexology Index Client Choice Award 2024
  • Leading Partner, in “Real estate & construction: foreign firms” category, Legal 500 (China) 2024
  • Leading Partner, in “Dispute resolution: Arbitration: foreign firms” category, Legal 500 (China) 2024
  • Thought Leader: Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, in “Construction” category, Lexology Index 2024
  • Recommended Lawyer: Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, in “Construction” category, Lexology Index 2024
  • Thought Leader: Construction, Lexology Index Thought Leader Reports 2024
  • Recommended Lawyer: Construction, Lexology Index Practice Area Reports 2024
  • Future Leader – Partners: Arbitration, Lexology Index Practice Area Reports 2025
  • Leading Partner/Individual, in “Construction” category, Lexology Global Reports (China) 2024
  • Leading Partner/Individual, in “Construction” category, Lexology National Reports (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) 2024
  • Ranked Lawyer, Greater China Region Guide, Chambers & Partners (Construction: International Firms) 2024 – 2023
  • Inclusion in “The A-List – The Growth Drivers” list, China Business Law Journal 2024
  • Inclusion in the inaugural “Arbitration Powerlist China” list, Legal 500 2023

PUBLICATIONS

  • “China Increases Proportion of Construction Progress Payments for Government Related Projects”, HSF Construction Notes, 4 October 2022 (co-author: Andrew Lin)
  • “Mandarin version of FIDIC standard contracts”, HSF Construction Notes, 2 September 2021 (co-author: Murphy Mok)
  • “Q&A Chapter: China”, The International Comparative Legal Guides: Construction & Engineering Law 2020 (co-author: Kian Heong Hew)
  • “Dispute resolution and governing law clauses for China-related commercial contracts”, HSF, 3 September 2020 (contributor)
  • “PRC court confirms jurisdiction to recognize and enforce a foreign arbitral award against a BVI company”, HSF Arbitration Notes, 11 June 2020 (co-author: Tianyu Ma)
  • “COVID-19’s impact on construction contracts – will force majeure relief or other rights be available?”, HSF Construction Notes, 11 February 2020 (co-author: Emma Schaafsma)
  • “New BAC Rules to enter into force on 1 September 2019”, HSF Arbitration Notes, 22 August 2019 (co-author: Helen Tang, Kian Heong Hew, Stella Hu)
  • “State Council of China announced ground-breaking policy to allow foreign arbitration institutions to set up businesses in Shanghai Free Trade Zone to administer cases in Mainland China”, HSF Arbitration Notes, 9 August 2019 (co-author: Weina Ye, Stella Hu)
  • “Beijing court rejects application to set aside tribunal’s instrument recording mediated settlement terms, citing lack of legal basis”, HSF Arbitration Notes, 3 April 2019 (co-author: Helen Tang, Briana Young)
  • “Hong Kong Courts refuse challenge to recognise mainland judgment under the Mainland Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance”, HSF Arbitration Notes, 20 November 2018 (contributor)
  • “With an eye on Belt and Road disputes, China establishes new international commercial courts”, HSF Greater China Insights, 4 July 2018 (co-author: Murphy Mok)
  • “Choice of Governing Law in PPP Contracts Portfolio”, China International Contractors’ Association (CHINCA) Magazine, June 2018, (co-authors: Mr. Huailiang Liu, General Counsel, China Gezhouba Group International Engineering Co., Ltd., and Ms. Ellen Zhang. Published in Chinese)

Location(s)

Practice Area(s)

Qualifications

  • LLB, University of Hong Kong
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, University of Hong Kong
  • Solicitor, Hong Kong SAR
  • Solicitor, England and Wales

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