Recently, the first foreign-related maritime ad hoc arbitration case in Hainan Free Trade Port, represented by Landing Law Offices Senior Partner Yin Jiake and Partner Zhao Yanhua, was successfully concluded, fully demonstrating the professional competence and international standard of the Landing legal team.

In this case, the applicant, a Singapore-based company, and the respondent, a Hainan-based company, became involved in a dispute. Before initiating arbitration, Landing lawyers, acting on behalf of the applicant, applied for pre-arbitration property preservation before the Haikou Maritime Court, and initially prepared to commence arbitration in Singapore pursuant to the original contract. Upon the recommendation of the Haikou Maritime Court, both parties agreed to switch to the ad hoc arbitration system in Hainan Free Trade Port to resolve the dispute.

On December 24, 2024, Landing lawyer Yin Jiake’s team, representing the Singapore applicant, commenced arbitration under the Hainan Free Trade Port Ad Hoc Arbitration Rules, appointing a domestic maritime law expert as the arbitrator for the case, thereby officially initiating the arbitral proceedings. The respondent, represented by a Beijing law firm, raised its views on the choice of arbitrator. Ultimately, both parties jointly agreed on an arbitrator outside the official panel to form the arbitral tribunal.

On February 28, 2025, with the assistance of the Hainan Arbitration Association, all parties attended the ad hoc arbitration hearing at an office facility in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone, Danzhou City, Hainan Province. The hearing was covered by multiple media outlets, including CCTV.com, Hainan Daily, and Legal Times. In an interview with Legal Times, Yin Jiake, the lead counsel for the applicant, stressed that the hearing process was orderly and fair, ensuring that both parties’ rights were protected. He noted that the arbitration process was highly professional and efficient, and that any prior concerns had been completely dispelled.

Following the hearing, Yin Jiake’s team, representing the Singapore applicant, exchanged two rounds of written submissions with the respondent and the arbitral tribunal. On April 3, 2025, the tribunal rendered its arbitral award, granting almost all of the applicant’s claims. The arbitration concluded with complete success for the client.

During the course of the case, Yin Jiake and Zhao Yanhua demonstrated exceptional professional skills. Upon receiving the Singapore applicant’s instructions, they promptly analysed the contractual terms, collected the necessary evidence, and applied to the Yangpu Division of the Haikou Maritime Court for property preservation. In the Hainan Free Trade Port ad hoc arbitration proceedings, they presented rigorous legal reasoning and comprehensive arguments, effectively refuting opposing counsel’s claims. The tribunal ultimately adopted their submissions in full, granting a favourable award to the applicant. Subsequently, the two lawyers applied to the court for compulsory enforcement, thereby securing the client’s lawful rights and interests.

Landing Law Offices has consistently demonstrated excellence in the field of international maritime and commercial arbitration, having secured favourable awards in renowned arbitration venues such as London, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The recent handling of the first maritime ad hoc arbitration case in Hainan Free Trade Port by Yin Jiake’s team highlights Landing’s outstanding capability in resolving cross-border maritime disputes. Backed by a team of versatile professionals who combine expertise in international maritime arbitration rules with bilingual (Chinese-English) practice skills, Landing is fully equipped to manage the entire bilingual arbitration process. This integration of multi-language proficiency with specialised expertise enables Landing to deliver legal solutions that blend international perspectives with local experience, accurately navigating procedural and substantive rules across jurisdictions to protect clients’ lawful rights in complex maritime and commercial disputes.

Lawyer Profiles

Yin Jiake
Senior Partner, Deputy Director of Insurance & Maritime Department, Landing Law Offices
Practice Areas: Maritime & Shipping, International Trade & Investment, International Arbitration
Email: jiake.yin@landinglawyer.com
Tel: +86 18221928975

Zhao Yanhua
Partner, Landing Law Offices
Practice Areas: Maritime & Shipping, Marine Insurance & Charterparty Disputes, Ship Sale & Purchase, International Arbitration and Cross-Border Dispute Resolution
Email: yanhua.zhao@landinglawyer.com
Tel: +86 18701824095