Forrest ZHU obtained his LL.B. and LL.M. in Maritime Law from Dalian Maritime University. Before he became a shipping lawyer, he worked for Dalian port authority and headquarter of Sunshine P&C insurance company, He is skillful to use flexible strategies to solve complicated cases. Forrest ZHU has extensive expertise in dealing with the disputes over personal death and injury, collision, wreck removal, oil pollution, GA, salvage, and is also experienced in handling the disputes over the port affairs, marine insurance, bill of lading, charterparties, logistic transportation and international trade. 

Forrest ZHU provides legal services for P&I Clubs, international and domestic shipping companies, P&C insurance companies, port authorities, cross-border trading companies, and international law firms.

His professional practice spans full-spectrum Chinese judicial proceedings (local courts → maritime courts → the Supreme People’s Court), cross-border dispute resolution mechanisms, institutional arbitration (including HKIAC and CIETAC), and ad hoc arbitration proceedings, effectively safeguarding clients’ rights.

Working Experience

• 2008.7-2010.6    Dalian Port Group, in-house            legal supervisor
• 2010.7-2014.2   Sunshine P&C insurance company    Senior marine claim handler
• 2014.3-2020.7   Wintell &Co,                                   Lawyer/Partner
• 2020.8-            Zhonglun W&D Law Firm                  Partner

Achievements

• Acted for a port petrochemical storage company in handling a port storage contract dispute and civil-criminal cross-proceedings involving approximately RMB 130 million, resulting in the complete dismissal of the claimant’s claims.
• Acted for a state-owned enterprise in a cargo insurance contract dispute against an insurer, securing compensation of approximately RMB 15 million for the client through first-instance, appellate, and retrial proceedings.
• Represented a domestic cargo owner in an arbitration case concerning a sales contract before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).
• Entrusted by the owner of M/V AMC NAVIGATOR, handled the maritime collision dispute between M/V AMC NAVIGATOR and M/V WAN HAI 288 in Chinese territorial waters. Before our involvement, the shipowners of both vessels, under the influence of their respective P&I Clubs (Protection and Indemnity Associations), had preliminarily reached a consensus to resolve the matter through London arbitration. After our intervention, we swiftly reversed the situation, ultimately securing jurisdiction before the Guangzhou Maritime Court, thereby safeguarding China’s judicial authority.
• Acted for the PICC Property and Casualty Company Ltd. Taizhou Branch in a subrogation recovery claim against Fujia Shipping Co., Ltd. and Yanding Shipping Co., Ltd. for domestic steel cargo water damage, we successfully secured compensation of RMB 6.67 million. This outcome is exceptionally rare in China's maritime insurance practice for steel water damage cases.
• Acted for the P&I club and charterers of MV “TIANXIANG 69” in a cargo arbitration against the owners under a time charter party.
• Acted for the P&I club and owners of MV “DA XIN” in a demurrage claims against the Charterer.
• Acted for the P&I club and owners of MV “GOLDEN IOANARI” in handling soybean heat damage and shortage claims brought by cargo interests.
• Acted for the P&I Club and owner of M/V "CP SHANGHAI" in responding to fertilizer contamination and cargo damage claims filed by cargo interests.
• Represented a ship agent in exercising maritime lien rights to claim port charges.
• Acted for the P&I club and owners of MV “PELICANA” in handling a port stevedore injury claims and the release of the vessel.
• Acted for the P&I club and owners of MV “ARIES CONFIDENCE” in handling all the claims, inclusive of oil pollution claims, cargo claims, GA claims. etc. arising from a fire accident on board.
• Acted for the South Korea owners of MV “RICSUN”, in handling the GA claims against  cargo interests.
• Acted for the P&I club and owners of MV “CSCL MANZANILLO”  handling the collision claims, fishermen death claims arising from the collision accident between MV “CSCL MANZANILLO” and fishing vessel “LUWEIYU60012” in Qinhuangdao sea area.
• Acted for the owners of MV “YONGYUE 66” in handling the collision claims, eight fishermen death claims arising from the collision accident between MV “YONGYUE 66” and the fishing vessel “LUSHOUYU 60687” in Qinhuangdao sea area.
• Acted for the owners of MV “YINFU” in handling the claims arising from the collision accident between MV “YINFU” and MV “YUANYI” in Qinhuangdao sea area.
• Acted for the H&M insurer and owners of MV “YINHEDIAOYUDAO” in handling the collision claims and personal injury claims arising from the collision accident between MV “YINHEDIAOYUDAO” and MV “NINGSHUANGSHUN 528” in Yangtze River.
• Acted for the H&M insurer and owners of MV “HONGPING” in handling the claims arising from the vessel’s contact with the terminal.
• Acted for the H&M insurer and owners of MV “YONGXIN 19” in handling  fisherman’s claims arising from the vessel’s entrance into the aquiculture area.
• 20. Acted for the P&I club and owners in handling a series of COVID-19 cases from 2020 to 2022.

companies, P&C insurance companies, port authorities, cross-border trading companies, and international law firms.
His professional practice spans full-spectrum Chinese judicial proceedings (local courts → maritime courts → the Supreme People’s Court), cross-border dispute resolution mechanisms, institutional arbitration (including HKIAC and CIETAC), and ad hoc arbitration proceedings, effectively safeguarding clients’ rights

PRC Lawyer’s Practicing Qualification

Chinese and English