Christine (Yi) Kang

Christine (Yi) Kang is a partner in the New York office of Hughes Hubbard & Reed in the Litigation department and leads the China Arbitration practice. Christine has significant experience in resolving cross-border disputes and enjoys a high reputation in international arbitration. She also has extensive and successful experiences in Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) sanction matters.

Prior to joining Hughes Hubbard & Reed, Christine practiced at international law firms and a Chinese “Red Circle” law firm for years and worked at CIETAC Beijing headquarters for eight years before her private practice. She has advised leading Fortune 500 companies on their international arbitration cases with major international arbitration institutions, including CIETAC, AAA-ICDR, HKIAC, ICC, SIAC, and SCC etc., involving a broad array of industries and areas such as international trade, joint ventures, construction, finance, insurance and intellectual property. She also regularly advised Chinese SOEs on their overseas litigation cases in concert with U.S. and U.K. litigators.

Christine has extensive and in-depth experiences in representing Chinese SOEs and multinationals in their corporate compliance and anti-bribery investigations. Specifically, she has regularly represented Chinese enterprises in their response to the investigation from, settlement negotiations with the MDBs, including the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the Asia Development Bank and establishing as well as implementing the integrity compliance program with the MDBs standards.

Christine is widely recognized for her abundant arbitration experience, and is invited to serve as a member of the Council of AAA, the AAA-ICDR Rules Revision Committee, AAA International Advisory Committee, the HKIAC Proceedings Committee, as well as the WIPO International Advisory Committee. She has acted as a presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator and party-nominated arbitrator in a variety of arbitration cases, and is an arbitrator on the panels of major international arbitration institutions, including HKIAC, AAA-ICDR, CIETAC, LCIA, WIPO, and ICC.

Christine is recently nominated in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders-Global Elite 2023, Thought Leaders-GIR 2023, and Arbitration 2022.

International Arbitration

• Sit as presiding arbitrator in a HKIAC arbitration case (2022 to date)
• Sit as sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration case involving a transaction service agreement dispute between an American online transaction platform and its Taiwanese customer (2022)
• Sit as sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration case involving a telecommunications services agreement dispute between an American subsidiary of Chinese telecommunications operator and a Chinese technology company (2022-2023)
• Advising a world leading biotechnology company on the issues relating to the laws of People’s Republic of China in an ICC arbitration case governed by the laws of the state of New York (2022 to date)
• Represented a world leading IC designer and manufacture in a dispute over its procurement contract before the CIETAC, with the amount in dispute of over RMB 200 million (2019-2021)
• Advised a prominent American club on its pre-arbitration analysis with respect to licensing contract dispute before the Beijing Arbitration Commission (2019-2021)
• Represented a large Chinese contractor on the resolution of an EPC contract dispute in Brazil with the SCC Institute in Stockholm with an amount in dispute of over several billion US dollars (2018-2021)
• Represented a Chinese technology company in an ICC arbitration initiated by an American company involving multiple contracts, and completely won the jurisdictional award from the ICC arbitral tribunal (2018-2021)
• Sit as party-appointed arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration case involving a service agreement dispute between an American insurance company and an American investment company (2018-2020)
• Sit as sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration case with regard to a service agreement dispute between an American company and a Chinese company (2019-2020)
• Sit as a co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration case involving several Chinese construction companies regarding construction engineering agreement in dispute with amount of over RMB 900 million (2018-2020)
• Represented a large Chinese multinational on the resolution of hotel management agreement dispute in a CIETAC arbitration, and completely won the case (2018-2019)
• Represented a leading investment fund in an HKIAC arbitration case with the amount in dispute of $230 million (2016-2019)
• Represented several famous sportswear brands in an arbitration over disputes of agency agreement before the CIETAC, and has obtained favorable award beyond client’s expectation (2016-2019)
• Represented a listed Hong Kong real estate company on the resolution of leasing agreement disputes in an arbitration case before the CIETAC and obtained a favorable award (2017-2018)
• Advised one of China’s largest state-owned oil companies on the resolution of disputes over gas field exploitation, development, sales and relevant construction agreements in the amount of several billions USD before the CIETAC and the SCC Institute in Stockholm under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (2016-2018)
• Sit as sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration case involving an agency agreement dispute between an American company and an UK company (2017-2018)
• Sit as co-arbitrator in an HKIAC arbitration case involving a joint venture dispute between a Chinese company and a HK company with the amount in dispute of HKD 25 million (2016-2018)
• Sit as sole arbitrator in an ICDR arbitration case involving a service agreement dispute between an American company and an Indian company (2016-2018)
• Sit as co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration case involving an international goods sales contract agreement dispute between a Chinese SOE and a Singaporean company with the amount in dispute of $4.7 million (2015-2018)
• Sit as co-arbitrator in an ICC arbitration case involving solar energy contract dispute between a Chinese SOE and a European company with the amount in dispute of $330 million (2014-2018)
• Assisted one of China’s largest state-owned steel manufacturers on the resolution of disputes over mining contracting agreement in the amount of more than RMB 1.7 billion before the Beijing Arbitration Commission (2016-2017)
• Advised a multinational investment company on the joint venture contract dispute case before HKIAC and provided legal advice (2015-2017)
• Provided expert advice on the PRC laws for an India leading solar energy technology company in an HKIAC arbitration with a disputed amount of more than $34 million (2015-2016)
• Advised an international investment company on the enforcement of a favorable CIETAC arbitration award in mainland China (2015)
• Represented a world-renowned automobile manufacturer on the resolution of disputes over export service agreements in the amount of more than EUR 4 million before the CIETAC, and completely won the case for client (2014-2016)
• Represented a Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical company and one of China’s largest state-owned insurance companies on the resolution of disputes over several sales contracts before the CIETAC, and won a favorable arbitration award for client (2014-2016)
• Advised a world leading industrial engineering group on its pre-arbitration analysis on both procedure and merits of an arbitration before ICC International Court of Arbitration with regard to the disputes over several sales contracts, and assisted it to reach amicable settlement (2014-2015)
• Advised one of the world’s largest metal equipment suppliers on pre-arbitration analysis, both procedural and substantive, for an arbitration with SCC Institute in Stockholm with regard to the disputes over several supply contracts (2014-2015)
• Represented one of China’s largest real estate groups in an arbitration case of lease contract disputes before the CIETAC, providing substantive analysis and assisting to settle the disputes with the opposing party (2014-2015)
• Advised one of the world’s largest packaging companies on the potential equity acquisition disputes before the HKIAC (2014)
• Advising a subsidiary of one of China’s largest high-tech companies on its pre-arbitration strategy for an ICC arbitration with the amount of dispute over $80 million, and acting as co-counsel with U.S. litigators in the bankruptcy litigation with the Delaware Bankruptcy Court in the U.S. (2013-2015)
• Represented a world leading inspection, testing and certification company to completely win an arbitration case of disputes over several warehousing cooperation projects before the CIETAC (2013-2015)
• Represented a world leading oil company in an arbitration case before the CIETAC and assisted to settle the case (2013)
• Represented a Hong Kong based company in an arbitration case of equity acquisition disputes with the amount of over RMB 40 million before the Shanghai Arbitration Commission (2012-2015)
• Advised one of China's largest state-owned steel companies, on the resolution of disputes in the amount of $47 million with the ICC International Court of Arbitration in France and achieved the settlement arrangement (2011-2012)
• Represented one of world’s largest logistics companies on the resolution of warehousing contract disputes in the amount of dozens millions USD before CIETAC headquarter (2009-2010)
• Represented a world leading tire manufacturer, on the resolution of several disputes with CIETAC in China and before California Superior Court in USA (2009-2010)
• Advised one of the world’s largest advertising groups for its litigation in China and an arbitration before the HKIAC with a disputed amount of more than RMB 60 million (2008-2010)
• Represented one of the world’s largest multinational groups, on the resolution of construction projects disputes in the amount of more than $20 million before the ICC Dispute Resolution Service - ADR, the ICC International Centre for Expertise, and the ICC International Court of Arbitration in France (2008-2010)
• Assisted one of China's largest state-owned appliance companies with its international commercial arbitration case before the SCC Institute in Stockholm (2008-2009)
• Advised a world leading Fortune 500 consulting company on its pre-arbitration analysis and settlement project (2008-2009)
• Represented a world leading industry group, on the resolution of several disputes before the CIETAC in China, the jurisdictional litigation at various levels of Chinese courts, and the ICC International Court of Arbitration in France with a disputed amount of more than RMB 15 million and achieved the settlement in favor of client (2005-2009)
• Advised a world-leading construction material company, on the enforcement of an ICC arbitral award in China in the amount of more than $130 million (2005-2009)
• Represented a world leading retailer, on the resolution of several disputes with the CIETAC Beijing headquarters and Shanghai Sub-commission, and on the enforcement of the arbitral awards in China (2005-2009)
• Represented the world’s largest cosmetics maker, on the resolution of disputes in the amount of $1.75 billion before the ICC International Court of Arbitration in France (2005-2008)
• Sit as presiding arbitrator, party-appointed arbitrator or sole arbitrator in hundreds of international arbitration cases involving various types of disputes before CIETAC (2005 to date)

Compliance and Investigation

• Leading the team of the Independent Integrity Compliance Consultant (IICC) monitor appointed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the establishment and implementation of the integrity compliance program of a large Chinese high-technology and equipment manufacturing company (2022 to date)
• Leading the team of the Independent Integrity Compliance Consultant (IICC) monitor appointed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the establishment and implementation of the integrity compliance program of a research institute of a large Chinese state-owned group (2022 to date)
• Represented a large Chinese state-owned company to deal with the investigation by the World Bank Group (WBG), drafting response and preparing relevant exculpation evidence, advising on adoption and implementation of a compliance program in accordance with the compliance standards of MDBs, and eventually avoided the company being sanctioned by the WBG (2021-2022)
• Representing a large Chinese state-owned company in its application for release by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), draft response and preparing relevant evidence, negotiate with the ADB, and advise on adoption and implementation of a compliance program in accordance with the compliance standards of ADB (2021 to date)
• Represented an extra-large Chinese SOE group and its over 1,000 subsidiaries in response to the sanction by WBG, adopting and implementing the compliance program in accordance with the WBG compliance standards across the group, advising on the investigation cooperation in WBG-financed projects, selecting independent compliance monitor and independent investigator, coordinating with the compliance monitor and investigator to conduct site visits and investigations, and conducting compliance training for more than 100,000 employees of the company, and eventually obtained complete release from sanction on time. This is one of the largest World Bank sanction projects to date in terms of the large number of affiliates involved and a huge scale of business around the world (2019-2022)
• Advising a large Chinese state-owned contractor to deal with the investigation from the WBG, drafting response and preparing relevant exculpation evidences, negotiating with the WBG to reach settlement agreement with favorable terms for the company (company being allowed to continue to bid for WBG-financed projects with a reduced sanction period), conducting compliance training for senior management of the company, assisting client in adopting and implementing the compliance program with the MDB standards, and eventually obtained complete release from the WBG sanction on time (2019-2022)
• Representing a leading Chinese SOE contractor to deal with the investigation by the WBG, to establish and implement the compliance program with MDBs standards, as well as to respond to the Cross-Debarment by Asian Development Bank (ADB), and eventually obtained complete release from the WBG sanction on time (2018-2022)
• Appointed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as the Independent Integrity Compliance Consultant (IICC) to monitor the establishment and implementation of the integrity compliance system of a listed Chinese technology company on behalf of the AfDB. The company eventually obtained complete release from sanction (2020-2021)
• Represented a large Chinese SOE and its subsidiaries to respond to the investigations by the AfDB and the World Bank, negotiated to reach a comprehensive Settlement Agreement with the AfDB, established and implemented the compliance program with the MDB standards and cooperated with the AfDB on the selected bank-financed projects, and eventually obtained early release from the AfDB sanction (2016-2019)
• Represented one of China’s top contractors and its subsidiaries in response to the investigations by the AfDB, negotiated to reach a Settlement Agreement with the AfDB, and assisted client to establish and implement a compliance program with the MDB standards and cooperate with the AfDB in the investigation on selected bank-financed projects, and eventually obtained early release from the AfDB sanction (2014-2016)
• Represented a large construction company with regard to its debarment with conditional release by the Asia Development Bank (ADB), assisting the client to optimize its compliance program, conducting compliance rectification and bidding compliance audit, and eventually obtained early release from sanction (2020-2021)
• Represented a large Chinese SOE to respond to the investigation by the Asia Development Bank (ADB), drafting and collecting relevant evidence, communicating and negotiating with ADB, and assisting the client to further improve and implement compliance program in consistent with the MDB standards, and eventually obtained the slightest sanction, letter of reprimand, for the client (2021-2022)
• Represented a listed Chinese technology company to respond to the investigation by the World Bank Group (WBG), to negotiate with the WBG for mitigated sanction, to adopt and implement compliance program with MDB standards, to cooperate with the WBG’s investigation into the bank-financed projects, and eventually obtained complete release from the WBG sanction (2018-2021)
• Advised a world-renowned luxury multinational headquartered in Paris and listed on Euronext Paris to conduct more than 10 sessions of compliance trainings for all of its Chinese employees, establish the whistleblowing hotlines and handle the whistleblowing reports (2019-2021)
• Advised a world leading service company to improve and optimize its internal compliance rules and system (2020)
• Advised a Chinese leading construction designing group to develop integrity compliance program with MDB standards for its overseas business, and issue legal opinion on its current compliance rules (2020)
• Represented a large Chinese state-owned company to deal with the investigation by the WBG, drafting response and preparing relevant exculpation evidence, negotiating with the WBG, advising on adoption and implementation of a compliance program in accordance with the compliance standards of MDBs, and eventually the case was discontinued by the WBG (2019-2020)
• Represented a large state-owned contractor to establish a comprehensive compliance program and internal risk control system at the group-level in accordance with the ethical standards of MDBs, and conduct multiple compliance trainings for all employees of the company and a number of subsidiaries of the company (one-day or two-day session each training) (2018-2019)
• Spoke on the seminars jointly organized by CCDI and WBG (2018-2019)
• Provided trainings on overseas compliance risk prevention and MDBs compliance policy for SASAC, CHINCA, and some Chinese SOEs (2018)
• Provided MDB compliance training for the senior management of a large Chinese contractor (2018)
• Provided overseas investment compliance risk prevention training for senior management of a large Chinese contractor group (2018)
• Advised one of China’s largest SOEs in its anti-bribery investigations launched by one of the MDBs and the implementation of relevant compliance policies (2016-2018)
• Advised a U.S. company on its compliance, investigation and termination of a senior manager, and issuing legal opinions on relevant PRC law matters (2016-2017)
• Advised a world leading semiconductor company on its corporate compliance program and staff compliance training (2014)
• Advised a world leading industrial manufacturer on its anti-commercial bribery investigation against one of its Chinese senior executives, and assisted in the internal investigations (2014)

Cross-border Litigation

• Advised a leading Chinese Foundation on the resolution of disputes relating to investment partnership agreements in the amount of over RMB 220 million before the Shenzhen Intermediate Court, and completely won the case for client (2019-2023)
• Represented one of the world’s top singers in her reputation and portrait right infringement case before the Chinese court (2019-2021)
• Represented a leading American technology company in an asset recovery case before the HK Courts and Police, obtained favorable rulings from the HK Courts, and successfully recovered the funds for client (2019-2021)
• Represented three of the largest Chinese contractors to handle prelitigation analysis and prosecution preparation in an EPC contract dispute with the amount in dispute of multi-billion RMB before the Xinjiang Intermediate Court (2018-2019)
• Represented a leading U.S. multinational in an unjust enrichment litigation case involving asset recovery before the courts and police stations in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and completely won the case (2017-2020)
• Represented a world leading software enterprise in a litigation before the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court with dispute amount of multi-million RMB, and obtained full favorable ruling in the first instance (2016-2020)
• Represented a world leading automobile manufacturer in enforcing a CIETAC arbitration award with regard to Import & Export Service Agreement disputes (2016-2018)
• Represented an African cement manufacturer in a contractual fraud lawsuit before the Chinese court in Tianjin and obtained a favorable result for client (2015-2017)
• Advised a D&R branch of one of China’s largest oil companies to win a patent invalidating lawsuit before the first and second instances of Chinese courts and completely won the cases (2015-2016)
• Advised one of China’s largest oil companies on the resolution of disputes over executive stock options in mainland China and in Singapore (2015-2016)
• Advised a leading Chinese internet company on its disputes with its former senior manager over various unfair competition issues and trademark infringements, analyzing the case merits and drafting relevant litigation documents (2014-2015)
• Advised a world leading semiconductor company on its potential antitrust litigation in China, including litigation strategy and evidence collection (2014)
• Advised one of China’s largest state-owned contractors on constitutional complaints before the Kenya Constitution Court with regard to the construction of railway projects in Kenya, helped achieve an amicable settlement (2014)
• Represented one of China’s largest high-tech companies on its court action before the Delaware Bankruptcy Court in the U.S. in concert with U.S. litigators (2013-2015)
• Advised one of China’s largest state-owned automobile manufacturers on the resolution of disputes over joint venture contracts, issued attorney letters and helped achieve amicable settlement (2013)
• Represented a French consulting company, completely won the lawsuit of disputes over leasing contracts before the first instance and the second instance Chinese courts, and successfully enforced the court rulings on behalf of the client (2012-2016)
• Advised one of China’s largest state-owned contractors on the court action before the various levels of Malaysian courts over the disputes of construction agency agreements, and won favorable ruling for client after appeal (2012-2014)
• Assisted one of the world’s most famous NBA basketball players in his naming right infringement case before the Chinese court (2011-2012)
• Assisted one of China's largest state-owned oil companies on the court actions with the California Superior Court in the amount of more than $2 billion (2008-2010)