Personal bio
Ashley Min Chen is the Managing Partner of Shanghai Founder Law Firm, a distinguished legal professional, and a pivotal figure in cross-border dispute resolution and international legal services in China, particularly renowned as a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).
With a solid professional foundation forged in the global shipping industry—having previously served at Maersk, the world’s largest shipping group—Ashley has honed exceptional expertise in navigating the complexities of international commercial law, cross-border litigation, and arbitration. Her core practice areas span international commercial arbitration (with proficiency in full-English proceedings), maritime law, international trade disputes, investment dispute resolution under the “Belt and Road” initiative, and intellectual property protection. She stands out as one of the few Chinese litigators capable of handling full-English arbitration cases, a skill that has made her a trusted advisor for clients engaged in global business.
Ashley’s track record of successful case outcomes is marked by high-stakes, influential matters. Notably, she represented Nantong Sijian Group in an international arbitration against ExxonMobil (USA), managing a 271 million RMB full-English arbitration proceeding to secure a favorable result for her client. She also advised on the international sales contract dispute between Australia’s Naturalena Pty Ltd and Guangzhou Anshunda Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., a case that earned a nomination for the “2024 Shanghai Excellent Lawyer Dispute Resolution Cases.”Over the past 12 years, she has handled more than a dozen commercial and investment disputes between China and Uzbekistan, achieving winning results for clients in every instance—solidifying her reputation as a reliable expert in Sino-Central Asian legal matters. Additionally, she has successfully led high-profile cases such as the cultural heritage dispute of Hu Yunyi (a renowned poet of the Republic of China, broadcast live online), the first pre-litigation injunction case in China for unfair competition filed by Taobao Tmall against Zaihe Zaixin (televised), and the tort dispute of Mr. Zhu v. China Unicom (a model case promoted by the Pudong New Area People’s Court, televised).
Beyond litigation and arbitration, Ashley is deeply committed to advancing international legal cooperation, especially in the “Belt and Road” region. She maintains strong collaborative relationships with the Consulate-General of India in Shanghai, the Consulate-General of Thailand in Shanghai, the Consulate-General of Romania in China, and the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Uzbekistan. She has also established long-term professional partnerships with law firms across 143 countries and regions worldwide, fostering cross-border legal collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Ashley’s contributions to the legal industry extend to academia and public service: she serves as an Adjunct Professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, a Course Lecturer at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and a Practical Tutor at East China Normal University. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Women’s Federation of Zhenru Town and Changzheng Town (Putuo District, Shanghai), Director of the Foreign-related Legal Business Research Committee of Putuo District (Shanghai), and a Grassroots Rule of Law Observer of Putuo District (Shanghai). Her professional excellence has been widely recognized: she obtained the Foreign-related Lawyer Professional Qualification Certification from the Shanghai Bar Association in 2019, was named “Outstanding Female Lawyer of Putuo District” in 2021, and in 2024, she was honored as a “Rule of Law Pioneer” in Shanghai’s administrative and judicial system and included in the “Dingxin” Rule of Law Talent Pool jointly established by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Justice and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security.
In addition to her legal practice, Ashley has been dedicated to public welfare for many years. As a registered volunteer in Shanghai, she has provided pro bono services for events such as the Special Olympics and the World Expo, and participated in grassroots legal publicity initiatives. Her contributions to public welfare have earned her awards including the “2010 Outstanding Volunteer of Putuo District,” the “Outstanding Volunteer Team Award of the World Expo Park,” and the “Outstanding Young Volunteer of Songjiang District.”
As a CIArb member, Ashley combines rigorous legal expertise, cross-border practice experience, and a client-centric approach to deliver high-quality dispute resolution services, while also playing a proactive role in promoting the development of international arbitration and cross-border legal cooperation.