Six-year finalist for ALB’s Insurance Law Firm of the Year title, Kai-Rong Law Firm continues be to a forceful contender within the insurance sector.

Kai-Rong is one of the first private law firms in Shanghai with over a decade of experience in the legal industry. The firm’s core practice includes aviation, insurance & re-insurance and shipping & maritime.

Kai-Rong believes that its success is attributed to its traditional strategies, “We still pledge to the quality of our services, that is our priority, from there we can provide the efficiency and effectiveness to our clients,” says Jin Yu-Lai, managing partner of Kai-Rong.

The firm also executes no-frills in their charges, giving clients a better sense of what their legal expense will be upfront. Kai-Rong calls it “a clean bill”.

Building insurance
Kai-Rong’s extensive experience in representing top-tier insurance companies has earned itself a strong reputation within the insurance sector. The firm’s business thrives on client referrals and its list of long-term clients include AIA, Zurich Insurance, Allianz, HSBC Insurance, People’s Insurance Company of
China, Min An Insurance, Dah Sing Insurance and Ping An Insurance.

“Our decade-worth of focus and experience practising within the insurance sector has endowed us with valuable skills and foresight. Clauses in the insurance law are constantly subjected to changes according to economic trends and this sometimes causes problems for our clients. However, Kai-Rong professionals understand the works of the courts very well and are very swift in resolving issues,” said Jin.

Their experience allows them to properly advise their clients on actions to take regarding their problems, even if it means a settlement rather than taking it to court when they foresee a likely unfavourable outcome.

The focus in the insurance sector has however not prevented the firm from fortifying a range of other practice areas like international trade litigation and commercial arbitration as the movement towards trade liberalisation in China gives rise to more and more international disputes. Kai-Rong has acted for some high profile clientele in international trade disputes, including Sri-Tan International and Minmax Resources.

With five partners, two consultants and nine lawyers who are all effectively bilingual, the firm is planning to hire more talents to strengthen and expand practice areas.

International Ventures
In its relentless endeavours to lead its competition in offering an internationally diversified legal service, the firm continues to extend their traditional advantages in other fields of practice and geographies.

“The doors of the Chinese legal service sector have opened to welcome MNCs and foreign insurance companies into our economic market. There will definitely be more to learn from international firms and companies in terms of operational procedures and standards,” said Jin.

Reaching out to international networks, Shanghai Kai-Rong has allied itself with German firm Urwantschky Dangel Borst & Partner and Studio Legale Zunarelli E Associati in Italy. “We are considering building our service network through cooperation with other domestic and international law firms or even set up our own branch,” said Jin.

Despite many existing referrals from clients and legal counterparts, Kai-Rong continues to move forward rapidly. The firm recognises the need to build even stronger relationships with firms and insurance companies so as to seize its lead in the insurance sector. “Our first step is to proactively release information regarding our notable representations to the media so market leaders can seek us out knowing our strengths,” said Jin.

A reputable leader
Jin specialises in maritime, aviation, insurance, company, finance and risk investment sectors. He is also a holder of many prominent legal titles in the industry – legal counsel in Shanghai Pu-Dong District’s Government, arbitrator for both Singapore Maritime Arbitration Centre and China Maritime Arbitration Commission, director of China Maritime Law Association and Maritime Law Committee of China Bar Association.

Jin’s expertise within the insurance sector is most recently expressed by his co-authoring of the 2009 edition of Getting the Deal Through: Insurance.

He is well-reputed for many of his successful representations for top-tier insurance companies. He acted for Ping An and Concord Insurance separately in a marine cargo subrogation case. He also represented Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Shanghai in a dispute on liability insurance claim for more than US$430,000. His most significant achievement is his representation for one of China’s largest insurance company, PICC in a series of cases arising from cargo loss of a claim amount of US$2m.