Ming Li

from Tsinghua University and is a member of the China Internet Society's legal committee.

Practice Focus

His data compliance practice covers the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) and the Data Security Law, which impose significant obligations on companies that collect and process personal data in China. in E-commerce Law from Tsinghua University and is admitted to practice law in the People's Republic of China.

He regularly advises foreign e-commerce platforms, consumer goods companies, and digital service providers on the complex regulatory landscape governing online retail in China. His work encompasses the full range of operational requirements: from obtaining the necessary ICP licenses and e-commerce qualification certificates to structuring cross-border sales channels that comply with customs declarations and tax collection obligations.

Li has developed deep expertise in the new regulatory framework for cross-border e-commerce retail imports, which covers bonded warehouse models, direct mail imports, and the cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones. He has helped numerous foreign brands establish compliant cross-border e-commerce operations through platforms such as Tmall Global and JD Worldwide, as well as through independent online channels.

Li helps foreign companies conduct data protection impact assessments, draft privacy policies, and implement data localization and cross-border data transfer mechanisms required under Chinese law. Li represents several foreign e-commerce companies in regulatory investigations initiated by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Cyberspace Administration of China.

He has successfully managed several high-profile compliance reviews, helping clients avoid administrative penalties and reputational damage through proactive compliance measures and cooperative engagement with regulators. He is a regular speaker at cross-border e-commerce conferences organized by the Jilin Provincial Department of Commerce and has published several articles on China's digital economy regulations.

Li is fluent in English and maintains close connections with regulatory authorities, enabling him to provide clients with practical, forward-looking compliance advice. Li maintains an active pro bono practice, providing legal advice to foreign chambers of commerce in Northeast China on e-commerce regulatory developments.

He conducts regular webinars and training sessions for foreign companies on China's evolving data protection landscape and e-commerce compliance requirements. His clients span the consumer goods, fashion, food and beverage, and health products sectors.

Li also handles the cross-border data transfer aspects of e-commerce operations, helping clients structure their data flows to comply with the Personal Information Protection Law's requirements for cross-border data transfers, including the security assessment mechanism for critical information infrastructure operators and the standard contractual clauses for other data processors. He coordinates with clients' global privacy teams to align China-specific requirements with their international data governance frameworks.

Li maintains close professional relationships with the Jilin Provincial Department of Commerce and the Changchun Municipal Bureau of Commerce, enabling him to provide clients with practical guidance on local implementation of national foreign investment policies. He is frequently consulted by international law firms on China market entry matters and has served as local counsel for several cross-border transactions requiring Jilin-specific regulatory know-how.

He represents several multinational technology companies in their China market entry strategies, advising on corporate structure, intellectual property protection, and regulatory compliance. His integrated approach combines corporate law, regulatory compliance, and commercial negotiation to deliver practical solutions that advance his clients' business objectives.

He is known for his responsiveness and ability to translate complex Chinese regulatory concepts into clear, actionable advice that foreign clients can understand and implement. He advises foreign brands on engaging live-streaming hosts, structuring commission arrangements, and ensuring that product claims made during live broadcasts comply with Chinese advertising law and do not expose the brand to regulatory penalties.

Li has advised several international beauty and fashion brands on their China e-commerce strategies, including the regulatory requirements for selling imported cosmetics through online channels. He guides clients through the complex registration and filing requirements for imported cosmetics under the Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation, which requires notification filing with the National Medical Products Administration before products can be marketed and sold online in China.

He has been recognized as a leading lawyer in data privacy and e-commerce law by the Jilin Lawyers Association. Li has developed particular expertise in the regulation of live-streaming e-commerce, a rapidly growing sales channel in China that presents unique legal challenges relating to advertising compliance, consumer protection, and platform liability. He serves on the Internet Law Committee of the Jilin Lawyers Association and contributes regularly to legal publications covering digital economy regulation in China.

He is a member of the China Internet Society's legal committee.