The Legal 500

Allen & Gledhill LLP has a ‘top-flight’ shipping practice. Gina Lee-Wan is the standout lawyer for non-contentious matters, and recently acted for a group of offshore banks in relation to a $1bn financing for 13 newbuild container vessels. She also represented a trust in a substantial piece of litigation straddling the jurisdictions of China, Cyprus, Japan and Singapore. Vivian Ang and Corina Song are highly esteemed litigators.

‘A cut above the rest’, the 26-lawyer shipping group at Rajah & Tann LLP, headed by Kian Sing Toh SC, is considered to be ‘thorough, responsive and reliable’. Kah Wah Leong and Ian Teo represented Equatorial Marine Fuel in the Bunga Melati 5 case, in which the High Court dismissed a claim in excess of $24m. With a dominant position in cross-border insolvency matters, the team acted for the bank lenders in the $2bn global debt restructuring of Danish shipping group Torm. Leading litigator Jainil Bhandari and financing specialist Winston Kwek are key players.

Founding partner Dato’ Jude Philomen Benny at Joseph Tan Jude Benny advises on cargo and charterparty disputes, ship finance and mortgage enforcement, as well as admiralty proceedings including arresting and releasing vessels and collision and personal injury matters.

Oon & Bazul LLP is highly visible in the market, handling casualty matters throughout Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, and dealing with dry shipping arbitrations in London, Hong Kong and Singapore. Oon Thian Seng and Mohamed Goush Marikan are well regarded.

Rodyk & Davidson LLP’s Lawrence Teh acts in cargo disputes, arrests of vessels and arbitration proceedings. Sembawang Shipyard is a client.

Chua Choon King and Jonathan Oon of TSMP Law Corporation acted for DBS Bank in a $140m restructuring and refinancing involving ten Singapore-owned vessels. Ian Lim defended power and marine company Norr Systems in a multimillion-dollar garnishee action.

Ang & Partners’ Goh Kok Leong and Loo Dip Seng focus on admiralty, marine and transportation matters, acting for shipowners, charterers, ship operators and P&I clubs.

At Asia Practice LLP, Mark Tan and Leon Low handle high-value financing and mortgage enforcement proceedings.

Routine instructions for AsiaLegal LLC include marine collision and casualty investigations, charterparty disputes and ship financing transactions. Magdalene Chew and Timothy Tan are well respected.

Colin Jarraw joined Duane Morris & Selvam LLP in May 2011 from Navin & Co LLP to establish the firm’s shipping practice. Acting for a US finance company and the Norwegian government on an export finance scheme was a recent highlight for the team.

Prem Gurbani at Gurbani & Co covers commercial litigation and ship insurance matters for shipowners, charterers and governments. The highly experienced Richard Kuek is a co-founding partner.

Haridass Ho & Partners has a comprehensive practice covering both wet and dry shipping. Ajaib Haridass advises on all ship sale and purchase matters, and Thomas Tan is recommended for cargo claims and charter disputes.

KhattarWong acts in commercial recovery cases, and air carriage, freight forwarding and logistics disputes, and also assists various local and overseas banks with ship financing deals. Deborah Barker SC and K Anparasan head the team.

Joseph Tan at Legal Solutions LLC demonstrates ‘dedication and negotiating acumen’. He has experience in cargo claims, collision matters and marine insurance cases, including hull and machinery policies and ICC policies.

The non-contentious practice at Loo & Partners LLP acted for both Chinatrust Commercial Bank and Mega International Commercial Bank in high-value vessel acquisition financings to Taiwanese shipping group U-Ming Marine Transport.

Wendy Tan at Stamford Law Corporation is ‘responsible and reliable’, and has a ‘professional manner’. The team advised Chimbusco Petroleum in its $13m claim against the Prestige Marine Group.

Brian Nash has relocated to head Clyde & Co’s shipping department, replacing the outgoing John Champion. This experienced team acted for the Korean owners of a vessel in a case involving charterers that allegedly abandoned a ship with full cargo on board. The practice also saw a sharp increase in arbitration matters relating to shipbuilding contracts.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP covers the full range of traditional shipping work. Simon Davidson leads on the dry shipping side, and Bill Kerr is active in salvage and admiralty matters. Its extensive international client base includes shipyards, energy multinationals and insurance companies.

Ince & Co’s large team of six partners is by Richard Lovell and Simon Spark, and includes the experienced Denys Hickey, who handles arbitration matters. The firm’s newly created Incisive Law Alliance with Incisive Law LLC provides a capacity to advise on English and Singaporean law in the local courts.

‘Among the top legal firms in shipping industry’, Stephenson Harwood’s service is ‘second to none’. The practice led negotiations for the Reignwood Group with the Shanghai Shipyard for the construction of two moored drillships, worth $500m. The team of ‘industry experts’ features Iain Young, who is ‘extremely pragmatic’ and ‘on the ball’.

Providing an ‘excellent service’, Hill Dickinson LLP acted for Titan Maritime Industries on the salvage contract of the Costa Concordia in Italy, currently estimated to cost $500m. Andrew Lee is ‘responsive’, and associate Jim Leighton is ‘very diligent’.

Kennedys primarily handles arbitration matters arising out of shipping contracts in the region. The team also advises on the drafting and re-negotiation of sale contracts for shipyards, and acts for clients in the banking and international trade sectors. Robert Joiner is the main contact.

Norton Rose (Asia) LLP’s large shipping team is led by Gervais Green, and includes the recently promoted Robert Driver. The firm handles a balanced flow of disputes and ship finance matters.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP’s Singapore practice has ‘a deep bench’, and is led by the ‘very impressive’ Chris Lowe. It has established a joint venture with local law firm Asia Practice LLP, increasing its shipping capabilities, especially in disputes.

Wikborg Rein In Alliance with Pan Asia Wikborg Rein’s specialist service covers a breadth of shipping work, including finance and tax matters and arbitrations. It acted for the insurers on the removal of the Rena vessel in New Zealand. Chris Grieveson leads the team.

Mataram Partners covers Indonesia-related shipping work, and provides advice on the country’s cabotage laws and on establishing joint ventures in the region. Andi Zulfikar heads the practice.

Mark Sachs has returned to Thomas Cooper’s Singapore office; he is an expert on Chinese maritime law and has an active arbitration practice. Johan Wong handles wet shipping matters for international clients.