Michelle Yong > Stephenson Harwood LLP > Singapore, Singapore > Lawyer Profile

The team at Stephenson Harwood LLP is well-versed in debt restructuring and refinancing, debt for equity swaps, judicial management, and insolvencies, standing out for its expertise in the transportation and offshore sector. The team is spearheaded by Gregg Johnston, who specialises in shipping and offshore financing, including secured and unsecured lending, syndicated and bilateral loans, limited recourse, sale and leaseback structures, and tax-driven structured financings. Elsewhere in the team, Huay Yee Kwan stands out for her focus on PRC matters, while Michelle Yong continues to work on high-profile and complex shipping, oil & gas and international trade disputes.

‘A truly full service firm for shipping clients’, Stephenson Harwood LLP showcases unrivalled experience in the gamut of contentious and non-contentious mandates, encompassing advisory and risk mitigation issues, cross-border shipping and offshore financings, ship sale and purchases, chartering arrangements, corporate matters, restructurings and high-stakes disputes. Key clients range from shipping and offshore companies, energy service companies, and oil and gas businesses to shipyards, insurers, sponsors, lenders, and private equity providers. An expert in international ship and offshore finance mandates, Gregg Johnston jointly leads the practice alongside Michelle Yong, who maintains a track record in high-profile restructurings, insolvencies and enforcements. Huay Yee Kwan stands out for her expertise in PRC leasing and Gregory Xu advises on financing transactions, while Jeffrey Tanner ‘is an exceptional young partner who demonstrates a keen commercial awareness’. Other key contacts in the group include Pedram Norton and Justin Gan. John Simpson left in April 2024.

Stephenson Harwood LLP regularly advises on matters within the maritime, construction, and energy sectors. The team’s collective experience spans across numerous major arbitral institution rules such as the SCMA, ICC, UNCITRAL, and SIAC. The practice is co-headed by Chris Bailey, Michelle Yong, and Daryll Ng. Bailey focuses on complex cross-border commercial disputes. Both Ng and Yong are recommended for arbitrations related to shipping. Rebecca Crookenden is also noted for her experience advising on international trade cases. John Simpson departed the firm in April 2024, and Chris Bailey left the firm in January 2025.