Shipping: International: Litigation
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : Singapore
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+65 6226 1600About
Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP
Stephenson Harwood is recognised as having one of the world’s leading shipping and offshore practices and its lawyers are consistently ranked as best in class. We are consistently instructed by most of the major shipping and offshore companies, energy service companies, oil and gas businesses, shipyards, insurers, commodity companies, sponsors, lenders and private equity providers.
In shipping and offshore our lawyers advise on services spanning:
- Finance: senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt and covering corporate finance, ship and offshore finance, blended corporate and asset finance, export credit agency backed, leasing, project finance, limited recourse and derivatives
- Corporate: mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings, debt for equity swaps, group reorganisations and restructurings, joint ventures, private equity investments and general corporate advice on a range of matters including regulatory compliance, equity incentives, competition issues and succession planning
- Commercial: project tender processes, project documents, building contracts, pooling arrangements, conversion contracts, sale and purchase and charterparty agreements
- Disputes: risk mitigation, litigation, arbitration and mediation, international sanctions and arrests and enforcements
- Restructuring: debt restructuring and refinancing, debt for equity swaps, schemes or arrangement, judicial management, chapter 11 and insolvency
Chambers Review
Stephenson Harwood houses an outstanding shipping finance team with an impressive bench of experienced shipping lawyers in Singapore. The team regularly acts on the full range of financing matters and is particularly active on restructuring work. The firm also offers a strong litigation practice, including cargo disputes and matters involving ship arrests. The department's clients include international banks and creditors, shipping companies and ship leasing companies. Examples include ABN AMRO, ANZ Bank and StraitNZ. Stephenson Harwood has the ability to offer a one-stop shop for English and Singapore law advice through its joint venture with Virtus Law LLP.
Work Highlights
- Stephenson Harwood advised Bank of Communications Financial Leasing on the structuring and documentation of its first container management project.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The team is very experienced in handling a wide range of shipping issues and matters, and can tap into its global reach to quickly find solutions for complex cross-border issues."
"They have a keen awareness of the market conditions and what is commercially workable and what is not. We find their advice very practical and easy to apply."
"The team is very experienced in handling a wide range of shipping issues and matters, and can tap into its global reach to quickly find solutions for complex cross-border issues."
"They have a keen awareness of the market conditions and what is commercially workable and what is not. We find their advice very practical and easy to apply."
Notable Practitioners
Iain Young acts for major banks and ship owners on a range of financing work, including restructuring matters, and vessel acquisitions and sales.
"Iain's vast experience shows and is immensely reassuring."
Gregg Johnston is widely acknowledged as a top choice and market leader for ship finance work in Singapore.
"Gregg is the go-to ship finance lawyer in Asia, with a hands-on approach and fully immersed in the details."
"He has a great work attitude and is always open for discussions. His insights have also proven to be very helpful in the arranging and structuring of many of our financing deals."
Kwan Huay Yee is well respected in the ship financing legal market in Singapore. She is well versed in acting for banking clients on ship financing, including joint ventures and lease facilities. She is well placed to advise Chinese clients and has acted on restructuring mandates for PRC lessors.
"Her knowledge of the China sector is without parallel."
"She is an expert and handles sophisticated matters professionally."
John Simpson is a prominent figure in Singapore's shipping litigation market who regularly assists clients with dry shipping disputes, including restructurings and contractual disputes.
"Any client would be foolish not to appoint John in preventing disputes or in seeking advice when they can't be avoided. His commercial nous and reassuring manners make any client feel at ease with the most complex matters."
Michelle Yong is an emerging name in Singapore's shipping litigation space. She is proficient in handling contractual disputes for banks and shipping companies, as well as restructurings and related ship arrests.
"Michelle is an excellent solicitor with a keen eye for strategy and on the long game. Personable and easy to work with, Michelle brings to the table valuable expertise and insights as to her clients' commercial interests."
Pedram Norton has a rising reputation in Singapore's ship finance legal market. He often handles financings for vessel and fleet acquisitions, as well as sale and leaseback transactions and debt restructuring.
"Pedram is sophisticated and precise, quick and detailed."
Ranked Lawyers at
Stephenson Harwood LLP
Singapore
Members
Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP
Head of Department
Gregory Xu
Jeffrey Tanner
Justin Gan
Matthew Seah
Industries
Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP
Marine and International Trade
Shipping and offshore finance