Department profile
Stephenson Harwood LLP

Shipping: International: Litigation

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Singapore


Stephenson Harwood LLP

Rankings

About

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

Industries (2)

  • Shipping and offshore finance
  • Marine and International Trade

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Shipping: International: Litigation - Singapore

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For

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. Stephenson Harwood has the ability to offer a one-stop shop for English and Singapore law advice through its joint venture with Virtus Law.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Stephenson Harwood co-advised Cyan Renewables on its acquisition of MMA Offshore, a Perth-based offshore vessel support company, for an implied equity value of AUD1.1 billion.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Their patience in answering every single query about legal clauses is truly exceptional.

    Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Stephenson Harwood always provide useful advice. They are very experienced, reputable lawyers in the shipping space.

    Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleIain Young
    Senior StatespeopleIain Young

    Iain Young

    Iain Young acts for major banks and shipowners on a range of financing work, including restructuring matters, and vessel acquisitions and sales.

    • Iain Young is very well regarded.

      Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 1Gregg Johnston
    Band 1Gregg Johnston

    Gregg Johnston

    Gregg Johnston is widely acknowledged as a top choice and market leader for ship finance work in Singapore. He typically advises major banks on a range of matters, such as sustainability-linked loans or acquisition financing.

    • Gregg is very switched on with the market, with deep expertise in all aspects of shipping finance transactions.

      Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
    • He is a highly diligent and hardworking lawyer with comprehensive expertise in the shipping industry.

      Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 2Huay Yee Kwan
    Band 2Huay Yee Kwan

    Huay Yee Kwan

    Huay Yee Kwan 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.

    • Huay Yee is the queen of Chinese financing.

      Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3Michelle Yong
    Band 3Michelle Yong

    Michelle Yong

    Michelle Yong is a reputable 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.

    • It is an absolute pleasure to work with Michelle on all aspects. She is a trusted, go-to partner for any legal advice.

      Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Michelle Yong is dedicated, extremely knowledgeable and a fierce advocate to have in your corner.

      Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3Pedram Norton
    Band 3Pedram Norton

    Pedram Norton

    Pedram Norton has a solid 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.

    • He is an exceptional lawyer who pairs deep industry knowledge with commercial sensibility, and is always looking to make a fair deal.

      Shipping: International: Litigation respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Up and ComingJeffrey Tanner
    Up and ComingJeffrey Tanner

    Jeffrey Tanner

    Jeffrey Tanner is well regarded by clients for his experience advising on a range of ship finance matters. He typically advises maritime clients on sale and leaseback financing and also possesses experience advising major banks on debt ship financing transactions.

  • Up and ComingJustin Gan
    Up and ComingJustin Gan

    Justin Gan

    Justin Gan is recommended by clients and market sources for his deft handling of a broad range of shipping disputes. He boasts experience advising on disputes related to bills of lading and ship financing, and is praised for his Mandarin-speaking abilities.

Ranked Individuals at Stephenson Harwood LLP (7)

Singapore

Members

Provided by Stephenson Harwood LLP

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