Karnan Thirupathy

Practice Areas

Karnan is a Partner in Kennedy’s Singapore office and is concurrently a director in its Singapore joint law venture firm Legal Solutions LLC. Qualified in England & Wales and in Singapore, he specialises in international arbitration and multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes in the commodities, shipping and insurance sectors. Having worked in Asia for over 20 years and being conversant in Malay, he has extensive practical experience handling matters involving jurisdictions across the region.

His clients include commodities traders, vessel owners / charterers, offshore energy contractors, P&I Clubs and insurers. He acts for and advises clients on a range of trade and shipping related matters including those involving commodity sale contracts, offtake agreements, contracts of affreightment, marine insurance, shipping / commodities related derivatives contracts and shipping and trade related fraud. He also assists clients in the shipping, trade and marine insurance sectors with trade sanctions compliance and related regulatory issues.

Karnan regularly represents clients in international arbitrations most often in London, Singapore and Hong Kong and also appears as Counsel in Singapore Court proceedings. He also accepts appointments as arbitrator.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and was appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law in January 2020 as a Senior Accredited Specialist in Maritime and Shipping Law in recognition of his extensive expertise and experience in maritime and shipping law.

He has been consistently ranked as a leading individual by Chambers Global and clients describe him as someone who is noted for his "excellent understanding of the shipping industry and the complexities of doing business across the region". In Chambers Asia Pacific, Karnan is described by clients as being "very measured and a calm operator," offers "helpful, practical advice" and is "willing to go the extra mile". In addition, Legal 500 Asia Pacific has identified him as providing "clear and measured responses in difficult situations and under tight deadlines".

Karnan has also been recognised as one of the top legal practitioners in Singapore for Arbitration & Mediation Law and Insurance Law practitioners by Best Lawyers and is identified as a leading lawyer in the category of 'Transport - Shipping' by Who’s Who Legal.

Karnan contributed to the writing of Kennedys' 'Global forecast 2025: Negotiating the interconnection of evolving risks' report, published in February 2025.