Jainil Bhandari who works from the firm’s the Malaysia and Singapore offices, is at the helm of Christopher & Lee Ong’s shipping practice, which is noted for its ‘in-depth knowledge of the field’. The team holds impressive capabilities handling both wet and dry shipping work for key domestic and international clients. Examples of the team’s workload include advising on the high-value sale and purchase of ships and yachts; marine insurance policies; cross-border imports and exports; and the disposal of cargo. In addition to the team’s advisory work, it is also experienced in representing its clients in contentious matters, such as complex ship-arrest proceedings. Standout practitioner in the team Clive Navin Selvapandian is described as having an ‘unwavering commitment to putting clients first’; and is experienced handling the range of shipping cases.

Shearn Delamore & Co’s shipping offering has noteworthy expertise handling the gamut of complex matters, from advising on cross-jurisdictional international trade, marine insurance, sale and purchase agreements and shipbuilding matters, to handling the array of related mediation and arbitration cases. Rajasingam Gothandapani heads up the practice and has notable experience advising national and international maritime clients on the range of transactional and contentious matters. The claims the team handles are frequently multi-party, high-stakes, high-profile and of significant value. An example of its workload is its supporting The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in its initiating a lawsuit against the owners of the ‘MT Sea Coral’ regarding the alleged misdelivery of cargo to unauthorised third parties. Nik Azila Shuhada Binti Nik Abdullah, promoted to partnership in January 2023, brings to bear her litigation expertise across the scope of the team’s caseload.

Arun Kasi & Co’s shipping offering is led by admiralty disputes expert and ‘truly exceptional legal professional’ Arun Kasi. The team is experienced in handling the full range of maritime, shipping and international trade matters for its roster of well-known Malaysian companies, handling disputes regarding ship arrests on account of unpaid accounts, quarantine of vessels which occurred in the complex Covid-19 era and cargo damage; and vessel collisions. Senior associate Nicole Lee Hui Ching is another key contact in the group.

Praised as an ‘excellent lawyer’, maritime and aviation specialist Soh Yin Chuin, who advises on banking and asset finance transactions arising out of the maritime and offshore sectors, co-leads the team at Rahmat Lim & Partners, with support of firm’s managing partner Azman bin Othman Luk. The team is well-equipped to advise financial institutions on such matters as vessel building, reflagging, and financings. The ‘always accurate’ Florence Yong, who specialises in the banking and finance aspects of shipping, was promoted to partnership in January 2023 and is another key contact in the group.

Noted for its formal association with Clyde & Co, the shipping practice at Shaikh David & Co. is experienced in advising clients on a plethora of shipping matters and has a particular focus on insurance and reinsurance-related cases, which are frequently cross-border in nature and of high value. Such matters include advising in situations whereby cargo or vessels have been damaged or destroyed. Additionally, the practice advises on sale and purchases and shipbuilding contracts. James P David, who specialises in insurance, shipping, international trade and offshore energy mandates, leads the team and senior associate Siew Yin Foo is another name to note.

The shipping cohort at Skrine has demonstrable experience representing clients in maritime disputes, involving issues including shipbuilding and failures to meet contract specifications therein, the pursuit of outstanding sums from ship mortgages, illegal port entries, and circumstances surrounding damage to or destruction of vessels. Practice co-head Siva Kumar Kanagasabai spearheads the contentious offering and handles a broad range of cases, from arrests of vessels, charterparty disputes and oil pollution claims to vessel detentions, collision claims and cargo claims, among others. Other key contacts in the team include Fariz Abdul Aziz and senior associate Dhanyaa Shreeya Sukumar, while Trishelea Sandosam departed to Wong & Partners in January 2023.

Rahayu Binti Abd Ghani and Wiwin Binti Abd Kahar jointly lead the shipping team at Rahayu Partnership, which focuses its attention on litigious matters, including disputes concerning the lack of payment for high-value charter hires. Key clients range from shipowners and charterers, P&I clubs and international agencies to shipyards and marine insurance underwriters.