Joseph Tan Jude Benny is best known for shipping litigation and arbitration, but the prominence of its commercial disputes practice has increased and it is acting on more general litigation, with a growing energy and commodities platform. For example, at present more than half of the team’s case load involves non-maritime-related claims, with the team acting for financiers, contractors and international companies. Besides specialist sector-focused disputes, the firm is also skilled in handling commercial contractual claims, investment disputes, insurance, insolvency, defamation and fraud cases. The team has extensive experience in high-profile wet and dry shipping matters, and admiralty proceedings, including the arresting and releasing of vessels, constituting limitation funds for collision matters and personal injury matters.
The key contacts at the firm for commercial and shipping disputes are Murali Pany, Danny Chua and John Sze.
The team continues to act for Grant Thornton as the judicial managers of Xihe Holdings, and for dozens of ship-owning companies in relation to the Hin Leong Group insolvency. The work involved dealing with claims from more than a dozen banks and traders, each entity having exposure from tens of millions to hundreds of millions from the collapse of the Hin Leong as a whole, for which Xihe holding is the main asset owner within the group structure.
Client feedback
“Good knowledge. They provide reasonable and fast advice.” – International arbitration
“Generally, the management of the litigation process is pretty good.” – Shipping
Rafizah Gaffoor
“Positive attitude and good communicator.”
Murali Pany
“Very responsive, clear understanding of issues to be evaluated, strategic thinking and professional service.”
“Straight in finding solution for client.”
