Incisive Law

Since its establishment in 2010, Incisive Law LLC has earned a reputation for shaping Singapore’s jurisprudence in shipping and international trade, while delivering legal solutions grounded in commercial reality. The firm remains well equipped to support all stages of maritime and trade activity from ship financing, shipbuilding, and vessel sale and purchase to charterparty claims, cargo disputes, marine casualties (including collisions, fires, crew claims), and ship arrests. It also regularly advises on commodity-related disputes, quality/contamination issues, trade finance (including letters of credit and bills of exchange), export licence compliance and other international trade matters. 

Beyond shipping and trade, Incisive Law offers a full range of corporate, finance, regulatory, employment, restructuring, property, and private client services, enabling holistic support for cross-practice matters. 

Operating from Singapore, Incisive Law advises on Singapore and English law, and engages regularly in domestic and international arbitral forums. A key strategic development is its association with DAC Beachcroft, formalized in September 2023, by which Incisive collaborates in areas of shipping, trade, and commodities across Asia-Pacific. Wai Yue Loh plays a pivotal role in aligning this trans-jurisdictional collaboration, especially given the recent expansion of DAC Beachcroft into Hong Kong. In 2024, Incisive secured an appointment as a legal correspondent in Singapore for a major International Group Protection & Indemnity (P&I) Club, further solidifying its standing in the maritime insurance and casualty domain.

The firm recently celebrated notable appellate victories, most significantly the Court of Appeal win in Argoglobal Underwriting Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and others v Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited [2026] SGCA 14, in which the firm acted for a group of five marine insurers in overturning a High Court judgment and defeating a USD 56 million marine insurance claim after nearly eight years of litigation. The Court of Appeal delivered authoritative guidance on the burden of proof in perils of the seas claims and the requirements for establishing constructive total loss. The firm also secured a landmark decision in The Sea Justice [2024] SGCA 32, showcasing its strength in high-stakes maritime litigation. In shipping disputes, Incisive's team is recognized for its work in charterparty claims, cargo disputes, marine casualties, and ship arrests, a track record highlighted by the Legal 500 in its rankings. The firm acts for significant clients including Unipec (in interpleader and admiralty matters) and the Swedish Club in collision and limitation cases, amongst others.

• Meet the team
• Managing partner biography
• News & Insights

• Arbitration
• Commercial and transactions
• Commercial disputes
• Dispute resolution
• Energy and construction
• Insurance
• International arbitration
• Labor and employment
• Private client
• Shipping
• Trade and customs
• White collar crime

Loh Wai Yue, Shipping, waiyue.loh@incisivelaw.com

• Acted for the hull insurers in Argoglobal Underwriting Asia Pacific Pte Ltd v Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited [2026] SGCA 14, a complex marine casualty claim exceeding US$70 million arising from the capsize of the vessel TERAS LYZA during a tow voyage in 2018. Successfully overturned the High Court’s decision in its entirety and secured a complete victory for the clients. The Court of Appeal held that the insured had failed to prove both loss by a peril of the seas and constructive total loss, delivering a seminal judgment on marine insurance law in Singapore.
• Acting for the Singapore subsidiary of a Chinese State-Owned trading company in one of the biggest litigations that has come before the Singapore High Courts arising from the collapse of a prominent Singapore oil trading house which has spawned various suits in connection with this collapse. The case reference number of the above matters before the Singapore High Court are as follows: (a) HC /OS 489/2020; (b) HC/ OS 549/ 2020; (c) HC / OS 593 /2020; (d) HC/ OS 616 /2020; (e) HC / OS 631/ 2020.
• Successfully represented and acted as lead counsel for the owners of the “SEA JUSTICE” before the Singapore High Court and the Court of Appeal following a collision between the “SEA JUSTICE” and “A SYMPHONY” involving a stay of admiralty proceedings in Singapore on forum non conveniens grounds in favour of the PRC: The “Sea Justice” [2024] SGHC 37 & The “Sea Justice” [2024] SGCA 32.

Davis Tan, Shipping, davis.tan@incisivelaw.com

• The case contributed to Singapore jurisprudence on determining the appropriate forum for wrongful arrest claims where the substantive dispute is stayed in favour of arbitration. The Singapore Court’s decision has been reported in C.U. Lines Limited. v Owner of the vessel(s) “HONG CHANG SHENG” [2025] SGHCR 31. The judgment highlighted that it touched on “the novel question of whether the court has a residual discretion not to enforce a consent order concerning where and how parties’ disputes were to be determined” in the context of an admiralty dispute.
• The firm further successfully resisted applications for extension of time to appeal and applications for permission to appeal, resulting in a key Singapore Court of Appeal decision reported in Cao Pei v McCom Holding Ltd [2025] SGCA 24; [2025] 1 SLR 745. The decision laid down the guiding principles on delay arising from the mistakes of counsel in the context of applications for extension of time to appeal.
• A multi-jurisdictional dispute, with actions commenced in both Luxembourg and Singapore. Bankruptcy application was commenced in Luxembourg, and in response, an anti-suit injunction was obtained in Singapore on an urgent basis against proceedings in Luxembourg. The Luxembourg proceedings were subsequently dismissed and substantive proceedings are presently proceeding in the Singapore Courts. The case highlights the increasing number of investment and commercial disputes handled by Incisive Law LLC.

• Banking
• Energy
• Financial services
• Insurance
• Oil and gas
• Shipping