Watershed Law is a boutique disputes practice that has quickly gained traction in complex litigation and international arbitration. Established in December 2024 by managing director Christian Teo and counsel Esther Yong, the practice delivers specialist expertise in commercial litigation, international arbitration, and maritime and shipping law. Both lawyers were previously at Oon & Bazul. The team advises on shipping and commodities matters, from charterparty and bill of lading disputes to marine insurance, ship sale and purchase, and sanctions issues. It also handles a wide range of court cases involving alleged fraud, breaches of directors’ duties, defamation and contract disputes. Watershed’s clients span shipping and international trade, energy and commodities, and financial services, including state-owned enterprises, multinationals, local SMEs and high-net-worth individuals. Strong referral alliances with overseas firms and experience across major arbitral institutions like SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC and LMAA help the firm manage multi-jurisdictional disputes despite its lean size.
In its first full year of operations, the firm has handled over 20 significant disputes and proven able to punch above its weight in high-profile cases. The firm’s most notable mandate to date is the Hao Mart litigation, a widely reported multi-party High Court suit involving a prominent grocery chain and its landlord, a major property agency and multiple subtenants. The firm represented Hao Mart in a dispute arising from the termination of the chain’s flagship store lease, a case featuring claims of misrepresentation and breaches of lease agreements, as well as overlapping indemnity claims by subtenants. The litigation’s complexity, with concurrent proceedings against the landlord and the leasing agent alongside related actions by several subtenants, underscores the firm’s capacity to coordinate strategy across multiple defendants and claims.
Beyond local litigation, Watershed has been active in cross-border disputes and international arbitration. The firm’s workload includes multi-jurisdictional shipping and trade matters where its lawyers have acted swiftly across forums. For example, the team is advising a Singapore-based shipping company in an urgent charterparty dispute requiring coordinated vessel arrests in multiple countries, a matter involving a highly valuable oil cargo. The firm has also guided clients through complex commodities arbitrations seated overseas, often collaborating with foreign co-counsel on sanctions compliance and parallel proceedings.
The firm’s rapid ascent is driven by the hands-on leadership of its founders. Teo brings deep sector knowledge and a track record of managing high-stakes cases for shipping lines, commodity traders and insurers. Yong is a versatile litigator with a meticulous approach, whose background includes insolvency disputes, white-collar fraud cases and major cross-border litigation, and who has appeared before all levels of the Singapore courts. Together, they provide strong senior oversight on every matter.
“The team goes above and beyond and ensures our needs are well taken care of.” - Commercial and transactions
“They made sure to have a firm grasp of the dispute and every element of the case. They considered all angles and aspects of the matter when making their advisory.” - Commercial and transactions
“Watershed Law provides clarity and practical ways on protecting our interests and the remedy process.” - Commercial and transactions
“They do well in conflict disputes and commercial disputes. They can also sympathise which really helps.” - Commercial arbitration
“Their analysis of issues is thorough and considered. They are also commercially-minded and their advice proved helpful in navigating the potential dispute.” - Construction
“Very responsive and practical.” - Labor and employment
“It does well in client management and understanding objectives, as well as providing reassurance that the matter is being handled.” - Shipping
“Christian actively listens and understands our needs. He is extremely reliable, dedicated and thorough.”
“His consistency in ensuring my concerns is taken care of, and my objectives are achieved. He approaches all problems without prejudice and without any preconceived notions.”
“I appreciated his patience and professionalism.”
“He is well-spoken and empathetic. He is quick and knowledgeable, clearly a veteran in conflict resolutions and mitigations.”
“He is very thorough in his analysis, and he takes the effort to properly understand the nature of the business notwithstanding that it might not be necessary to properly advise on the contractual dispute.”
“He is very responsive, responsible and takes the time to understand the client's needs.”
“He is very responsive and attentive to the needs of the client.”
