Beginner’s Guide to Choosing Your Best Maritime Lawyers in Singapore
Singapore’s maritime industry is not just about cruise ships docking at ports or fishing vessels going out to sea. It’s actually a dynamic part of the economy, enabling this nation to maximise its position as a gateway into Asia. The industry is booming with port facilities, technological breakthroughs, shipyards, and all the components that make up a healthy business ecosystem. To thrive in this environment, entrepreneurs and investors need access to the best maritime lawyers in Singapore.
Singapore is yet again the World’s Top Leading Maritime City, and its Ship Registry is in the top five globally. According to the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), Singapore is the port of call for more than 140,000 vessels annually. With more than 200 shipping line routes, it is also the world’s largest bunkering and container transhipment hub. Unsurprisingly, it is also the second-largest container port in the world.
The Government’s latest Sea Transport Industry Transformation Map revision aims to hit SGD2 billion in growth by 2025. Singapore’s maritime industry should achieve a 2% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) between 2021 to 2026.
Engaging maritime attorneys as part of your enterprise solutions is necessary to secure your interests and rights in this industry. In this guide, we take a look at the definition of maritime lawyers and the nature of their work. Towards the end, you’ll discover a list of Singapore’s Top 10 maritime lawyers. Rest assured that these are the best you’ll find in the industry.
What Are Maritime Lawyers?
Maritime lawyers specialise in maritime law, including nautical issues and maritime business. It can be workers’ contracts, as well as ship liens occurring on land or sea, that relate to maritime activities. Generally, if there is a civil issue, then you will definitely need the services of a maritime lawyer.
Hence, modern maritime law comes with extensions, i.e., ancillary fields of finance, insurance, goods and services, etc. The legal scope encompasses maritime and marine activities’ recreational, commercial, and navigational aspects. Ports and ships with a Singapore flag fall under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s maritime laws. The law may also extend beyond Singapore’s territorial waters into multiple international jurisdictions.
It is a vast body of law, and these attorneys need versatile industry-related skills, knowledge, and experience. Aside from drafting contracts or attending hearings, maritime attorneys also offer expertise in other areas. The best maritime lawyers in Singapore will be able to handle any of the following:
- Dispute resolution for charter party conflicts, cargo damage, etc.,
- Marine insurance and risk management, trade finance, etc.
- Commercial and admiralty litigation
- Arbitration and tribunals
- Shipping and logistics
- Ship or port arrests legal advisory services
- Sale and purchase, registration, licensing, and mortgage of ships
Maritime law, also known as admiralty law, consists of common law principles, statutes, conventions, and treaties. It includes merchant shipping, marine transport of goods, as well as disputes that occur on land and sea. In Singapore, governing statutes include the Merchant Shipping Act and the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act. As a modern free-trade port, Singapore’s maritime laws have an extensive range and encapsulate:
- Private and cross-border business
- Domestic and international concerns
- Carriage of goods and passengers
- Ocean-going vessels, barges, tug boats, etc.
- Ships, ports, dockyards, etc.
- Logistics, goods, and services relating to maritime or port activities
Why Do You Need Maritime Lawyers?
Maritimes lawyers play an important role in this industry as disputes, accidents, and other infringements can be complex to navigate. Generally, entrepreneurs and investors do have good trade knowledge; however, they can’t do the job of a competent maritime attorney. The legal fields overlap, ranging from contract to tort, negligence to admiralty laws. A reputable maritime attorney will understand these complexities, apply relevant laws, and chart a course to success.
Another consideration is that settlement negotiations, insurance claims, etc., sometimes include cross-border jurisdictions. Maritime laws simply aren’t uniform and are further vitiated by conventions, treaties, etc. Familiarity with another country’s court process, legislation, and even the judicial network all carry weight in such cases. Ideally, the attorney in charge should be qualified to practice law in more than one jurisdiction.
Claims can be complex to quantify while proving causation and liability requires a skilled advocate in court. Expert maritime attorneys will be able to gather evidence, formulate strategies, and work towards the outcome you want. Their experience facilitates early and professional case evaluation and advice, thereby saving time and money. Such instances will require a capable, maritime-focused team of experts to traverse the legal requirements successfully.
There are also instances when a dispute or incident is unique to the maritime or marine industry. For example, a ship may be unseaworthy, accidentally polluting or damaging the port or the waters in the harbour. In these situations, several laws may apply, including international environmental legalisation, and damages may run into millions of dollars. A swift legal solution or response is critical in handling the situation, minimising losses, and preparing for fallouts.
Where Should I Find Maritime Lawyers?
Singapore is renowned as a world-class business hub and international maritime centre where commerce and shipping flourish. Multinational enterprises, entrepreneurs, and investors continue to flock to Lion City with its competitive commercial and maritime ecosystem. The Government is also going full steam ahead to make Singapore a Global Maritime Hub for Connectivity, Innovation and Talent.
As the legal framework in these fields continues to evolve, engaging the best maritime lawyers in Singapore is crucial. It’s the most sensible way to protect your interests and rights and ensure you stay legally up to date.
There may be plenty of maritime attorneys in Singapore, but only a select few make our Top 10 list. These lawyers have the experience and expertise to assist clients with multijurisdictional challenges as well as private concerns. Their track records are impeccable, while professionalism is the byword of their success stories. You can be certain that only the best make the cut, as nothing short of excellence passes our due diligence.
Here are the Top 10 Maritime Lawyers in Singapore
There are many maritime lawyers in Singapore. We worked with industry experts, and some business owners to discuss the best ones among them.
Clyde & Co
| Company Name: | Clyde & Co |
| Website: | https://www.clydeco.com/en/locations/asia-pacific/singapore |
| Email Address: | n/a |
| Operating Hours: | Monday to Friday: 9am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
| Services Offered: | Maritime Law Services, Aviation, Drones, Education, Energy & Natural Resources, Healthcare, Hospitality, Infrastructure, Insurance & Reinsurance, Marine, Professional Practices, Retail & Consumer, Trade & Commodities |
| Address: | 12 Marina Boulevard 30-03, Tower 3 Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore 0189824 |
Eugene Thuraisingam LLP
| Company Name: | Eugene Thuraisingam LLP |
| Website: | https://thuraisingam.com/ |
| Email Address: | n/a |
| Operating Hours: | Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM |
| Services Offered: | Maritime Law Services, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Litigation, International Litigation |
| Address: | 1 Coleman St, #07-06 The Adelphi, Singapore 179803 |
Stephenson Harwood
| Company Name: | Stephenson Harwood |
| Website: | https://www.shlegal.com/offices/singapore |
| Email Address: | n/a |
| Operating Hours: | n/a |
| Services Offered: | Maritime Law Services, Intellectual Property, Investment Funds, Marine and International Trade, Private Client, Trusts and Fiduciary Services, Restructuring and Insolvency |
| Address: | 8 Marina Boulevard 29-01, Tower 1 Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore 018981 |
Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP
| Company Name: | Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP |
| Website: | https://jtjb.com/ |
| Email Address: | in**@jt**.com |
| Operating Hours: | Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
| Services Offered: | Maritime Law Services, Shipping, International Trade & Logistics, Dispute Resolution, Conveyancing & Real Estate, Corporate & Commercial, Regulatory & Compliance, Corporate Secretarial Services |
| Address: | 168 Robinson Rd, #18-02 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912 |
Dentons Rodyk
| Company Name: | Dentons Rodyk |
| Website: | https://dentons.rodyk.com/ |
| Address: | 80 Raffles Place, #33-00 UOB Plaza 1, 048624 |
| Email Address: | sg*****@de*****.com |
| Operating Hours: | Monday to Friday: 8:45am to 5:45pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
| Services Offered: | Intellectual Property services, Arbitration, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Competition and Antitrust, Corporate Law |
Allen & Gledhill LLP
| Company Name: | Allen & Gledhill LLP |
| Website: | https://www.allenandgledhill.com/ |
| Email Address: | en*******@al**************.com |
| Operating Hours: | 24 Hours |
| Key Service(s): | Trust & Private Wealth Setup, International Arbitration, Islamic Finance, Cybersecurity & Data Protection |
DennisMathiew
| Company Name: | DennisMathiew |
| Website: | https://www.dennismathiew.com/ |
| Email Address: | de****@de***********.com / hu******@de***********.com / ma*****@de***********.com |
| Operating Hours: | Monday to Friday: 9am – 6pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
| Services Offered: | Maritime Law Services, Arbitration & Litigation, Commercial & Corporate, Mediation, Shipping & Admiralty |
| Address: | 7500A Beach Rd, #14-324 The Plaza, Singapore 199591 |
Incisive Law LLC
| Company Name: | Incisive Law LLC |
| Website: | https://www.incisivelaw.com/ |
| Email Address: | en*******@in*********.com |
| Operating Hours: | Not available |
| Services Offered: | Maritime Law Services, Business Start-ups, Compliance and Regulatory, Corporate, Employment, Finance, International Trade, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Property, Restructuring and Insolvency, Wills and Private Client, Commercial and Contractual Disputes, Company and Partnership Disputes, Director and Shareholder Disputes, Employment Disputes, Inheritance Disputes, Professional Negligence, Property Litigation, Public Law and Judicial Review |
| Address: | 5 Shenton Way, #19-01 UIC Building, Singapore 068808 |
Helmsman LLC
| Company Name: | Helmsman LLC |
| Website: | http://www.helmsmanlaw.com/ |
| Email Address: | si*******@he*********.com |
| Operating Hours: | Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday: Closed |
| Services Offered: | Maritime Law Services, Commercial Disputes, Commodities, Corporate, Banking & Finance, Employment, Shipping |
| Address: | 21A Duxton Hill, Singapore 089604 |
Harry Elias Partnership LLP
| Company Name: | Harry Elias Partnership LLP |
| Website: | https://www.harryelias.com/ |
| Address: | 4 Shenton Wy, #17-01, Singapore 068807 |
| Email Address: | en*******@ev******************.com |
| Operating Hours: | Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM |
| Services Offered: | Insolvency And Restructuring Services, Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Construction and Engineering, Corporate, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection, Employment, Family and Divorce, Fraud and Financial Crime, Infrastructure Projects, Intellectual Property, International Arbitration, Litigation & Dispute Management, Merger and Acquisitions (M&A), Private Client Advisory, Private Equity and Funds, Public International Law (PIL), Real Estate |
End of List on the Top 10 Best Maritime Lawyers in Singapore
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