Asia

While the economic landscape undergoes a transformative shift, the significance of the Asia Pacific nations has never been more pronounced. With our strategic presence in Singapore, a global financial hub and gateway to the vibrant markets of the region, we are at the forefront of navigating the legal complexities that accompany the unprecedented growth in these dynamic territories.

Respected market authority

As a foreign law practice in Singapore, Penningtons Manches Cooper brings international experience in corporate and commercial, commercial dispute resolution, banking and finance, maritime and international trade law – both contentious and non-contentious – to assist clients throughout the Asia-Pacific and globally. We are permitted to handle Singapore arbitrations and our lawyers are regularly called upon to oversee and assist on arbitrations and the enforcement of awards in other jurisdictions such as India and Australia.

Our highly regarded shipping team specialises in dispute resolution covering the full range of both wet and dry shipping matters. We have a particularly strong reputation in the market for handling casualty work and are considered one of the key players in this region. The team undertakes investigations and will manage all aspects of a marine casualty, which include dealing with salvage, wreck removal, oil pollution, general average, limitation and forum shopping issues.

We also have extensive experience handling arbitration proceedings in Singapore, Hong Kong and London arising from contractual disputes relating to charterparty claims, cargo issues and marine policy disputes. Our shipping specialists regularly work with container lines, bulk operators and tanker owners as well as charterers, P&I clubs and property insurers.

Our corporate and commercial team advises clients on mergers and acquisitions as well as on commercial matters. We have notable experience in cross-border and emerging market transactions in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors – including acquisitions, disposals, restructurings and joint ventures in oil and gas, LNG, solar, wind and conventional power along with mining and commodities. If complex or irresolvable issues arise, our commercial disputes specialists are well equipped to assist on a range of energy, trade and finance matters, with particular expertise in international commercial arbitration, investigations and public international law.

Cross-border expertise

The firm’s banking and finance practice supports commercial and investment banks, development financial institutions, investment and hedge funds, private equity houses, sponsors and corporate borrowers in various sectors on a broad range of cross-border transactional banking matters in Asia, Europe and the emerging markets. We cover trade and commodity finance, project finance, syndicated lending, private credit, debt finance, acquisition and leveraged finance, IPO financings, financings for secondary buyouts and recapitalisations, real estate finance, export credit finance, structured finance and business restructuring, seeking to provide the best possible service for our clients.

How we help our clients

Cross-border corporate transactions

Banking and finance

Commercial and regulatory

Intellectual property

Construction and infrastructure

Litigation and mediation

International arbitration practice (including ICC, ICSID, LCIA, UNCITRAL, ad hoc and commodity arbitrations)

Shipping and offshore matters

Yacht and superyacht issues

Casualties, collisions, fires and salvage

Charterparty and bill of lading disputes

Cargo claims

Recent work highlights

Advanced container tracking system

Providing corporate and commercial advice to an Australian-based design and technology company during the commercial development and deployment of its collapsible shipping containers which contain in-built IoT security and location devices.

Multi-million dollar energy sector disputes

Assisting an Indian energy conglomerate in a series of complex power and infrastructure disputes with a combined value of approximately US$450 million in ICC arbitration proceedings.

Successful outcome for logistics business

Acting for a major logistics company on a dispute over a freight forwarding contract to provide multimodal transportation services to facilitate the delivery of materials and equipment for the construction of a large-scale fertiliser plant in East Malaysia.

Serious collision on the Long Tau River

Acting on behalf of the owners and insurers of the vessel KMTC Surabaya following a major collision with the vessel Glengyle on the Long Tau River, Vietnam which triggered significant claims in multiple jurisdictions.

T-bone collision in the Singapore Strait

Assisting the owners and insurers of the vessel Huge Kumano in a serious ‘T-bone’ style collision with the vessel Cape XL in the Singapore Strait. The two vessels remaining locked together for several days.

Multi-chain charterparty damage dispute

Acting for the owners in a multi-chain charterparty dispute relating arising from damage to the vessel’s holds and tank tops following the carriage of a cargo of sulphur loaded at Ras Laffan Anchorage.

BIMCO Shipman issues across 30 vessel fleet

Acting for the owners in connection with disputes arising under a series of BIMCO Shipman agreements relating to the management and operation of a fleet of some 30 vessels.

BIMCO Shipman issues across 30 vessel fleet

Acting for the owners in connection with disputes arising under a series of BIMCO Shipman agreements relating to the management and operation of a fleet of some 30 vessels.