Ben Lim

Senior associate

Ben Lim

Senior associate

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+65 6460 2406

Singapore

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Ben is a senior associate in the shipping team in the Singapore office. He frequently acts for and advises shipowners, operators, charterers, commodity traders, P&I clubs, hull insurers, salvors and shipbrokers on a range of shipping and trade related disputes.

He also has an active non-contentious practice, regularly advising on ship sale and purchase transactions, sanctions, commodity trading risk management and trade tariffs.

To me, the law never exists in abstract and in a vacuum – it must be a useful and practical tool to those who rely on it. All lawyers are first and foremost problem solvers. Clients look to us to solve a particular problem, and we employ the law to do just that.

Ben Lim, Senior associate

Before joining the firm, Ben was legal counsel and claims manager at a Copenhagen-listed Danish ship owner/operator, enabling him to bring unique client-side insights and experience to his legal offering. Ben has also practised at the Singapore office of a London shipping law firm, and at a Singapore shipping law firm, where he focused on salvage and casualty work and cargo disputes. He has appeared in the Singapore courts, provided expert opinion on Singapore law in English High Court proceedings, and has acted for clients in LMAA, SCMA, SIAC, HKIAC and HKMAG arbitrations, and mediation at SMC.

Prior to qualifying as a lawyer in 2017, Ben spent more than a decade working in agribusiness at leading British and Japanese trading houses, where he headed soft commodity trading desks and was responsible for leading commercial functions in downstream assets. Given this background, he has a particular interest in, and a strong and quick grasp of, commodities claims and disputes, uniquely allowing him to approach legal issues from a practical angle and with a commercial mindset.

Recent work highlights

SCMA arbitration of misdelivery

Acting successfully for a Maltese trade finance bank in SCMA arbitration to recover over US$5 million in damages for misdelivery of thermal coal, plus interest and costs.

SIAC demurrage arbitration

Successfully advising Korean owners in SIAC arbitrations, recovering over US$500,000 in unpaid demurrage earned by several vessels.

Dangerous cargo fire costs

Acting successfully for Greek owners in LMAA arbitration to recover over US$250,000 in vessel repair costs and lost revenue caused by fire from dangerous cargo.

Sugar shipments disputes

Assisting shipowners in the settlement of loading and quality disputes over shipments of bulk raw sugar and bagged refined white sugar.

Commodity trading risks advice

Advising a Korean commodity trader on the various risks present in commodity trading: cargo risk, payment risk, price risk, counterparty risk and political risk.

Hold contamination claim

Advising cargo interests in a hold contamination claim involving liquified gas cargo.

Bunker pollution port damage

Acting for the owners on their liability for damage caused to a port due to bunker pollution.

International sanctions compliance

Assisting with international trade sanctions and vessel blacklist compliance.

Bunker pollution port damage

Acting for the owners on their liability for damage caused to a port due to bunker pollution.

International sanctions compliance

Assisting with international trade sanctions and vessel blacklist compliance.

What people are saying

The firm is very prompt with its responses. They have a very strong team with good leadership.

Chambers Global Guide: Singapore

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