Shipping: Domestic
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Singapore
Band 2
Contact number
+65 6950 8666About
Provided by Helmsman LLC
TRADE AND COMMODITIES
We act across the spectrum of international trade, with a special focus on hard and soft commodities including agricultural products, metals, coal, oil, gas, and LNG. Our expertise spans both physical tradingand commodity derivatives.
In particular, we advise on mid and upstream LNG transactions, financing, shipping and chartering, and trade disputes. We serve some of the world’s largest LNG traders and producers. We also have considerable experience with financing commodities, including trading and credit risk management.
SHIPPING
Our dedication to all things maritime inspired our name and anchors our practice - from the construction of vessels, their financing, sale and purchase, trading and employment, repair, conversion, and recycling. Our work spans ship finance and mortgage enforcement, charterparties and bills of lading disputes, marine casualties, salvage and towage, and insurance. Our clients include port and terminal owners, operators, state-owned shipowners, the chartering arms of producers and trading companies, cargo interests, ship recycling companies, as well as marine and cargo insurers.
Chambers Review
Helmsman is an active law firm in Singapore's shipping market, with strong capabilities in wet and dry shipping litigation. This includes ship casualty and grounding matters, as well as charter party and cargo disputes, and ship arrests. The team also has further capabilities in ship finance, as well as insolvency and restructuring matters. The firm has been acting for a range of maritime clients including shipping and offshore companies and commodities traders.
Work Highlights
- Helmsman acted for Trafigura India in Singapore court proceedings in relation to allegedly-fraudulent bills of lading and competing claims to nickel cargo.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Their turnaround time is fast and they are able to provide practical solutions. They are always there when you need them to assist."
"Helmsman have grown quite considerably and brought in new partners with a broad commercial and shipping expertise, including partners with good reputations amongst Chinese owners and operators."
"Their turnaround time is fast and they are able to provide practical solutions. They are always there when you need them to assist."
"Helmsman have grown quite considerably and brought in new partners with a broad commercial and shipping expertise, including partners with good reputations amongst Chinese owners and operators."
Notable Practitioners
Ian Teo is a popular choice of counsel in shipping litigation and arbitration in Singapore, regularly advising on bunker, shipbuilding and charter party disputes, among other matters.
"Ian Teo is academic with his approach to matters. He is cost competitive, good value for money and knows what we need from a lawyer."
Maureen Poh is well regarded in the Singaporean legal market for her active shipping litigation practice. She is experienced in representing shipping and commodity trading companies in charter party and ship arrest-related disputes.
Chen Zhida specialises in shipping and commodity trading matters in Singapore, with expertise in charter party and cargo disputes, among other areas.
"Zhida always strives to deliver his best to his client. He is very commercial and his fees are reasonable."
"Zhida is a standout individual supported by lots of other good lawyers. He is really responsive, professional and commercially focused."
Ranked Lawyers at
Helmsman LLC
Singapore
Members
Provided by Helmsman LLC
Industries
Provided by Helmsman LLC
Commodities
Corporate
Dispute Resolutions
Employment
Insolvency
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