Thian Seng Oon
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025
Band 1 : Shipping
Band 1
About
Provided by Thian Seng Oon
Practice Areas
Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, Shipping, Employment, Banking & Finance, International Trade, Insurance & Reinsurance, Oil & Gas
Career
Thian Seng is qualified as an advocate and solicitor in both Singapore and in Malaysia. In addition to being a partner at Oon & Bazul, he is also the Managing Partner at the firm’s associated Malaysian office T S Oon & Partners in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is also an appointed Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public.
Thian Seng is noted for his ability to handle transactions involving highly technical issues and is regularly instructed by clients in the banking, oil & gas, international trade, insurance, shipping, and construction industries.
Thian Seng acts for shipowners, P&I Clubs and marine insurers in both Singapore and in Malaysia on a range of shipping matters including charterparty disputes, cargo claims and casualties (particularly those arising in Malaysia) and shipbuilding/shiprepair disputes involving allegations of defective construction, defective design and delays.
He is also experienced in banking advisory and transactional work, structured trade, trade finance and project finance. He has experience in restructuring inward acquisitions, investment and joint ventures in Singapore, Malaysia and around the region. He regularly acts for commodities traders and banks in disputes involving letters of credit, bills of exchange and other financial instruments.
He also has extensive experience appearing as counsel in trials and appeals in the superior courts in Singapore and Malaysia as well as in international arbitrations.
He is praised by clients as a “thorough, practical and accessible” practitioner. Clients also praised TS Oon & Partners Malaysia as “commercially grounded and definitely know their stuff” and admired “their responsiveness and the options that they provide“.
Awards & Accolades:
• Chambers & Partners Asia Pacific recommends Thian Seng under “Leaders in Their Field”.
• Legal 500 Asia Pacific recommends Thian Seng as a “Leading Individual” and has commended his advice as “practical, commercial and delivers value“.
• Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific recommends him as a Dispute Resolution Star for his work in Shipping (Malaysia).
• Asia Business Law Journal ranks Thian Seng as one of Singapore’s top 100 lawyers.
• Best Lawyers recognizes Thian Seng as one of the “Best Lawyers in Singapore” for his work in Shipping & Maritime Law.
• Asialaw Leading Lawyers recognizes Thian Seng as a Distinguished Practitioner for his work in Shipping (Malaysia). The title is defined by the publication as lawyers who are highly regarded by their peers and possess a strong record and positive client feedback.
Professional Memberships
Singapore Academy of Law
Singapore Shipping Association
Singapore Institute of Arbitrators
Maritime Law Association of Singapore (MLAS)
Shiparrested.com
First Law International SPRL (FLI)
International Malaysian Society of Maritime Law
Chambers Review
Asia-Pacific
Oon Thian Seng is adept at handling a wide range of shipping disputes in Malaysia. He demonstrates considerable experience advising both international and Malaysian clients.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Thian Seng Oon has a deep understanding of the maritime industry and its legal framework. He is always accessible, responds promptly to queries and keeps us informed on the progress of our cases."
"Thian Seng Oon has a deep understanding of the maritime industry and its legal framework. He is always accessible, responds promptly to queries and keeps us informed on the progress of our cases."