Dato’ Benny is one of the founding partners of Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP.  He founded the firm in 1988, and has since been the architect of the firm’s growth.

The firm’s success is largely attributed to Dato’ Benny’s leadership. Over the years, he has developed the Firm’s shipping and admiralty practice into one of the largest in Singapore, and the first to have a global network covering Greece, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan and  he has also guided the firm to the award of Best Shipping Practice in the first Asian Law Awards.

As a reputable litigation lawyer, Dato’ Benny is consistently awarded personal accolades in legal circles.  In 2005 Chambers Global described Jude Benny as “An old hand in the game, he knows every rule in the book, and may have written a few himself” and again, “..impressive and quick off the mark”. Who’s Who Legal 2008 entry for the world’s leading maritime lawyers says : “Jude Benny’s involvement in ship collision trials led to high levels of recognition, and he is regarded as a “legend in this field”. Dato’ Benny has also been named a Leading Individual in Legal 500’s Asia Pacific 2016 rankings

Dato’ Benny has argued the following cases before the Singapore court that are authorities on landmark or novel points and/or have become leading authorities:

• Possessory Liens (“The Alpha 601” – Civil Appeal No.237 of 1998) reported in [1999] 3 SLR 249;
• Retrenchment Benefits (Bethlehem Singapore Pte Ltd v. Ler Hock Seng and Ors – Civil Appeal No.27 of 1994) reported in [1995] 1 SLR 1;
• Law of fixtures (People’s Park Chinatown Development Ltd (in liquidation) v. Schindler Lifts (Singapore) Pte Ltd – Civil Appeal No.44 of 1989) reported in [1993] 1 SLR 591;
• Priority payments in liquidations (Joo Yee Construction Pte Ltd (in liquidation) v. Diethelm Industries Pte Ltd – Originating Summons No. 958 of 1989) reported in [1990] SLR 278;
• What is a “live issue”?  (Attorney – General v. Joo Yee Construction Pte Ltd (in liquidation) – Civil Appeal No. 30 of 1990) reported in [1993] 1 SLR 272; and
• Avoidance of transactions in liquidations (Centaurea International Pte Ltd (in liquidation) v. Citus Trading Pte Ltd) reported in [2016] SGHC 264.
• Applications for documents by liquidators in creditors voluntary liquidations (Sinfeng Marine Services Pte Ltd v Taylor, Joshua James and Anor and Anor Appeals) reported in [2020] 2 SLR 1332.
• Whether new or old owner should enter appearance in collision cases (The “Echo Star” ex “Gas Infinity”) reported in [2020] 5 SLR 1025.

He also appeared on behalf of the Malaysian Government in a series of civil cases involving railway land ownership in Singapore; and the Jacques Cousteau Foundation with respect to the sinking of the famous vessel the “Calypso”.  In addition, he represented Bethlehem Shipyard in a highly-contentious matter concerning the delivery of the “John Brewer”, the world’s first floating hotel, to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  Conducted the two ship collision trials to go to Court in Singapore in the last 40 years, involving the vessels “Ming Galaxy” / “Hercei Novi” and “Tai He”/Nordic Explorer.

Over his 30 years of practice, Dato’ Benny has acquired extensive experience as both arbitration counsel and arbitrator in a wide area of commercial law including construction, infrastructure, off-shore, shipbuilding and corporate conflicts. Dato’ Benny conducted the very first international arbitration at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) for United Engineers Berhad against a Norwegian company. where the dispute involved the defective sign of an oil rig for use by Petronas and Esso.  The hearing lasted a record 105 days (SIAC Arbitration No.1/90). Dato’ Benny also led the Singapore Maritime Foundation, Maritime Arbitration Work Group, which  led to the establishment of the Singapore Chamber of Maritime, and which was instrumental in growing the maritime arbitration scene in Singapore.

Dato’ Benny sits as arbitrator in International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitrations, and is a Panel / Accredited Arbitrator at the following Institutions:

Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC)
Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)
Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA)
Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb)
Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB)
Badan Arbitrase Nasional Indonesia (BANI)
Kuala Lumpur Regional Center for Arbitration (KLRCA)
Law Society of Singapore Arbitration Scheme
Pacific International Arbitration Centre (PIAC)

Dato’ Benny is a contributing author to three international publications:
International Ship Arrests (Lloyds Press London)
Cross-Border Insolvencies (Oceania Publications)
Atkins Singapore Court Forms – Admiralty (Lexis Nexis)
General Editor of Halsburys Laws of Singapore Shipping Volumes

 Appointments:

Chairman, Advisory Committee, Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration.

Appointed in 2004, to the Board of Directors, Singapore Maritime Foundation. Served for 7 years.

Appointed in 2006, to the Board of Directors, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. Served for 9 years, including 6 years as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Awarded the D.I.M.P. Medal, carrying the title of “Dato”, by Malaysia in 2000.

Awarded the Public Service Medal by the President of Singapore in the 2013 National Day Awards.

Appointed to the Board of BW LPG Limited, a public company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in 2013.  BW LGP is the largest LPG Tanker company in the world. Served for 5 years.

Appointed to the Board of PACC Offshore Services Holdings Ltd, a public company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 2013. Chair of the Nomination Committee and member of the Audit and Board Risk Committees.

Elected as President of ADVOC Asia in 2014. ADVOC Asia is a collaboration of independent law firms in Asia.

Elected as President of ADVOC Global and in 2015. ADVOC Global is an international network of independent law firms.