John’s fundamental emphasis in his practice is to help clients identify and achieve practical and feasible solutions to legal issues. He strives to provide clear, frank, precise analysis, advise and execution of strategies to achieve desired outcomes. His litigation skills are honed through training and constant litigation work, and he never shirks from a dogfight when required.

John’s practice since being called to the bar in 2004 has primarily been in commercial litigation, with a particular focus on shipping, insolvency and restructuring litigation. He has appeared at all levels of the Singapore Courts, and represented clients as lead counsel in arbitration proceedings in Singapore, Hong Kong and London. John has worked on the entire spectrum of shipping disputes, including collisions, charterparty disputes, cargo claims, shipyard and repair disputes, shipboard incidents such as fire and personal injury. With the growth of technology usage in the trade finance and shipping industries, John has recently been actively advising the industry on the legal and regulatory issues arising from the industry’s adoption of technology in their trading, client management, operations and technical management functions.

John has also been involved as Counsel in numerous arbitrations, including arbitrations under SCMA, SIAC, LMAA, HKIAC, GAFTA as well as ad hoc rules.

John has also acted and advised creditors as well as distressed companies across the various forms of insolvency and restructuring mechanisms such as moratorium, liquidation, judicial management, schemes of arrangement and Chapter 11 filings. The cases that John has handled include companies involved in marine construction, trading, shipping and Oil & Gas sectors.

John’s other commercial work includes litigation and legal advisory work for Telcos, chemical, commodities and trading companies.

John was promoted to Deputy Managing Partner at the firm after 10 years in practice. In addition to his professional practice and management role, John also is also involved in the following:

• Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) legal and insurance committee member since 2013
• Honorary Treasurer of the Singapore Maritime Arbitrators Association
• Member of the Board of Visitors to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRCs), an independent Board that is involved in looking after welfare, discipline and conditions of inmates detained in the DRCs.
• Co-author for Atkins Singapore Court forms Maritime Chapter