Rafizah is a highly accomplished litigation and dispute resolution practitioner, specializing in the intricate fields of shipping and commercial litigation. With a strong focus on providing effective and pragmatic solutions, she possesses extensive expertise in alternative dispute resolution, encompassing mediation to international arbitration. Her clients include shipowners, operators, managers, domestic and international companies and commodity traders.

Rafizah’s remarkable communication and advocacy skills are honed through her years of extensive courtroom experience. She has successfully handled a wide range of court matters, including trials and contested interlocutory applications. Her meticulous attention to detail is evident in her handling of numerous novel and complex cases, consistently striving to achieve optimal outcomes for her clients.

Rafizah also adeptly manages shipping transactional work. She handles the sale and purchase transactions of new-build and second hand vessels, along with the registration and discharge of ship mortgages. In particular, Rafizah is experienced in handling all issues relating to the Singapore Registry of Ships including registration (both provisional and permanent), deletion of registry and closure of CSR.

Rafizah continues to advise the Judicial Managers of Xihe Holdings (Pte) Ltd in the aftermath of the Hin Leong Trading and Ocean Tankers (Pte) Ltd collapse. She acted for the JMs in the sale of close to ninety (90) tankers to buyers of various jurisdictions in the span of two (2) years. As the transactions involved unique circumstances and happened against the backdrop of covid-19 (2020 – 2022), Rafizah adapted swiftly and came up with creative solutions to the unique challenges ranging from crew quarantine issues, remote closing meetings to a security fund mechanism in the MOA. These sales have been reported in the news (Trade Wind News and Yahoo Finance).

Clients appreciate Rafizah for her prompt and comprehensive advice (“Excellent, efficient, no-nonsense and pro-active assistance”). Recognizing the urgency and importance of timely responses, she ensures that her clients receive swift and efficient advice. She also distils complex and technical issues into manageable and digestible content for her clients. She maintains an up-to-date BOSIET + BT certification (Basic Offshore Safety Induction & Emergency Training, including Emergency Breathing System) and OGUK at all times allowing her to travel offshore at short notice.

Rafizah completed her legal education at the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore in 2011 and was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore in 2012.

Selected Matters:

• Assisting the Judicial Managers of Xihe Holdings (Pte) Ltd in their broad asset sale plan for the orderly disposal of the assets which ultimately saw the sale of 90 tankers within a short timeframe of just 2 years as well as litigation matters such as ongoing interpleader proceedings.
• Acting for various cargo interests in a limitation action with the limitation fund constituted in Singapore.
• Advised a local seismic data acquisition company in commencing a claim under the London Court of International Arbitration Rules to recover US$12.6 million in unpaid invoices under a seismic data acquisition contract from a Dubai-based company.
• Advised a local seismic data acquisition company in recovering US$3.5 million under an asset sale agreement entered into with a Gujarat-based shipbuilder. Together with the support of a local law firm based in Mumbai, India, assisted to obtain an injunction from the Gujarat courts prohibiting the shipbuilder from installing and using the seismic equipment onboard its newly built vessel.
• Acted for owners in successfully obtaining a mandatory injunction from the High Court compelling the defendant charterers to handover all data relating to the vessel as well as provide information in order to rectify the vessel.
• Acted for a leading Mexican offshore services provider in arbitration proceedings for a US$35m dispute in connection with a US$500M contract for the acquisition of certain offshore equipment.
• Acted for the owners of a vessel in a claim amounting to USD 85 million for breach of a long-term charter party in respect of the vessel.
• Acted for seller (mainboard-listed company) in the sale and leaseback of two (2) AHTS vessels amounting to US$170 million.
• Acted for Norwegian shipowners in defending a claim brought by the residents of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) following the vessel’s grounding off the Eauripik atoll off the FSM.
• Successfully obtained a stay of court proceedings in Singapore in favour of arbitration for a mainboard-listed company. Judgment is reported at [2014] 1 SLR 724

Reported Cases:

• IMC Transworld Pte Ltd v Ashapura Minechem Limited [2023] SGHC 357
  
• The “Nur Allya” [2018] SGHCR 12
• Suhaidah bte Mohd Noor and another (trustees and executors of the estate of Haji Hassan bin Haji Ismail, deceased) v Syed Ahmad Jamal Alsagoff, [2014] SGHC 116 (argued)
• Eleven Gesellschaft Zur Entwicklung Und Vermarktung Von Netzwerktechonologien MBH v Boxsentry Pte Ltd, [2014] SGHC 21
• Piallo GmbH v Yafriro International Pte Ltd, [2014] 1 SLR 1028 
• Amoe Pte Ltd v Otto Marine Ltd, [2014] 1 SLR 724 (prepared submissions)
• Piallo GmbH v Yafriro International Pte Ltd, [2013] SGHCR 20 

Publications:

• Contributor, Singapore Civil Procedure 2015
• Co-Author, 2018 ICLG Guide to Shipping Law in Singapore
• Co-Author, “Waiver of Arbitration Under Singapore Law”, Benedict’s Maritime Bulletin, Vol. 12 No.1
• Researcher, “AJU v AJT: Drawing the Line for Judicial Intervention”, The Legal 500

Memberships:

• Rafizah is a member of the Women in Shipping and Trading Associations (WISTA), Singapore Chapter
• Rafizah is also a grassroots leader and volunteers in various activities aimed at empowering women

Certifications:

• Rafizah has a valid BOSIET + BT (Basic Offshore Safety Induction & Emergency Training (with Emergency Breathing System) and Travel Safely by Boat) certificate and is able to travel offshore if required. She spent 2.5 months offshore onboard a semi-submersible rig in 2020 as it underwent upgrading works, firstly at a shipyard in Tenerife, Spain before sailing to Hanøytangen in Bergen, Norway for remaining works.