Connect with meKarnan is a Partner in Wotton Kearney’s Singapore office, with more than 20 years’ experience in Asia advising on international arbitration and multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes across the commodities, shipping and insurance sectors. Qualified in England and Wales and Singapore, and conversant in Malay, he brings deep regional experience to complex cross-border matters.
Karnan acts for commodities traders, vessel owners and charterers, offshore energy contractors, P&I Clubs and insurers. His work spans commodity sale contracts, offtake agreements, contracts of affreightment, marine insurance, shipping and commodities derivatives, trade and shipping-related fraud, sanctions compliance and related regulatory issues.
He regularly represents clients in international arbitrations in London, Singapore and Hong Kong, appears as counsel in Singapore Court proceedings, and accepts appointments as arbitrator.
Karnan is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Senior Accredited Specialist in Maritime and Shipping Law with the Singapore Academy of Law. He is recognised by Chambers Global, Chambers Asia Pacific, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Best Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal for his shipping, arbitration and insurance expertise.
- Acted for a Singapore-based energy company and its insurers in Singapore Court proceedings involving vessel damage to pipelines, including the establishment of a limitation fund under the LLMC 1976.
- Represented charterers in related arbitration and court proceedings in London, Singapore, Mauritius, Indonesia and the US, arising from an Indonesian nickel ore cargo and the vessel’s 15-month detention following government export restrictions.
- Acted for New York-listed shipowners in obtaining injunctions against charterers to freeze more than US$60 million in Singapore assets in support of London arbitration and court proceedings.
- Represented an international commodities trader in defending Hong Kong arbitration claims brought by Chinese buyers under coal supply contracts, and in related proceedings against a former Indonesian employee involving alleged contract and fund misappropriation.
- Advised a leading producer and exporter of oleochemicals and biofuels on internal sanctions compliance procedures and responses to transaction-specific regulatory investigations.
- Marine
- Litigation, Investigations and Inquiries
- Transport, Trade and Logistics
- Construction and Infrastructure
- Energy, Mining and Power
- Industrial and Commercial Property
- Marine and Transport
Admitted to Singapore, and England & Wales