Focus Law Asia is a specialist litigation and arbitration boutique with a particular strength in shipping and insurance matters. The team counts major world-class ship owners such as Maersk, TORM and Ardmore Shipping, as well as leading marine insurers like Skuld, UK P&I Club and Japan P&I Club as loyal clients. The firm is a member of the One Asia Lawyers network and it boasts Japan and Korea desks with Japanese and Korean lawyers. Managing director Shem Khoo and director Mark Tan are the key contacts.
Client feedback
“The lawyers gave a holistic and sincere take on the case and provided clear options with confident probable outcomes. The team was involved intimately throughout the process and was patient to guide and advise.” – Construction
Hannah Cheang
“She is patient. She listens and clarifies before advising in detail both in legal and layman’s terms. She’s professional, experienced, and well-versed with subject matter and previous cases along with outcomes.”
Work highlights
Acting for the owner and her companies in relation to claims of unjust enrichment, constructive trust and tracing arising out of fraudulent transactions allegedly perpetrated by the client’s father.
Defending Aeturnum Energy International in a claim for fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract in relation to a letter of credit issued by the branch of a French bank in Singapore.
Representing Maersk Tankers Singapore in several matters including its claim against Winson Oil Trading pursuant to a letter of indemnity granted by Winson Oil to the client for the discharge of cargoes without the original bills of lading.
Defending a Filipino individual and his companies in a claim for fraud and breach of fiduciary duties by a multinational company in Singapore.
Work highlights
Advised the liquidators of Hin Leong Trading on various shipping and trade financing issues in the liquidation of Hin Leong.
Acted for a cryptocurrency company in respect of a winding-up application brought by a former director and shareholder of the company.
Represented the liquidators of GBL Kitchen, which was involved in the leasing of commercial properties and equipment to, among others, food and beverage companies in Singapore. This matter deals with the novel issue of whether a company’s creditor was entitled to retain the property tax rebates and Covid-19 government grants to offset the amounts owed by the company.
Work highlights
Advising Banque de Commerce et de Placements in proceedings against a SGX-listed company for unpaid sums of $19 million, arising from a circular transaction with no genuine cargo.
Acting for TORM, a Danish shipping group, on its claims against its bunker supplier, PetroChina International Singapore arising out of the supply of contaminated marine fuel to numerous TORM vessels which subsequently damaged vessel machinery and caused significant delays out of the need to de-bunker and re-bunker fuel.
