International Arbitration

International arbitration is a core part of PDLegal’s Dispute Resolution Practice. Our lawyers regularly act in complex institutional and ad hoc arbitrations involving parties, projects and commercial interests across multiple jurisdictions, as well as in arbitration-related proceedings before the Singapore Courts and the Singapore International Commercial Court.

Our experience spans arbitrations administered under the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA), Thai Arbitration Institute (TAI) and Thailand Arbitration Center (THAC).

Our dispute resolution team is consistently recognised by leading legal directories, including Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500 and Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific. PDLegal is also recognised for International Arbitration by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, reflecting the strength and depth of our experience in high-value and cross-border matters.

We advise clients throughout the lifecycle of a dispute, from drafting arbitration agreements and developing pre-dispute strategies to tribunal selection, interim measures, arbitral proceedings and hearings, settlement negotiations, and the recognition, enforcement or setting aside of awards.

As experienced advocates, our lawyers regularly conduct their own advocacy, ensuring continuity and close command of the factual, legal and strategic issues throughout a matter while delivering an efficient and commercially focused service.

Our arbitration practice spans a broad range of sectors, including corporate and commercial, construction and infrastructure, energy and natural resources, shipping and maritime, commodities and international trade and financial services. Our experience encompasses disputes involving complex contractual, corporate, regulatory and enforcement issues, often spanning different legal and commercial environments.

Our regional advantage

With a regional presence across Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia, complemented by our dedicated India, China and Vietnam desks and the Hill Dickinson PDLegal Alliance in Singapore, we are well positioned to manage cross-border arbitrations involving multiple jurisdictions, governing laws and enforcement considerations.

Our lawyers are qualified across multiple jurisdictions and combine international arbitration experience with local market knowledge and an understanding of the commercial and regulatory environments in which our clients operate.

Recent representative experience includes:

• Represented one of India’s leading exporters of cashew nuts in international arbitration proceedings and subsequent proceedings before the Singapore International Commercial Court concerning an application to set aside the arbitral award. The matter involved cross-border commodity contracts and complex issues concerning contractual interpretation, Indian customs laws, resale losses, natural justice and standing, and resulted in three reported SICC decisions.
• Represented KSE Electricals Pte. Ltd. (India) in international arbitration proceedings arising from the supply of electrical materials for an infrastructure project in Bangladesh, involving aggregate claims exceeding US$40 million, and in subsequent proceedings before the Singapore High Court concerning an application to set aside the arbitral award.
• Represented the Indian subsidiary of a global sustainable solutions and renewable energy company in arbitration proceedings administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre in connection with an equipment supply contract for a power project in Indonesia.
• Represented PT Pertamina EP, an Indonesian oil and gas exploration and production company, as lead counsel in arbitration proceedings under the ICC Rules commenced by a drilling contractor in respect of approximately US$4 million allegedly due under a Technical Assistance Contract.
• Represented a Mexican oil and gas company in arbitration proceedings under the UNCITRAL Rules against a Singapore rig-building company concerning the construction of a semi-submersible oil drilling rig, involving a claim of approximately US$35 million.
• Represented a North American oil and gas company in arbitration proceedings against a Malaysian petroleum company concerning claims arising from the exploration and drilling of oil and gas in Vietnam, involving a claim of approximately US$50 million.
• Represented a Swiss commodities trading company in Singapore High Court proceedings to recognise and enforce a foreign arbitral award arising from a contract for the sale and purchase of Brazilian refined sugar. The underlying arbitration was seated in London and conducted under the Refined Sugar Association Rules, with the tribunal awarding sums exceeding US$6 million together with interest and costs.
• Represented a former chief executive officer and a Dubai-incorporated entity in an ongoing Singapore International Arbitration Centre arbitration arising from a service agreement connected with renewable energy projects in Vietnam, involving claims for unpaid remuneration and commissions and disputes concerning employee share option interests.
• Represented a global energy and infrastructure company in a Singapore-seated arbitration arising from a substation project involving Singapore, Indonesia and India, including successfully defending an application to consolidate the proceedings with a parallel arbitration.
• Represented a commodities trading company in an international arbitration involving a cross-border rice transaction and disputed advance payments, raising issues of contractual interpretation, procedural time-bars, informal contractual variation, agency and principal liability.
• Represented a hotelier and business owner in an ongoing Singapore International Arbitration Centre arbitration arising from the transfer of interests in a hospitality business, involving claims for breach of contract, misrepresentation and mistake and issues concerning corporate governance and contractual interpretation.
• Represented a state-owned Middle Eastern shipping company in a Singapore-seated ad hoc arbitration governed by English law concerning demurrage claims under a voyage charterparty, successfully securing an award in the client’s favour, including costs and interest.
• Represented a corporate client in Singapore proceedings to recognise and enforce a Singapore International Arbitration Centre arbitral award arising from a marketing and commercial arrangement involving rights connected with leading international sports personalities, with cross-border enforcement issues involving Singapore and India.
• Represented a Thai company in a cross-border insurance and shipping dispute involving multiple respondents and overlapping insurance, reinsurance, carriage and sale agreements, including the commencement of arbitration proceedings in Indonesia.