Raj is a maritime and trade lawyer involved in both contentious and advisory work. Further, he has an in-depth knowledge and work experience on ASEAN law and policy. 

Raj commenced maritime practice in an established medium-sized shipping law firm in Singapore. In the main, Raj work involves a myriad aspects of maritime matters that include: charterparties, bills of lading, cargo, bunkers, shipyard, brokerage and agency, amongst others, in civil proceedings as well as in arbitration (both domestic and international) and mediation. He also keenly engages in advisory work on maritime and commercial matters. He is well acquainted with motor insurance claims /defence.

Raj spent a while practising maritime, trade and commercial law in Dubai, where he was allowed full audience before the DIFC Courts – hence, he has a fairly good understanding of the UAE Maritime / Commercial Codes.

Raj has extensive direct work experience in ASEAN economic law and policy, particularly, in regard to foreign direct investment and trade in goods / services. He worked as a Fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, a reputed regional think-tank. Subsequently, he joined the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, as the Head, Legal Unit / Senior External Relations Officer. Raj firmly believes in regional economic synergies and socio-political cohesion as building blocks for a harmonious international order

Prior to joining the firm, Raj was involved in the following matters:

• Acted for a Singapore bunkers trading entity – successfully, arrested ships in the face of OW Bunker collapse, respectively, in PRC, Taiwan, ROC, and Dubai that received bunkers from the third party physical supplier
• Acted against an Interpleader application by the shipowner interest caught in the OW Bunker debacle – upon filing and serving all affidavits and opening submissions the shipowner withdrew the application.
• Assisted in a claim for repudiatory breach of the bunker sale and purchase agreement with a foreign state-owned enterprise that involved heavy reliance loss – the full claim was allowed and the defence dismissed.
• Assisted in defending a long-term time charterparty early redelivery claim for several USD million in London that involved complex issues, various principles of law and a number of experts – eventually, the matter was settled for an amount drastically lower than the original claim.
• Acted successfully in appealing against a non-stay order in the backdrop of a valid arbitration agreement.
• Advised shipowner and proceeded to arrest a charter’s vessel making its maiden voyage via Singapore – putting all the relevant documents before the Court was a challenge but all the best endeavours were made. The charter forthwith paid the full outstanding charter hire and interests.
• Advised, assisted and eventually settled a ship chandelling matter that involved a substantial amount – based on alleged deceit and breach of fiduciary duties, amongst others.
• Advised on the prospect of a substantial sue and labour expenses claim sum under a marine insurance, which at the outset was vehemently rejected by the insurer on the basis of legal principles and the amount. But stood firm, and after several rounds of negotiation the insurer paid 95% of the original claim.