Wotton Kearney Expands Marine Disputes Team in Asia
Wotton Kearney has launched a marine, trade, and commodities team in Singapore, responding to rising demand for specialist expertise in the region. The move comes as the marine insurance market faces pressure from growing Asian exposure and a more volatile claims environment.
Experienced Team Joins Wotton Kearney
Partner Karnan Thirupathy and special counsel Charlene Sim join from Kennedys, bringing their team to Wotton Kearney’s Singapore and Thailand offices. The group will advise insurers, P&I clubs, commodity traders, vessel owners, and charterers on maritime, logistics, and international trade matters.
Thirupathy has 25 years of experience in Asia, specializing in international arbitration and multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes across commodities, shipping, and insurance. Sim has 11 years of experience, primarily working alongside Thirupathy on commercial disputes and international arbitration involving LNG and commodity contracts.
Growing Demand for Specialist Expertise
The International Union of Marine Insurance reports that global cargo premiums reached $22.64 billion in 2024, up 1.6%, while Asian premiums grew 8.8%. The region remains vulnerable to shipping losses, with South China, Indochina, Indonesia, and the Philippines identified as the leading global hotspot for total vessel losses both in 2025 and over the past decade, recording 255 losses across the 10-year period.
Marine claims are becoming increasingly complex, involving coverage, contract interpretation, sanctions, and jurisdiction issues. Recent events, such as the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, have highlighted the need for specialist expertise in assessing war-risk exposure and insurance coverage.
Strengthening Wotton Kearney’s Regional Presence
Ben Nicholson, managing partner for Asia at Wotton Kearney, stated that the appointments are part of the firm’s regional expansion strategy. “Marine, shipping and international trade are fundamentally cross-border, and clients need advisers who understand both the legal complexity and the commercial realities of operating across the region. Karnan and his team bring deep sector knowledge, strong regional relationships and substantial dispute resolution experience. Their arrival significantly strengthens the support we can provide to clients across Asia Pacific,” Nicholson said.
Wotton Kearney has been actively expanding its marine footprint in the region, with the integration of Oceanlaw in New Zealand and the opening of offices in Singapore and Bangkok.
