Jainil Bhandari is a partner of the firm’s Shipping & International Trade practice group.
He is named as a Senior Accredited Specialist for Maritime and Shipping Law by the Singapore Academy of Law’s Specialist Accreditation Scheme. He is also a qualified arbitrator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Jainil has been in active litigation and arbitration practice since 1989 and has appeared in the Singapore and Malaysian courts at the highest levels, and as counsel in ad hoc as well as institutional commercial arbitrations administered under the SIAC, SCMA, AIAC, LMAA and UNCITRAL Rules. He also has extensive experience in commodity contract arbitrations administered by various trade bodies such as GAFTA, FOSFA and PORAM.
Jainil is vastly experienced in shipping and trading disputes and has acted for shipowners, charterers, insurers, international commodity traders and oil majors in disputes relating to amongst others, bills of lading, charterparties and transportation contracts, offshore construction projects, marine insurance, shipping casualties, oil pollution and commodity contracts involving shipments of coal, iron ore and oil.
He is recognised as a Recommended Leader by Who’s Who Legal: Transport – Shipping 2024, and has been consistently ranked as a Leading Lawyer in shipping law by Chambers Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500, Asialaw Profiles and Best Lawyers.
Chambers Asia-Pacific stated “Jainil Bhandari is very sharp in the analysis of complex issues, and his cross-border practice and qualification is extremely helpful for dealing with shipping matters“, and lauds Jainil as “a distinguished lawyer in Singapore and also has expertise in Malaysian shipping matters. He has substantial experience in shipping disputes, assisting clients with ship safety and cargo damage matters.“ The Legal 500 attests that Jainil “is a precision lawyer, and one able to answer any question we put to him quickly, clearly and comprehensively.”
Jainil was an adjunct tutor for the advocacy course at the National University of Singapore from 1990 to 1997. In addition, he tutored Admiralty law for the Preparatory Course Leading to Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations (formerly known as the Postgraduate Practical Law Course).
EXPERIENCE
- Acted for a large Singapore insurer in a claim before the Singapore International Commercial Court for constructive total loss and sue & labour expenses incurred relating to damage caused to a single point mooring buoy located in an offshore gas field in Myanmar. Successful judgment obtained in favour of the client.
- Acted in Singapore High Court proceedings brought by a large commodity trader for breach of a contract for the sale and purchase of Australian coal to be shipped from China that was subject to a prohibition of import by the Chinese Government.
- Acted in proceedings brought in the Malaysian Admiralty Court for conspiracy breach of duty of care, conversion and bailment of a cargo of crude oil stored on board a Floating Storage Unit (FSU) that was released to a third party.
- Acted for a large international liner operator in Court proceedings in Malaysia in relation to two major oil pollution incidents in Tanjong Pelepas port that affected more than 50 vessels and resulted in significant claims brought for clean up costs, loss of revenue and other consequential losses.
- Acted for a large crude oil and petroleum trader in an arbitration against a Malaysian government-linked port operator arising from a fire incident at the port tank storage facility, which resulted in significant claims for cargo loss and loss of use of the facility. Successful outcome with an arbitration award in excess of US$140 million.
- Acted for a large commodity trader in a dispute arising out of a sale and purchase agreement for non coking coal which was allegedly off specifications for certain quality parameters. Successful arbitration award obtained in favour of the client.
- Acted for a Philippines buyer in an arbitration relating to alleged repudiatory breaches of a term contract for the supply of LPG. The issues involved inter alia the Claimant’s alleged failure to obtain imports customs clearance for the LPG under Philippines law.
- Acted for a large Chinese offshore engineering company in an AIAC arbitration in respect of claims for liquidated damages, delay and variations/additional costs arising from a contract for the installation of offshore pipelines and platforms.
- Acted for a European trader in a dispute before the Malaysian Court relating to breach of a contract for sale of crude oil of Venezuelan origin involving allegations of breach of warranties and specifications of the cargo.
- Acted for a large oil major in relation to a claim for damage caused to its undersea pipeline in Malaysia by a vessel dragging its anchor.
- Acted for a large international freight forwarder in an AIAC arbitration relating to claims for damage to project cargo caused by a fire on board a vessel during loading.
- Acted for the Singapore subsidiary of an Indian state-owned trader in a GAFTA Arbitration in London relating to defaults under contracts for the sale of wheat caused by force majeure. Appeal against the award was successful.
- Acted for the Government of West Bengal in an SIAC arbitration relating to a dispute under a contract for the sale of iron ore fines. Successful award in favour of the client.
- Acted for a substantial Indian offshore operator in an arbitration in relation to disputes under contracts for the conversion of a Mobile Offshore Production Unit with a contract value in excess of US$40 million.
- Advised an oil major in respect of oil pollution claims arising from a collision in the Straits of Singapore resulting in the largest oil pollution incident in the history of Singapore.
- Acted for the owners and insurers of a vessel involved in a collision in Chittagong port which resulted in damage to several Bangladeshi Navy vessels and claims in excess of US$30 million asserted by the Bangladeshi Government.
- Acted for the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India in a dispute with a Hong Kong party involving the sale of iron ore which was allegedly off specifications.
- Advised the owners and insurers in relation to the sinking of a vessel in the Yangon river, Myanmar, and subsequent successful wreck removal negotiations with the Myanmar Port Authority.
MEMBERSHIPS / DIRECTORSHIPS
- Director, Rajah & Tann Myanmar Company Ltd
Member, Law Society of Singapore- Member, Bar Council of Malaysia
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Member, Maritime Law Association of Singapore
