Editorial: Insurance & Reinsurance in Singapore
01 October 2007
The insurance and reinsurance industry in Singapore is inextricably tied to the shipping sector, a fact highlighted by the presence of several lawyers in both chapters. The eight we feature in this chapter are considered to be leading lights when it comes to advising local and international clients on the wide array of issues insurance law touches on. While a number advise both insurers and reinsurers on the drafting of new policies, others work on matters concerning insurance claims and recoveries. This chapter also identifies lawyers with experience representing underwriters, reinsurers, intermediaries and corporate insureds on regulatory and corporate matters.
Abdul Rashid Gani is one of the senior partners at KhattarWong and is said to be “outstanding for insurance litigation”. His arbitration practice in the insurance arena was also brought to our attention. According to our findings, Rashid is one of the practice area’s most respected figures and is “vastly experienced”. K Anparasan joins him in the following pages, making KhattarWong the only firm with two representatives in this chapter. Anparasan is “well regarded by the insurance companies in Singapore”, according to our sources, and is deputy managing partner of the firm.
Quentin Loh SC leads the project and infrastructure, and insurance and reinsurance groups at Rajah & Tann and received more nominations than any other practitioner. Praised as “the main person in Singapore that people look to for advice” he is said to do “lots of work for insurers”. Loh serves as chairman of The Law Society of Singapore’s professional indemnity insurance committee and has acted on numerous insurance and reinsurance claims, particularly relating to contractor’s all risks and liability insurance.
A number of sources recommended him as “exceptional for construction insurance disputes”. Christopher Moore is a corporate finance partner at Norton Rose with notable experience in the insurance sector. Among other highlights, he led the team advising leading UK insurance run-off specialist Omni Whittington on its acquisition of Lion City Run-Off. John Champion joined Clyde & Co LLP from Holman Fenwick & Willan in November 2006. He is reported to be a “very important” player in the industry. His work on marine, energy, commercial and industrial insurance and reinsurance was noted and he is said to do “lots of reinsurance work for London syndicates”. The “vastly experienced” Richard Kuek co-founded Gurbani & Co and was consistently recommended to researchers, particularly for the strength of his marine insurance work. Rated by one prominent source as the “best known insurance practitioner in Singapore” he has also handled “some significant non-marine” cases, according to one respondent to our survey.
Vivian Ang is also known on the maritime side of the industry and she currently co-heads the maritime and aviation practice group at Allen & Gledhill LLP. Her expertise in this area also sees her nominated for the shipping and maritime chapter of the publication. Ang was recommended by one international source as “my number one” and in the Cherry and Others dispute she acted for Glencore International in the recovery of claims for lost cargo worth in excess of US$21.9 million. One source noted that “the list would not be complete” without Justin Jagger at DLA Piper. He advises insureds, insurers and reinsurers on all aspects of non-marine insurance and was consistently recommended during our research. His arbitration practice was also brought to the attention of researchers and he is listed in the corresponding chapter.