Key contacts
Managing Director : Loh Wai Yue
Deputy Managing Director: Davis Tan
Quick facts
# Partners
4
# Other qualified practitioners
15
#Total number of lawyers
19
# Practitioners (worldwide)
19
Languages
English, Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Malay, Tamil
Network memberships
DAC Beachcroft Hong Kong
Key practice areas
Dispute resolution
Shipping
Commodities and trade
Firm overview
Since its establishment in 2010, Incisive Law LLC has earned a reputation for shaping Singapore's jurisprudence in shipping and international trade while delivering legal solutions grounded in commercial reality. The firm is well equipped to support clients at every stage of maritime and trade activity. This includes ship financing, shipbuilding, and vessel sale and purchase, as well as charterparty claims, cargo disputes, marine casualties (including collisions, fires, and crew claims), and ship arrests. The firm also regularly advises on commodity-related disputes, quality and contamination issues, trade finance (including letters of credit and bills of exchange), export license compliance, and other international trade matters.
Our Dispute practice handles the full range of contentious work before the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal. This includes anti-suit and Mareva injunctions, enforcement of foreign judgments, multi-party collision litigation, marine insurance disputes, and cross-border fraud and asset recovery. In international arbitration, the firm regularly acts as counsel in SIAC, SCMA, ICC, LMAA, and LCIA proceedings, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations, on charterparty, offshore project, and energy sector disputes. The practice has developed particular depth in sanctions law across both litigation and arbitration and was involved in the first reported Singapore court judgment on the impact of US sanctions, The "Tina I" [2025] 3 SLR 121.
Incisive Law extends its reach beyond Singapore through two strategic relationships. The first, an association with DAC Beachcroft formalised in September 2023, broadening Incisive Law's Asia-Pacific presence in shipping, trade, and commodities disputes and enabling seamless cross-border counsel. The second, a Memorandum of Cooperation with Hui Ye Law Firm entered into on 22 May 2026, deepening Incisive's access to China by establishing an integrated legal services channel that bridges the Chinese and international legal systems and supports Chinese enterprises in their global expansion.
Our Managing Director Mr Loh Wai Yue, who leads the firm's China practice, plays a pivotal role in aligning the DAC Beachcroft collaboration, particularly following DAC Beachcroft's expansion into Hong Kong. The China practice is further reinforced by our Deputy Managing Director Davis Tan's Greater China expertise. The team has delivered seminars on admiralty proceedings and charterparty risk in Taiwan, Shanghai, and Malaysia, and regularly acts in matters spanning Singapore, England, China, Indonesia, the US, and the EU.
The firm recently celebrated notable appellate victories, most significantly the Court of Appeal win in Argoglobal Underwriting Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and others v Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited [2026] SGCA 14, in which the firm acted for a group of five marine insurers in overturning a High Court judgment and defeating a USD 56 million marine insurance claim after nearly eight years of litigation. The Court of Appeal delivered authoritative guidance on the burden of proof in perils of the seas claims and the requirements for establishing constructive total loss.
The firm also secured a landmark decision in The Sea Justice [2024] SGCA 32, showcasing its strength in high-stakes maritime litigation. In shipping disputes, Incisive's team is recognized for its work in charterparty claims, cargo disputes, marine casualties, and ship arrests. The firm acts for significant clients including Unipec and the Swedish Club, amongst others.
Our Dispute practice handles the full range of contentious work before the Singapore High Court and Court of Appeal. This includes anti-suit and Mareva injunctions, enforcement of foreign judgments, multi-party collision litigation, marine insurance disputes, and cross-border fraud and asset recovery. In international arbitration, the firm regularly acts as counsel in SIAC, SCMA, ICC, LMAA, and LCIA proceedings, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations, on charterparty, offshore project, and energy sector disputes. The practice has developed particular depth in sanctions law across both litigation and arbitration and was involved in the first reported Singapore court judgment on the impact of US sanctions, The "Tina I" [2025] 3 SLR 121.
Incisive Law extends its reach beyond Singapore through two strategic relationships. The first, an association with DAC Beachcroft formalised in September 2023, broadening Incisive Law's Asia-Pacific presence in shipping, trade, and commodities disputes and enabling seamless cross-border counsel. The second, a Memorandum of Cooperation with Hui Ye Law Firm entered into on 22 May 2026, deepening Incisive's access to China by establishing an integrated legal services channel that bridges the Chinese and international legal systems and supports Chinese enterprises in their global expansion.
Our Managing Director Mr Loh Wai Yue, who leads the firm's China practice, plays a pivotal role in aligning the DAC Beachcroft collaboration, particularly following DAC Beachcroft's expansion into Hong Kong. The China practice is further reinforced by our Deputy Managing Director Davis Tan's Greater China expertise. The team has delivered seminars on admiralty proceedings and charterparty risk in Taiwan, Shanghai, and Malaysia, and regularly acts in matters spanning Singapore, England, China, Indonesia, the US, and the EU.
The firm recently celebrated notable appellate victories, most significantly the Court of Appeal win in Argoglobal Underwriting Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and others v Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited [2026] SGCA 14, in which the firm acted for a group of five marine insurers in overturning a High Court judgment and defeating a USD 56 million marine insurance claim after nearly eight years of litigation. The Court of Appeal delivered authoritative guidance on the burden of proof in perils of the seas claims and the requirements for establishing constructive total loss.
The firm also secured a landmark decision in The Sea Justice [2024] SGCA 32, showcasing its strength in high-stakes maritime litigation. In shipping disputes, Incisive's team is recognized for its work in charterparty claims, cargo disputes, marine casualties, and ship arrests. The firm acts for significant clients including Unipec and the Swedish Club, amongst others.
Connect with us
Key practice areas
- Arbitration
- Commercial and transactions
- Commercial disputes
- Dispute resolution
- Energy and construction
- Insurance
- International arbitration
- Labor and employment
- Private client
- Shipping
- Trade and customs
- White collar crime
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Key practice contacts & recent matter highlights
Loh Wai Yue, Shipping, waiyue.loh@incisivelaw.com
- Acted for the hull insurers in Argoglobal Underwriting Asia Pacific Pte Ltd v Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited [2026] SGCA 14, a complex marine casualty claim exceeding US$70 million arising from the capsize of the vessel TERAS LYZA during a tow voyage in 2018. Successfully overturned the High Court’s decision in its entirety and secured a complete victory for the clients. The Court of Appeal held that the insured had failed to prove both loss by a peril of the seas and constructive total loss, delivering a seminal judgment on marine insurance law in Singapore.
- Acting for the Singapore subsidiary of a Chinese State-Owned trading company in one of the biggest litigations that has come before the Singapore High Courts arising from the collapse of a prominent Singapore oil trading house which has spawned various suits in connection with this collapse. The case reference number of the above matters before the Singapore High Court are as follows: (a) HC /OS 489/2020; (b) HC/ OS 549/ 2020; (c) HC / OS 593 /2020; (d) HC/ OS 616 /2020; (e) HC / OS 631/ 2020.
- Successfully represented and acted as lead counsel for the owners of the “SEA JUSTICE” before the Singapore High Court and the Court of Appeal following a collision between the “SEA JUSTICE” and “A SYMPHONY” involving a stay of admiralty proceedings in Singapore on forum non conveniens grounds in favour of the PRC: The “Sea Justice” [2024] SGHC 37 & The “Sea Justice” [2024] SGCA 32.
Davis Tan, Shipping, davis.tan@incisivelaw.com
- The case contributed to Singapore jurisprudence on determining the appropriate forum for wrongful arrest claims where the substantive dispute is stayed in favour of arbitration. The Singapore Court’s decision has been reported in C.U. Lines Limited. v Owner of the vessel(s) “HONG CHANG SHENG” [2025] SGHCR 31. The judgment highlighted that it touched on “the novel question of whether the court has a residual discretion not to enforce a consent order concerning where and how parties’ disputes were to be determined” in the context of an admiralty dispute.
- The firm further successfully resisted applications for extension of time to appeal and applications for permission to appeal, resulting in a key Singapore Court of Appeal decision reported in Cao Pei v McCom Holding Ltd [2025] SGCA 24; [2025] 1 SLR 745. The decision laid down the guiding principles on delay arising from the mistakes of counsel in the context of applications for extension of time to appeal.
- A multi-jurisdictional dispute, with actions commenced in both Luxembourg and Singapore. Bankruptcy application was commenced in Luxembourg, and in response, an anti-suit injunction was obtained in Singapore on an urgent basis against proceedings in Luxembourg. The Luxembourg proceedings were subsequently dismissed and substantive proceedings are presently proceeding in the Singapore Courts. The case highlights the increasing number of investment and commercial disputes handled by Incisive Law LLC.
Sector expertise
- Banking
- Energy
- Financial services
- Insurance
- Media
- Shipping
Address:
Tel:+6565050160
Email:Contact Us
Web Address:https://incisivelaw.com/
120 Robinsons Rd , #08-01
068913, Singapore
