Practice Profile
Andrew has experience in a broad range of commercial disputes, with an increasing proportion of his practice involving shipping, commodities and international commercial arbitration. He is regularly instructed as sole counsel in English High Court and County Court proceedings, as well as in international arbitrations, and often appears against opposing counsel many years his senior. A fluent Mandarin Chinese speaker, Andrew was born and raised in Singapore and is familiar with the East Asian and Southeast Asian region.
Examples of Andrew’s recent matters include:
- Misdelivery claims for sums of approximately USD 100million arising from various Bills of Lading.
- Allegations of fraud in the presentation of two letters of credit giving rise to claims for sums of over USD 60million.
- Successfully resisting a challenge to remove an arbitrator on the grounds of apparent bias before the UK Supreme Court in Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd [2020] UKSC 48 (as a pupil).
- A shipbuilding dispute concerning a defective stern tube bearing involving contested sums of over €50million.
- A BARECON 2001 dispute involving 4 separate vessels and approximately €14million.
Andrew completed his undergraduate studies in law at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 2017 with a double first-class degree. He was awarded a First (with Distinction) in Equity & Trusts along with the 3 Verulam Buildings Prize (for the best examination script) and numerous other faculty and college prizes. Andrew also spent a year at the University of Oxford, where he read for the Bachelor of Civil Law in 2018. Prior to coming to the Bar, Andrew supervised undergraduates at the University of Cambridge in Land Law and Roman Law.
Andrew accepts instructions (including advisory work) directly from non-UK clients and/or lawyers. In cases where the relevant rules require instruction through a solicitor, he can assist in finding a suitable solicitor.
Andrew’s mandarin CV can be found above.
Shipping & International Trade
Shipping & international trade is at the heart of Andrew’s practice. He has significant experience in both court proceedings and arbitrations involving charterparties, c.i.f./f.o.b. sale contracts, bills of lading and documentary credits. Examples of his recent work include advising on disputes involving misdelivery of cargo, a vessel issuing multiple sets of bills of lading (in respect of the same cargo) and certificate final clauses.
International Arbitration
Andrew accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ international arbitration practice. He has assisted in a significant number of high value arbitrations (including LMAA arbitrations), as well as in proceedings to enforce arbitral awards and in other arbitration-related litigation. During pupillage, Andrew was part of the team that successfully resisted a challenge to remove an arbitrator on the grounds of apparent bias before the UK Supreme Court in Halliburton Company v Chubb Bermuda Insurance Ltd [2020] UKSC 48.
Private International Law
Andrew accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ private international law practice. He has a broad range of experience in this area and has frequently worked on jurisdiction and choice of law issues in the context of court proceedings and arbitrations. An example of his recent work includes advising on whether a claim for civil compensation under Article 185 of the Italian Criminal Code (for international bribery arising out of procurement of an oil contract) gave rise to a lis pendens under Article 29/30 of the Brussels I Regulation Recast.
Commercial Fraud & Asset Tracing
Andrew accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ commercial fraud & asset tracing practice. He has significant experience in this area and routinely advises on disputes involving issues of illegality, breach of fiduciary duty, dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, following/tracing of assets and/or injunctive relief. Examples of his recent work include (i) resisting a claim for compensation under Article 185 of the Italian Criminal Code (arising in the context of international bribery allegations) and (ii) resisting a worldwide freezing order pursuant to allegations of unlawful means conspiracy to strip an arbitral award debtor of its assets. The award in question was a USD 1.5 billion ICC award.
Insurance and Reinsurance
Andrew accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ insurance and reinsurance practice. He draws on experiences acquired during pupillage including advising on (i) a retrospective reallocation of ultimate net losses across different reinsurance contracts and (ii) a claim by a reinsured against its reinsurer arising from alleged ex gratia payments made by the reinsured to the assured.
Commercial Litigation and Injunctions
Andrew accepts instructions in all areas of commercial litigation (including injunctions and related orders). He draws on experiences acquired during pupillage, in particular his involvement in a range of high-value, complex and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Examples of his recent work include (i) advising on the proper interpretation of an indemnity in a joint venture agreement and (ii) resisting a worldwide freezing injunction and Norwich Pharmacal Order pursuant to allegations of unlawful means conspiracy to strip an arbitral award debtor (of a USD 1.5billion ICC award) of its assets.
Education
2018: University of Oxford - Bachelor of Civil Law
2017: University of Cambridge - Bachelor of Arts (Law) (Double First-Class Honours)
Scholarships & Awards
2018: Prince of Wales Scholarship, Gray’s Inn
2018: Residential Scholarship, Gray’s Inn
2017: 3 Verulam Buildings Prize for Equity & Trusts, University of Cambridge
2016: Elected James William Squire Scholar, University of Cambridge
2017/2016/2015: Jennings Prize, University of Cambridge (Wolfson College)
Interests
Wine
Andrew currently holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wine (with Distinction), a qualification commonly held by wine professionals. He previously represented the University of Cambridge internationally as a blind wine taster and looks forward to furthering his knowledge of wine.
Sports & Outdoors
A former national athlete, Andrew has previously represented Singapore at the FINA Swimming World Cup (400m Freestyle). During his time at university, he was also awarded a Cambridge Full Blue in Swimming. At present, Andrew enjoys distance running and going on long nature walks.