Vasanti’s practice embraces all aspects of international commercial litigation and arbitration, including shipping (wet, dry and shipbuilding), commodities, banking and finance, conflict of law and jurisdiction disputes, all forms of interim urgent relief, including freezing orders and anti-suit injunctions, and civil fraud. She is particularly noted for her user-friendly hands-on approach to cases and for her ability quickly to get to grips with disputes raising complex factual and technical issues which require a sound grasp of expert evidence and mastery of detail.

As Counsel:
Clients include the major P&I clubs, shipowners, charterers and salvors as well as large commercial organisations involved in commercial court litigation or international commercial arbitration in non-shipping matters.

As Arbitrator:
She has significant experience of dispute resolution in both a judicial and quasi-judicial capacity. She was appointed a Recorder in 1999, is an accredited mediator, and receives regular appointments to act as an arbitrator across a wide range of industry sectors, including but not limited to shipping and international trade disputes.  She accepts appointments under all the major industry rules, including LCIA, ICC, LMAA, LOF, SCMA, SIAC, HKIAC and UNCITRAL and has particular expertise in cases raising complex technical issues as well as novel or difficult points on assessment of damages.

Key cases & testimonials

As Counsel

Supreme Court (permission to appeal granted) RTI Ltd v MUR Shipping BV, an important case on the meaning of reasonable endeavours in a force majeure clause in the context of sanctions against Russia and currency of payment.

The Alexandra 1 (2021), the leading case in the Supreme Court on the scope of the Crossing Rule in the International Collision Regulations

Pending appeal to the Court of Appeal in FMG SYDNEY (2023) in first appellate case to consider the Head-On Rule (COLREGS Rule 14) and its relationship to the crossing rule (COLREGS Rule 15)

Rubicon Vantage v KrisEnergy [2019] EWHC 2012 (Comm), the first reported case to consider a hybrid guarantee which is part “on demand” and part “see to it” and the role of the Marubeni principle in relation to construction of the scope of the “on demand” portion of the guarantee

As Arbitrator

Chair of an ICC Panel relating to contractual disputes governed by Iraq law concerning removal of unexploded materials at Basrah port.

Chair of an LMAA Tribunal in a shipbuilding dispute

Chair of an LCIA Panel in a commodities dispute

Numerous LOF appointments by Lloyds Salvage Arbitration Branch, including an ongoing matter which involves the largest LOF fund since records began.

A very experienced silk who is able to distil complex technical issues and provide strong written advocacy.Chambers UK 2024
Vasanti is one of the best silks in the space. She is very concise and an excellent arbitrator.Chambers UK 2024
Vasanti is clever and methodical and could be one of the greats.Legal 500 2024

Areas of expertise

Vasanti’s International Commercial Arbitration practice covers a wide range of industry sectors and institutional rules. She is currently involved either as Counsel or Arbitrator in live arbitrations governed by ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, SIAC, LMAA and LOF Rules. She has a particular interest in Middle East, India and Asia related disputes and has a wide client base in those jurisdictions.

Recent cases include:

  • a Dubai seated arbitration relating to ‘margin calls’ and regarding the duty of care owed by the bank in respect of the mitigation of losses due to hedging with implications regarding duty of care across the banking sector;
  • Representing the claimant buyers in a dispute relating to the default of the sellers in delivering steel strips from Mexico to China;
  • LOF claim making waves arising out of a ship sinking off Sri Lanka alleged to have caused extensive environmental damage.

An adept silk, recognised as one of the Top 24 Women in the world for shipping and commodities (allaboutshipping), Joint Head of Chambers, Vasanti Selvaratnam KC’s commodities practice spans the globe and continues to strengthen.

Recent cases include:

Multiple disputes regarding the current Russian sanctions and their implications on the commodities and shipping industries.

RTI Ltd v Cargill Ocean Transportation Singapore Pte Ltd and Cargill International SA – Issues as to applicability of sanctions used as defence to performance of contract of carriage

RTI v MUR (Supreme Court) – Multimillion dollar contract of affreightment arbitration concerning shipments of bauxite.

Vasanti’s shipping practice embraces all aspects of Maritime Law (both wet and dry). She is consistently rated for her advocacy skills and grasp of detail, particularly in technically complex cases, as well as for her user-friendly manner. In addition to her busy Counsel practice she also sits as an arbitrator under the rules of all the major arbitral institutions.

Recent cases include:

Supreme Court (permission to appeal granted 2023) RTI Ltd v MUR Shipping BV, an important case on the meaning of reasonable endeavours in a force majeure clause in the context of sanctions against Russia and currency of payment.

The Alexandra 1 (2021), the leading case in the Supreme Court on the scope of the Crossing Rule in the International Collision Regulations

FMG Sydney (2023): pending appeal to the Court of Appeal in a leading case on the Head-On Rule

Rubicon Vantage v KrisEnergy [2019] EWHC 2012 (Comm), the first reported case to consider a hybrid guarantee which is part “on demand” and part “see to it” and the role of the Marubeni principle in relation to construction of the scope of the “on-demand” portion of the guarantee

Vasanti Selvaratnam KC’s energy practice is buoyant. She is involved in a number of energy and natural resources matters as either counsel or arbitrator in the UK, Middle East and Singapore. She is active in a large number of sanctions related energy matters due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Recent cases include:

Dubai seated dispute relating to ‘margin calls’ and regarding the duty of care owed by the bank in respect of the mitigation of losses due to hedging. Whether trades for oil & gas futures should have been stopped by the bank and whether bank should have hedged it’s expose in relation to commodities.

Representing the claimant buyers in a dispute relating to the default of the sellers in delivering steel strips from Mexico to China.

Multimillion dollar contract of affreightment arbitration concerning shipments of bauxite.

Further information

King’s College, London (1982 LLB; 1984 LLM Hons 1st).

Appointments & Memberships

ICC Member

COMBAR

Chancery Bar Association

LCLBA

BMLA

LMAA supporting member

LCIA

SIAC Panel arbitrator

SCMA Panel arbitrator

HKIAC Panel arbitrator

BICAM Panel arbitrator

IBA

London Shipping Law Centre (Head of education sub-committee)

European Circuit

Bar European Group

Law Society European Group

Institute of Advanced Legal Studies

ICC’s Banking and Finance committee

ICCA

Working knowledge French