Wotton Kearney is expanding its maritime presence in Asia with the appointment of partner Karnan Thirupathy and special counsel Charlene Sim, who are joining the firm from Kennedys together with their Singapore-based team.
The new team will work across Wotton Kearney’s offices in Singapore and Thailand, broadening the support available to insurers, P&I clubs, commodity traders, vessel owners and charterers operating throughout the Asia Pacific region.
Thirupathy brings 25 years of experience in Asia, with a practice focused on international arbitration and multi-jurisdictional disputes involving commodities, shipping and insurance. Qualified in both Singapore and England & Wales, he regularly represents clients in arbitrations in London, Singapore and Hong Kong and also advises on sanctions compliance.
Sim has 11 years of experience handling disputes involving shipping, logistics and international trade. Her work has included cross-border cases related to LNG contracts, charter parties and marine insurance.
The team recently achieved a significant result for a global energy trader, securing more than $140 million in an LCIA arbitration against a state-owned energy company.
The appointments form part of Wotton Kearney’s broader regional expansion. Ben Nicholson, the firm’s managing partner for Asia, described the arrival of Thirupathy and his team as an important step in the development of its regional practice.
“Karnan and his team bring deep sector knowledge, strong regional relationships and substantial dispute resolution experience,” Nicholson said.
Thirupathy said the move would provide the team with a platform to broaden its support for clients across the marine, shipping, commodities and international trade sectors.
“Joining the firm gives our team an exciting platform to expand the support we provide to clients across marine, shipping, commodities and international trade. We look forward to working with our new colleagues across the region and contributing to the continued growth of the firm’s Asia practice,” he said.
The latest expansion follows the growth of Wotton Kearney’s marine team in New Zealand, adding to the firm’s wider efforts to strengthen its maritime capabilities across the region.
