Ian Teo

One of the founding directors of Helmsman, Ian is an authority on commercial law with a unique blend of expertise in general commercial matters and specialised shipping and commodities work.

He has been named a Disputes Star by Benchmark Litigation and one of Asia’s 50 Super Disputes Lawyers by Asia Legal Business. He is also recognised in Lexology Index (formerly known as Who’s Who Legal) and Legal 500 for his international arbitration and general commercial litigation expertise. 

In 2019, he became one of the first senior accredited shipping and maritime law specialists appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law. What’s more, he was recognised by Euromoney Expert Guides as one of the world's 30 Best of the Best Shipping Lawyers. In 2016, Best Lawyers Singapore named Ian as Trade Lawyer of the Year. He is one of very few specialist shipping and commodities lawyers also recognised for excellence in general commercial disputes.

Qualified to practise in Singapore, England and Wales, Ian read law at the National University of Singapore (LL.B) and obtained his LL.M at Cambridge University. Awarded the Justice Tan Ah Tah Prize in his PLC class, Ian is a member of the adjunct faculty at the Singapore Management University, School of Law, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, and an Adjunct Fellow of the NUS Centre for Maritime Law. He contributes to academia regularly and has published in Lloyd's Maritime & Commercial Quarterly.