Johnny Lam

Advised a Chinese state-owned enterprise and its related companies in joint venture disputes spanning multiple jurisdictions, forums, and areas of law including admiralty and maritime, shareholder and corporate disputes, and employment law. Disputes involve numerous complex and interlocking contracts for shipbuilding, financing and security, and chartering arrangements.

Advised a joint venture company, majority-owned by a Chinese entity, in disputes concerning contracts for mining transshipment service and the control of over 50 vessels for the transshipment service. Aside from the charter parties for the transshipment equipment, some contracts involve the charter of a very rare type of vessel in high demand – there are less than 5 of these worldwide – with very substantial freight, and a five-figure daily demurrage sum.

Acting for charterers in a LMAA arbitration regarding a charterparty dispute, which involves an unsettled point of law on the apportionment of cargo claims for the catch-all provision under the inter-club agreement (amended 2011 version) in relation to cargo with inherent vice.

Acting for owners in a SCMA arbitration regarding damage to a vessel caused by stevedores’ rough handling of a crane onboard, which involves technical investigation of the functioning of the crane.

Acting for charterers in an LMAA arbitration under SCP regarding costs incurred arising from master’s failure to comply with charterers’ order. 

Advised charterers on an underperformance claim involving warranted speed obligations, Douglas Sea State and significant wave height standards, and the use of AIS data for speed assessment.

Advised a ship manager on their obligations under Bimco standard ship management agreement and on the transition from Shipman 1998 to Shipman 2024.