Karnan is a Partner with Kennedys Legal Solutions and is qualified in both  Singapore and in England and Wales.

Karnan specialises in shipping and international trade law. He speaks and reads Malay / Bahasa Indonesia and has extensive practical experience handling matters involving jurisdictions across South and South-East Asia including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.

His clients include vessel owners, charterers, trading houses, offshore energy contractors, P&I Clubs and marine insurers. He acts for and advises clients on a range of shipping and trade related matters including those involving charter parties, commodity sale contracts, marine insurance, shipping related derivatives contracts and shipping related fraud. Karnan also specialises in assisting clients in the shipping, trade and marine insurance sectors with trade sanctions compliance and related regulatory issues.

Karnan regularly represents clients in international arbitrations in London, Singapore and Hong Kong and also appears as Counsel in Singapore Court proceedings.

Karnan is a member of the Singapore Shipping Association (International Committee), Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitrators Procedure Committee and the Maritime Law Association of Singapore. In January 2020, the Singapore Academy of Law appointed Karnan as a Senior Accredited Specialist in Maritime and Shipping Law. This accreditation is given to senior Singapore lawyers who are recognised for their extensive expertise and experience in maritime and shipping law.

Karnan is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is on the SIAC Reserve Panel of Arbitrators.

He has been consistently ranked as a leading individual by Chambers Global and clients describe him as someone who is noted for his “excellent understanding of the shipping industry and the complexities of doing business across the region”. In Chambers Asia Pacific 2020 Karnan is described by clients as being “very measured and a calm operator,” offers “helpful, practical advice” and is “willing to go the extra mile”. In addition, Legal 500 Asia Pacific has identified him as providing “clear and measured responses in difficult situations and under tight deadlines”.