Prakaash is the Head of the Shipping Department in Oon & Bazul.
Prakaash specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration with a focus on international commodity trade, trade finance, marine insurance and “dry” shipping work (including charterparty and bill of lading disputes).
Prakaash has been spotlighted by legal publications as being “business-oriented and practical” (Chambers & Partners) and for providing “timely, practical, and focused solutions on a cost-effective basis” (The Legal 500). He has also been recognised as an Accredited Specialist for Maritime and Shipping Law by the Singapore Academy of Law’s Specialist Accreditation Scheme. The accreditation scheme serves as a mark of recognition for legal professional excellence in their specialised areas of practice.
He has substantial experience handling disputes involving misdelivery claims and also the knock-on indemnity claims under letters of indemnity which are issued for the delivery of cargo without presentation of the original bills of lading. He also has particular expertise handling trade finance disputes including letters of credit, bills of exchange and documents against acceptance transactions. He has advised trade financing banks based in Singapore and commodity trading houses on trade finance litigation, including the ICC DOCDEX dispute resolution procedure. Prakaash also regularly advises clients on sanctions related matters, including the impact of the US, EU and UN sanctions on businesses based in the region.
He regularly represents banks and financiers in multi-jurisdictional enforcements and also frequently acts for marine insurers (P&I, H&M and cargo) and for insurance claimants.
The international nature of his practice often necessitates taking account of legal issues and the court procedures of more than one jurisdiction. He not only regularly appears in the Singapore Courts but has also acted as counsel in international arbitrations, both ad hoc and institutional, including LCIA, ICC, SIAC, KCAB, GAFTA, FOSFA, LMAA and SCMA arbitrations.
Prakaash serves as a member of the Inquiry Panel of the Law Society of Singapore on the appointment of the Honourable Chief Justice. He is also a member of Legal & Insurance Committee of the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), the SCMA SEADOCC Promotion Committee and the London Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA). He also sits on the Steering Committee of the International Fraud Group (IFG), which is a global network of lawyers who specialise in tracing, freezing, seizing, and recovering stolen assets.
Prakaash was 1 out of only 3 lawyers who were recognised as an Accredited Specialist in Maritime and Shipping in 2022. The accreditation scheme serves as a mark of recognition for legal professional excellence in their specialised areas of practice. The newly minted accreditations were announced following a stringent year-long assessment process conducted by an independent selection committee, comprising judges and senior industry representatives.