Dharmendra Nair

Dharmendra advises on international arbitration and litigation, and specialises in shipping and commodities disputes. He represents multinational companies, oil companies, ship-owners, charterers, cargo owners, steel manufacturers, commodity suppliers, banks, software companies, and governments.

• Representing an offshore oil and gas drilling contractor to oppose a freezing order against its drilling unit.
• Advised a Philippines oil exploration company in connection with its claim arising out of a premature and unlawful termination of the charter.
• Advised a UK incorporated energy service provider in connection with a failed joint venture and dismissal of employees.
• Advising a foreign central bank in relation to a US$ 1 billion cyber-crime heist. Claims in tort and various jurisdictions.
• Advised a Singapore listed telecommunications entity in connection with its dispute over the installation of communication and tracking devices on an offshore rig.
• Advised a listed company in a dispute with its contracting party over the price and scope of work to be carried out in accordance with the terms of the contract on an offshore rig. The dispute is subject to Singapore law, SIAC arbitration.
• Advised and acted for an agent of four English Premiership clubs to recover advertising fees from their contracting parties subject to Singapore law and arbitration in Singapore.
• Representing a wealthy individual based in Singapore in a claim for the restitution of the value of the shares in the family business. The claim is for US$40m.
• Advised a chemical company incorporated in New York in connection with its express contractual right as buyer to terminate a long-term supply agreement.
• Advised the majority shareholder of a company in connection with a shareholder dispute.
• Appointed to defend a client in committal complex proceedings arising from UK judgment and in defending further claim for damages.
• Acting for a large shoe manufacturer in respect of false allegations against them pertaining to slavery, poor working practice and child labour in their factories. The case is multi-jurisdictional with public relation experts retained to manage customer expectations and business.
• Advised and acting for an agent of four English Premiership clubs recover advertising fees from their contracting parties subject to Singapore law and arbitration in Singapore.
• Advised one of India’s largest multinational corporations in connection with the challenge of an ICC Arbitration Award in the High Court relating to the right to recover third-party litigation funding under the English Arbitration Act 1996. The case is now set as being the first-ever English legal precedent for the recovery of third-party litigation funding under the English Arbitration Act 1996. Reported in December 2016.
• Advised a listed Bangladesh Bank in connection with a multi-million-dollar fraud committed via a bank in Abu Dhabi. Reported judgment in connection with application for Norwich Pharmacal Order with substantive proceedings against the fraudsters in London.
• Handled various LCIA, SIAC and ICC arbitrations.

Dharmendra advises shipowners, charterers, cargo owners, and banks in connection with the full range of shipping issues and disputes.

• Advised various shipowners and charterers in connection with various shipping issues such as unsafe port, indemnity provisions, laytime and demurrage, carriage of cargo and also issues relating to carriage of dangerous cargo, seaworthiness of the vessel, delivery and redelivery of vessels, termination of charter, damages for repudiatory breach of charter, loss of earnings and loss of vessel’s positioning, cargo claims (also acting for cargo owners), damage to vessel, collision with berth, sinking of a vessel, towage, sale and purchase, shipbuilding contracts, enforceability of guarantees, agency contracts (typically with shipowners in the logistics business), bunker disputes, and joint ventures.
• Advising on AM Coal Charterparty, NYPE, Baltime, Gencon, Orevoy, Supplytime, Asbatankvoy, Shelltime, Norwegian Saleform, Singapore Sale form, and specifically drafted Contracts of Affreightment.
• Handled numerous LMAA arbitrations.
• Advised clients on jurisdictional issues, anti-suit injunctions and incorporation of arbitration clauses.
• Acted for international banks in connection with enforcing the loan agreements advanced to the ship owning company and calling in the mortgage by arresting the vessels globally. Dealt with payment of crew wages to repatriation of crew and acted for crew members in recovery of salary and sale of vessel in various
• Acted for charterers to resist payment of US Freight Taxes. Familiar with US tax provisions and domicile of the ultimate beneficial owners of the ship owning company and whether US tax exemption was available to the shipowner to resist payment of US Freight Tax.
• Advised and represented charterers in relation to a collision with a berth in Argentina. Claim approximately US$25 million.
• Advised charterers in relation to a COA dispute more than US$100 million. The claim was premised on non-performance of the terms of the contract.
• Advised a charterer in relation to the sinking of a vessel and cargo by French authorities off Reunion Islands after the fire caught fire on board the vessel. The claim was more than US$50 million.
• Advised shipowners and charterers in relation to crane damage and death to stevedores whilst performing loading or discharging operations.
• Attended on board various bulkers to take witness statements and work with experts to finalise their expert reports in relation to various issues relating to vessel machinery, scrubbers, cargoes on board, generators, and deck conditions.

Recognised by The Legal 500 for International Arbitration 2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market 2018–2025

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Shipping 2018, 2020, 2022–2025