Freight, Demurrage and Defence Lawyer (Commodities)

DIRECT SEARCH ASIA PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

DIRECT SEARCH ASIA PTE. LTD. seeks a qualified shipping and commercial law practitioner to advise members on FD&D matters and related disputes.

You will handle charterparty, cargo, and other maritime disputes, provide opinions, and coordinate with international lawyers and experts. You will draft contracts, assess risks, and support strategic compliance for a global membership. Responsibilities include managing claims end-to-end, delivering seminars, and building relationships with members and

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with admission to practise in a recognised jurisdiction.
• 3–5 years of post-qualification experience in shipping, maritime, or commercial law.
• Experience handling FD&D, charterparty, cargo, or commercial shipping disputes within a P&I Club, shipping company, maritime law firm, or marine insurer.
• Strong knowledge of English maritime law, charterparty forms (GENCON, NYPE, BALTIME), bills of lading, carriage of goods by sea, and international trade.
• Familiarity with arbitration proceedings, particularly LMAA, SCMA, or other recognised maritime arbitration forums.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, and dispute resolution skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple matters independently in a fast-paced international environment.

Responsibilities

• Advise members on FD&D matters, including contractual disputes arising from ship operations.
• Handle disputes involving charterparties, bills of lading, contracts of affreightment, sale contracts, shipbuilding and repair contracts, towage agreements, and other maritime commercial contracts.
• Provide legal opinions and strategic advice on shipping, trade, and commercial law matters.
• Manage claims from initial notification through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
• Instruct and liaise with external lawyers, correspondents, surveyors, experts, and service providers worldwide.
• Review and draft commercial and maritime contracts, identifying legal and commercial risks.
• Advise on sanctions, regulatory developments, international conventions, and contractual obligations affecting shipping operations.
• Monitor legal developments within maritime industry and provide guidance to members and internal stakeholders.
• Deliver legal seminars, training sessions, and publications on shipping law and FD&D topics.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with members, brokers, law firms, and industry partners.

Skills

FD&D experience

Charterparty disputes

Maritime law

Drafting & negotiation

Arbitration (LMAA/SCMA)

Stakeholder management

English maritime law knowledge

Dispute resolution

Commercial awareness

Multi-matters handling

Education

Qualified lawyer

Job description

• Advise members on Freight, Demurrage and Defence (FD&D) matters, including contractual disputes arising from the operation of ships.
• Handle disputes involving charterparties, bills of lading, contracts of affreightment, sale contracts, shipbuilding and repair contracts, towage agreements, and other maritime commercial contracts.
• Provide legal opinions and strategic advice on shipping, trade, and commercial law matters.
• Manage claims from initial notification through to negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
• Instruct and liaise with external lawyers, correspondents, surveyors, experts, and other service providers worldwide.
• Review and draft commercial and maritime contracts, identifying legal and commercial risks.
• Advise members on sanctions, regulatory developments, international conventions, and contractual obligations affecting shipping operations.
• Monitor legal developments within the maritime industry and provide guidance to members and internal stakeholders.
• Deliver legal seminars, training sessions, and publications on shipping law and FD&D-related topics.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with members, brokers, law firms, and industry partners.

Requirements

• Qualified lawyer with admission to practise in a recognised jurisdiction.
• Minimum 3–5 years of post-qualification experience in shipping, maritime, or commercial law.
• Experience handling FD&D, charterparty, cargo, or commercial shipping disputes gained within a P&I Club, shipping company, maritime law firm, or marine insurer.
• Strong knowledge of English maritime law, charterparty forms (e.g. GENCON, NYPE, BALTIME), bills of lading, carriage of goods by sea, and international trade.
• Familiarity with arbitration proceedings, particularly LMAA, SCMA, or other recognised maritime arbitration forums.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, and dispute resolution skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple matters independently in a fast-paced international environment.