International maritime lawyer, arbitrator and mediator with a successful 17-year career in Asia. Qualified as a Hong Kong and English lawyer, and admitted in Nauru in 2019. Born in Denmark, educated in the UK, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Work experience in the UK, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. Native in Danish and English; proficient in Mandarin, Norwegian and French. Extensive international experience, vast client network, and proven track record operating in different countries and across cultures as a leader and team-player. 

 

Work Experience​

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As Arbitrator

 

Appointed in 169 arbitrations (as of 24/11/2024) and drafted over 30 awards, and many more interlocutory decisions. Appointments have been primarily in maritime related disputes but also general commercial disputes. Appointed under the LMAA, SCMA, SIAC, HKIAC, DIAC and HKMAG Rules as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. 

 

Appointed as sole, party-appointed and Chair (presiding) arbitrator and sat in numerous hearings in London and Singapore.

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As Lawyer

 

Penningtons Manches Cooper Singapore LLP (f/k/a Thomas Cooper Singapore LLP)

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Equity Partner (October 2015 to February 2022)

 

• Generated high-value cases including charterparty, cargo claims, sale & purchase, and commodity transactions

• Brought in and managed large ongoing cases including SIAC arbitrations for ENEOS arising out of the Hin Leong fraud and issues arising out a wet nickel ore cargo lifted in the Philippines  

• Experienced in running a private practice: staffing, marketing and budgets

• Developed new areas of practice: ship registration, deep sea mining, arbitration and mediation 

• Attracted new clients from Scandinavia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and South-East Asia

• Presented on shipping, deep sea mining and decarbonization (EEXI and CII) at various marketing events/conferences, including at SCMA in Singapore 

• Consistently ranked in Chambers & Partners

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Wikborg Rein & Co, Singapore (May 2011 to September 2015)

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Partner; Designated Chief Representative and Founding & Managing Partner of Wikborg Rein Beijing; 

Head of the China Desk for Wikborg Rein Singapore

 

Key shipping experience:

 

• Successful asset recovery against major Chinese charterparty defaulter – total value of claim ~USD72 million 

• Served as the lead international counsel for one of China’s largest conglomerate’s shipping division including on: multiple London (LMAA) and Hong Kong (HKIAC) arbitrations and mediations, successfully defending an appeal from an award (The Fortune Plum, [2013] EWHC 1355), High Court claims and interlocutory applications (defeating a worldwide Mareva injunction application in London), speculative Rule B applications in the U.S., winding up proceedings in Hong Kong, arrest proceedings in South Africa, and Norway, successfully defending arbitrations on guarantees

• Mediated a charterparty dispute in Hong Kong valued at USD80 million 

• Handled grounding cases arising in the nickel ore trade in the Philippines, including evidence collection and provision of security and access on board

• Advised Danish bunker suppliers in relation to construction contract dispute in China

 

Key offshore experience:

 

• Represented Norwegian offshore construction specialist in claims against major Chinese yards and subcontractors, attending meetings in China at shipyards

• Representing Norwegian clients in negotiations with state owned shipyards regarding construction contracts for various offshore vessels

• Conducting on-board interviews in collision case between an FPSO and off-take tanker, drafting report and advice 

• Acted for Indian drilling company in negotiating and finalizing contract for construction of jack-up rig 

• Negotiated purchase of a distressed jack-up rig from a Chinese yard at value of USD252 million

• Advised a major Singapore shipyard in a USD60m claim under a conversion contract with a Brazilian oil producer including assisting the yard on diverse warranty matters

• Negotiated tender drilling barge construction contract and related guarantees in Singapore on behalf of owners with a major Chinese privately owned shipyard

• Handled 3 related arbitrations in the SCMA and SIAC in Singapore for Norwegian clients related to breach of a sale & purchase agreement and deposit agreement

 

Key case management and marketing experience

 

• Advised on Hong Kong ship registration, taxation and legislation 

• Assisted various Nordic companies with establishing a presence in Hong Kong

• Advised client liquidators in relation to damages claims under 14 breached sale & leaseback transactions in relation to major Indonesian insolvency 

• Managed major shareholders dispute arbitration in the HKIAC in Hong Kong on behalf of a major Chinese company against major Norwegian offshore operator.

• Represented the Finnish government in relation to issues at the Shanghai world expo exhibition

• Extensively marketed in Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai and Beijing visiting charterers, owners, insurers, offshore players, shipyards, finance institutions.  

• Developed strong contacts in the Scandinavian shipping & offshore community in Singapore, Hong Kong and China, Hong Kong & Singapore P&I clubs and with major Chinese conglomerate 

• Named as “Recommended Individual” in shipping in China in Legal 500 for 2014

 

Ince & Co (2005 to April 2011)

Shanghai Office, Associate 

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Hong Kong Office, Trainee Solicitor and Solicitor 

 

• Advised on shipbuilding disputes for numerous overseas owners, cancelling contracts and calling on refund guarantees, commencing arbitration, advising clients, drafting settlement agreements

• Managed shipbuilding cases (German buyer/owners), personal injury (Swedish company), and commission agreements (Swedish and Chinese companies)

• Assisted in getting a clients’ vessel released from arrest by the authorities in Taiwan including negotiating security with opponent lawyers and attending at local prosecutor’s office in Hualien

• Drafted advice to ship owning clients on a force majeure claim under a COA by an Australian iron ore mine 

• Advised on the application of the Basel Convention to scrapping in China for Japanese owners

• Negotiated settlement of a death and personal injury claim following a collision in Chinese waters, dealing directly with local lawyers and relatives of deceased, drafting of settlement agreement, dealing with local MSA

• Handled a complex bill of lading fraud case (US$3.4 million) for major Chinese bank, litigation eventually going through Singapore courts (Dolphina [2012] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 304), advising clients on bills of lading issues

• Managed a general average litigation for Greek clients against major Chinese insurance company going through Chinese courts, liaising with local lawyers, drafting advice, and all correspondence

• Handled the acquisition and bareboat registration into Hong Kong of bulk carriers for Norwegian shipowners

• Advised on the delivery and registration of a bulk carrier for Greek owners, including attending at closing 

• Assisted Norwegian owners with the delivery of two VLCCs from Chinese shipyards and registration 

• Advised on liability for demurrage in a claim by owners for demurrage after port closure in South Africa

• Assisted London based clients with debt collection in Hong Kong, including drafting the relevant demand letter

• Handled claim submissions and correspondence in a dispute over cargo wharfage and port charges in Korea

• Drafted advice to clients in relation to employment law issues involved in the transfer of offices from Hong Kong

 

Academic Qualifications

 

• City University, Hong Kong, Postgraduate Certificate in Laws with Distinction (2004 to 2005)

• City University, London, Postgraduate Diploma in Law (2002 to 2003)

• National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Mandarin Training Centre (2000 to 2002)

• School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, M.A. Chinese Studies (1999-2000)

• King’s College London, University of London, B.A. History (Upper Second Class Honours) (1995 to 1999)  

• PACE University, New York, LLM focusing on US and Environmental Law (summa cum laude) (2022-2023)

• Brooklyn Law School, New York, visiting student on US Maritime & transportation Law course (2024)

 

Professional Memberships

 

• ArbDB Chambers (London and Singapore)

• Law Society of England & Wales

• Law Society of Hong Kong (Former Member of the Hong Kong Law Society Belt and Road Sub-Committee)

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Former Member of the Promotion Committee in Singapore)

• Member of the Baltic Exchange 

• Member of the Panel of Arbitrators at SCMA (Singapore), HKIAC, KCAB, AIAC (Kuala Lumpur), BANI (Jakarta), SIAC Reserve List, LMAA (Aspiring Full Member)

• Past Member of the Procedure Committee of the SCMA 

• Member of the Arbitrators’ Representative Council of the SCMA

• Accredited Mediator of the Singapore Mediation Centre 

• Chairman / Member of the Singapore Chapter of the Danish Management Society (VL-82) until 2022, member of the New York Chapter (VL-83) since April 2022

• Hong Kong Maritime Law Association 

• Connecticut Maritime Association 

• ICC Singapore Arbitration Group

• Worshipful Company of Arbitrators (Freeman of the City of London)

• LinkedIn: 2,600 followers; my posts regularly get between 5,000-21,000 views 

 

Nationality and Permanent Residency 

 

• EU Passport (Danish)

• US Green Card

• UK Settled Status (full rights to work and live)

 

November 2024 

Please contact Clerk to Chambers, Martin Poulter, on 020 3514 9020 or martin.poulter@arbdb.com to enquire about Steffen’s availability for appointment.