Singapore (asialaw)

Gurbani & Co is a Singapore maritime and trade-focused disputes firm that has built a reputation far beyond its size through decades of involvement in shipping, commodities, insurance and international arbitration. Established in 1989, the firm occupies a distinctive position in the market, combining deep sector knowledge with a highly international practice that regularly involves shipowners, commodity traders, insurers, reinsurers, banks and logistics businesses. Its work often sits at the intersection of maritime operations, trade finance, insurance coverage and cross-border dispute resolution, allowing the firm to provide commercially informed advice in some of the most complex sectors of the global economy.

The firm's practice has been shaped by long-standing involvement in international trade and transportation. Rather than approaching disputes as isolated legal events, the team focuses on the broader commercial and operational context in which they arise. This perspective is particularly valuable in shipping and commodities matters, where contractual obligations, financing arrangements, cargo ownership, insurance coverage and regulatory considerations often overlap. The firm has acted on disputes involving cargo damage, charterparties, marine casualties, vessel sales and purchases, freight forwarding arrangements, commodity trades and cross-border enforcement.

International arbitration remains one of the defining pillars of the practice. The firm's lawyers regularly act as counsel and arbitrators in both institutional and ad hoc proceedings, with experience spanning leading arbitral forums including SIAC, SCMA, ICC, CIETAC, FOSFA, GAFTA and PORAM. This exposure enables the team to advise clients not only on disputes themselves but also on arbitration strategy, enforcement considerations and the management of multi-jurisdictional proceedings.

The firm's insurance and reinsurance practice complements its maritime and trade capabilities. Gurbani & Co advises insurers, reinsurers, P&I clubs, war-risks underwriters and insured parties on a broad range of coverage and liability issues. Its experience covers marine and non-marine risks, policy interpretation, recoveries, subrogation, casualty incidents and claims management. The breadth of this practice enables the firm to navigate disputes where shipping, insurance and commercial considerations must be addressed together.

Cross-border work is a particular hallmark of the firm. Through relationships developed over more than three decades, Gurbani & Co regularly collaborates with overseas law firms and advisers across ASEAN, China, India, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, North America and the Middle East. These connections allow it to coordinate litigation, arbitration, investigations and enforcement matters extending across multiple jurisdictions while maintaining Singapore as the central hub of the dispute strategy.

In recent years the firm has also expanded its role in commercial advisory work. Alongside disputes, it advises on cross-border investments, infrastructure projects, commercial contracts, family-office matters, joint ventures, trading arrangements and business establishment in Singapore and the region. This broader advisory capability enables the firm to support clients before disputes arise and to provide practical solutions informed by commercial realities.

Managing director R. Govin has been a central figure in the firm's development and remains closely involved in many of its most significant matters. His practice spans shipping, insurance, arbitration, infrastructure and cross-border commercial disputes. The wider leadership team combines experience across international trade, maritime law, insurance and commercial litigation, supported by lawyers who regularly work with overseas counsel and international clients. The firm further strengthened its bench in 2025 with the arrival of consultant Raymond Ong from Damodara Ong, adding additional disputes and maritime expertise.