Oon & Bazul LLP

Nicholas is a Partner in the Firm’s International Arbitration Practice Group.

He joined the Firm as a Partner in July 2011 and his practice focuses on arbitration and litigation, with particular experience in international trade, commodity, energy, insurance and transportation. He is also responsible for leading the development and strengthening of the Firm’s China practice.

Prior to joining the Firm, Nicholas served in the dispute resolution team of the Shanghai office of an international law firm. During this time, he gained considerable experience in all types of cross-border China-related dispute resolution and represented multi-national corporations and state-owned enterprises in international arbitrations conducted under various institutional and ad hoc arbitration rules including those of the SIAC, HKIAC, LCIA, LMAA, CIETAC, ICC and UNCITRAL.

He has also represented clients in a wide range of commercial litigation and regulatory investigations relating to corporate and employment affairs, energy and general commercial disputes.

Nicholas also regularly advises clients in complex cross-border disputes involving Hong Kong, China, the UK and other jurisdictions, with particular expertise in advising on issues relating to the enforcement of foreign Court judgments and arbitral awards in various jurisdictions across Asia and in the UK.

Nicholas’ experience includes:-

Acting for reinsurers of a platform off the South China Sea which was found to be in danger of imminent collapse in 2006. The insurance policy was drafted based on well-established English clauses but subject to Chinese law and practice. The insured level of the loss was around USD 15 million.

Advising a leading international supplier and distributor of sugar in relation to the recognition and enforcement of a London arbitration award in China. The arbitration award was in excess of USD 15 million.

Advising an investment fund in relation to the default on secured convertible notes worth USD 5.8 million. Specific advice was provided on the viability of freezing orders / injunctions against the bank accounts of the target company and its associated companies in Hong Kong and China.

Acting for a leading regional bank in relation to a dispute arising from a trade confirmation agreement with a leading international bank pertaining to the sale of non-performing loans.

Acting for a leading Japanese trading company in relation to a dispute arising from contracts relating to the sale and purchase of cellular system equipment. The dispute was to be determined by the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce.

Advising an international reinsurance company on policy claims in relation to the loss of earnings due to the suspension / interruption of business operations.

His selected recent speaking engagements include:-

“Maritime Arbitration in China – a chapter of growth and progress” – presented at the 3rd Asian Maritime Law Conference in Singapore in May 2010.

“The impact of the credit crunch on businesses – managing disputes and pre-emptive remedies” – presented at the Legal Practices Forum of International Trade and Investment in South Asia and South-East Asia, Shijiazhuang, China, in August 2009.

“Legal perspective on Forward Freight Agreements (FFA) trading – the risks and problems in FFA trading and dispute resolution” – presented at the Seventh International Conference on Maritime Law at Shanghai, China, in November 2009.

“The Law of Damages in Shipbuilding Contracts” - presented at the China Maritime Law Forum 2008 at Wuhan, China, in November 2008.

Nicholas is fluent in English, Mandarin and Chinese dialects (Hokkien and Cantonese).

He graduated from the National University of Singapore (Second Class Upper Honours) and is admitted to practice in Singapore. He is an accredited Associate Mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre. He is also a Foreign Director of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Hebei.