C Sivah graduated from the Singapore Management University with a Bachelor of Laws in 2017 and was called as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Singapore in 2018. He began his career at a boutique shipping firm, where he represented and advised clients on shipping and admiralty disputes.
Presently, Sivah’s practice encompasses matters involving banking and finance, insolvency and restructuring, and multi-party international trade disputes. He has appeared as lead counsel on matters across all levels of the Singapore Court and before arbitral tribunals on a broad spectrum of trial and appellate matters. In particular, Sivah has advised on restructuring and insolvency issues following the financial collapse of Hin Leong Trading (Pte) Ltd.
Among other accomplishments, Sivah has argued against the stay of enforcement of a judgment pending an appeal, resisted a striking-out application, secured an extension of time to register a charge over a company’s book debts, obtained an order for summary judgment, and prevailed in a winding-up petition. In the field of arbitration, Sivah has represented clients in complex arbitration proceedings administered by leading arbitral institutions, including the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
Case Highlights
Singapore Court matters
- Successfully appealed against the High Court’s decision to set aside an order for service out of jurisdiction and ex parte interim injunctions in the Court of Appeal: Oro Negro Drilling Pte Ltd & Ors v Integradora de Servicios Petroleros Oro Negro SAPI de CV & Ors [2020] 1 SLR 226.
- Successfully resisted an application under Section 24 of the International Arbitration Act 1994 to set aside an SIAC arbitral award worth US$400,000 in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore: Bagadiya Brothers (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Ghanashyam Misra & Sons Pte Ltd [2022] SGHC 246.
- Successfully represented shipowners in obtaining an order for a forum non conveniens stay of a maritime collision claim and an order for the return of the security furnished by the shipowners for the release of the vessel in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore: The Sea Justice [2023] SGHCR 24. This decision was upheld in subsequent appeals to the High Court and the Court of Appeal of Singapore.
- Represented a company director in the Court of Appeal regarding the enforceability of loan agreements totaling US$8.6 million.
- Acted for marine insurers in defending a marine insurance claim worth US$70 million in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore for actual and constructive total loss of a vessel.
- Acted for a Chinese petroleum company in interpleader proceedings for oil products worth US$75 million in the General Division of the High Court of Singapore.
International Arbitration
- Represented a Swiss-incorporated company in defending a claim for breach of a distributorship agreement worth US$500,000, and counterclaiming for a breach of contract worth US$600,000 in a Singapore-seated SIAC arbitration.
- Acted for shipowners in a charter hire claim against charterers worth US$400,000 in a London-seated LMAA arbitration.
- Represented an Indian iron ore pellet manufacturing company in defending a claim for breach of a long-term supply contract worth US$10 million in a Mumbai-seated SIAC arbitration.
- Acted for charterers in a misdelivery claim against shipowners worth €500,000 in a London-seated arbitration under the UK Arbitration Act 1996.
- Acted for charterers in a claim for indemnity and damages worth US$3.3 million against shipowners for non-delivery/ loss of cargo following the sinking of the laden ship off the coast of Vietnam in a London-seated LMAA arbitration.
- Successfully represented charterers in back-to-back LMAA arbitrations against owners and sub-charterers under the LMAA Small Claims Procedure.
Appointments
- Member, Law Society of Singapore
- Member, Singapore Academy of Law