Karnan is a Partner with Kennedys Legal Solutions who qualified in Singapore and in England and Wales.
Karnan specialises in international arbitration and multi-jurisdictional disputes in the commodities, shipping and marine insurance sectors. Having worked in Asia for over 20 years, he has extensive practical experience handling matters involving jurisdictions across the region. He also speaks and reads Malay and Bahasa Indonesia.
His clients include trading houses, vessel owners / charterers, offshore energy contractors, P&I Clubs and marine insurers. He acts for and advises clients on a range of trade and shipping related matters including those involving commodity sale contracts, offtake agreements, contracts of affreightment, marine insurance, shipping / commodities related derivatives contracts and shipping and trade related fraud. He also assists clients in the shipping, trade and marine insurance sectors with trade sanctions compliance and related regulatory issues.
Karnan regularly represents clients in international arbitrations in London, Singapore and Hong Kong and also appears as Counsel in Singapore Court proceedings.
He is a member of the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitrators Procedure Committee and was appointed by the Singapore Academy of Law in January 2020 as a Senior Accredited Specialist in Maritime and Shipping Law in recognition of his extensive expertise and experience in maritime and shipping law.
Karnan is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is on the SCMA Panel of Arbitrators and the SIAC Reserve Panel of Arbitrators.
He has been consistently ranked as a leading individual by Chambers Global and clients describe him as someone who is noted for his "excellent understanding of the shipping industry and the complexities of doing business across the region". In Chambers Asia Pacific, Karnan is described by clients as being "very measured and a calm operator," offers "helpful, practical advice" and is "willing to go the extra mile". In addition, Legal 500 Asia Pacific has identified him as providing "clear and measured responses in difficult situations and under tight deadlines".
Karnan has also been recognised as one of the top legal practitioners in Singapore for Arbitration & Mediation Law and Insurance Law practitioners by Best Lawyers and is identified as a leading lawyer in the category of 'Transport - Shipping' by Who’s Who Legal.
