Durai is a partner in the Singapore office and heads the dispute resolution practice. Noted for his strong advocacy and litigation skills as well as first-hand knowledge of South and South East Asia, he is rated as a Leading Lawyer for dispute resolution and shipping, maritime & aviation by the 2008 and 2009 editions of AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers. Asia Pacific Legal 500 describes him as “efficient” and clients have commended him for being “very thorough” and “insightful and excellent”.
Durai’s practice covers local and international disputes on admiralty and shipping matters, offshore, oil and gas, marine insurance and international sale of goods. These include advising on issues surrounding bills of lading, charterparties, contracts of affreightment, shipbuilding, ship sale and repair, drilling and offshore construction contracts.
Durai also has extensive experience in undertaking workouts, mortgage enforcements and debt recoveries in Asia, in particular, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and the Indian sub-continent.
Durai is called both to the UK and Singapore Bar and has appeared as lead counsel before the Supreme Court of Singapore on numerous occasions before joining Stephenson Harwood to focus on his arbitration practice. As testament to his multi-jurisdictional capabilities, he has handled arbitrations under most major arbitration centres, which include International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), BIMCO, London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA), International Court of Arbitration (ICA), Grain & Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Association (FOSFA), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia (PORAM) and Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).
