Clive has been ranked annually in the legal directories as a leading shipping counsel since 2018, his eighth year of practice.
Alongside his practice as counsel, he accepts appointments as a maritime arbitrator following his passing of the Maritime Arbitrator’s Fellowship Course organised by the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration.
In addition, he accepts appointments as arbitral tribunal secretary in maritime arbitrations following his completion of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre’s Tribunal Secretary Training Programme.
Clive qualified as an Accredited Mediator with the Malaysian International Mediation Centre in 2022. He is also an Advocacy Trainer on the Malaysian Bar’s Advocacy Training Courses.
EXPERIENCE
Career Accolades
- “Clive is a highly capable lawyer who is able to identify issues with speed and accuracy, assessing which items carry risk for clients and advising accordingly.”… “Clive is very prompt with his legal advice and is very accessible. He gives no legal jargon, but practical and commercially friendly solutions that we can understand and work with very easily.’ – Chambers and Partners (Asia Pacific), 2024 (Band 2).
- “Clive Navin Selvapandian is professional, always maintains his composure and is accommodating… Clive Navin Selvapandian possesses exceptional expertise in international trade, shipping, and maritime law. Despite his seniority, Clive maintains a lean practice, making him easily accessible… A fast thinker, Clive Navin Selvapandian can swiftly break down complex questions into concise and practical commercial solutions. His commercial, savvy nature makes collaborating with him a seamless and straightforward experience. They are truly ‘lawyers who know Asia’ which sets it apart from other firms in the field.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) (Hall of Fame)
- “I have the privilege of working directly with Clive Navin Selvapandian, and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed with his ability to provide comprehensive solutions. One aspect of Clive’s approach that I particularly admire is his unwavering commitment to putting clients first with practical, tailored advice.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) (Hall of Fame)
- “The team at Christopher & Lee Ong is proactive and able to provide effective advice and solutions to the issues at hand, with their in-depth knowledge of the field.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) (Hall of Fame)
- “Clive Navin Selvapandian has helped us in finding practical legal solutions and providing effective legal advice in shipping matters. Clive is willing to accommodate to our inquiries promptly and efficiently with his in-depth knowledge in the field.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) (Hall of Fame)
- “Clive Navin Selvapandian makes sure that his client is satisfied with his work and can rely on him whenever.”… “Clive Navin Selvapandian has always been very helpful with his advice.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) (Hall of Fame)
- “Clive is one of those lawyers who is able to comprehend issues and complexities fast, and therefore, he is able to provide a practical approach to issues.” … “Clive is responsive and ever willing to share his experience and expertise when it comes to the relevant shipping acts.” – Chambers and Partners (Asia Pacific), 2023 (Band 2).
- “Clive is always ready to assist and provide practical input, supported by his in-depth knowledge and experience of maritime law. His willingness to support my team at any time is greatly appreciated.”; “I have only worked with Clive. He is very reliable, responsive and knowledgeable. He gives valuable, comprehensive and practical advice.”; “I have had very pleasant experiences with Clive from CLO. He has been very helpful, generous and forthcoming with his advice. He is also very knowledgeable in his area of practice and most of his advice are very practical in nature.”; “The team is approachable and easy to deal with. Their response time tends to be very quick.”; “They are a standout team.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific), 2023 (Leading Individual).
- “He has an active practice advising clients on a broad range of contentious shipping matters” – Chambers and Partners (Asia Pacific), 2022 (Band 3).
- “Clive is always sharp in his analysis, and very approachable. The firm also advises on oil shipment and trading matters. He and his team are very responsive and trustworthy.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific), 2022 (Leading Individual).
- He “listens well to what we say and is helpful in diagnosing causes of problems faced, helping to solve them amicably.” – Chambers and Partners (Asia Pacific), 2021 (Up and Coming).
- “[A]n expert on dispute resolution, who is active on litigation and arbitration, including insurance claims and dry shipping and maritime disputes.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific), 2021 (Leading Individual).
- “Clive Navin Selvapandian advises clients in relation to shipping disputes, including collision, charter party and cargo cases. One client attests: “He makes the effort to explain issues in depth to us.” – Chambers and Partners (Asia Pacific), 2020 (Up and Coming).
- “Clive Selvapandian delivered a timely, professional and personal service to our valued client.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific), 2020 (Leading Individual).
- “The ‘very objective, sharp and solution-oriented’ Clive Selvapandian is a shipping and trade disputes specialist.” – The Legal 500 (Asia Pacific), 2019 (Leading Individual).
- “Clive Navin Selvapandian is an up-and-coming practitioner who has a strong track record on both wet and dry shipping disputes. One client reports: “He is knowledgeable, very prompt and offers clients a lot of comfort as he speaks in very simple terms and delivers what is needed.” – Chambers and Partners (Asia Pacific), 2019 (Up and Coming).
NOTABLE WORK
International Arbitration
- Lead Counsel in a shipbuilding dispute in an international arbitration before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre representing Dutch shipbuilders.
Reported Cases
- Lead Counsel in the Federal Court, Court of Appeal and the High Court in a ship-collision claim concerning damage caused by a barge under tow: Owners of the Ship or Vessel ‘MY Ferry 2’ v. Owners and/or Demise Charterers of the Ship or Vessel ‘KKD000132-T’ & Anor [2020] MLJU 298, High Court; [2021] MLJU 738, Court of Appeal.
- Lead Counsel in the Court of Appeal in Suit No. : W-02(IM)(ADM)-1179-06/2019, a claim against a vessel buyer, who bought the vessel whilst she was under arrest: see High Court judgment at Majorole Shipping Sdn Bhd v. The Owners and/or other persons having interest in the ship or vessel ‘Semua Bahagia’ [2019] 1 LNS 2397.
- Junior Counsel in a suit before the Admiralty Court that examined the significance of the bareboat charter registry in ship-arrest claims: Rei Management Sdn. Bhd. v. The Owners of the Ship or Vessel ‘Inaimerak Super’ [2016] MLJU 1390, High Court.
- Junior Counsel in an oil pollution claim concerning the 1957 Tonnage Limitation Convention: Newfield Peninsula Malaysia Inc. v. The Owners of the Ship or Vessel ‘Tanjung Pinang 1’ [2013] 10 MLJ 650, High Court.
Other Highlights
- Acted for Claimants in proceedings under the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1992 and International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2001.
- Acted for parties in proceedings under the International Convention Relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Sea-Going Ships 1957 and the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976.
- Acted for shipowners in proceedings brought by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
- Advised on commodity disputes under Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia Contracts
MEMBERSHIPS & DIRECTORSHIPS
- Member, Faculty of Trainers, Malaysian Bar’s Advocacy Training Course (since 2023).
- Member, Malaysian Bar’s Publications Committee (since 2022).
- Member, The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (since 2018).
- Member, International Malaysian Society of Maritime Law (since 2016, Treasurer for the 2020 – 2023 term).
- Member, Malaysian Bar’s Shipping and Admiralty Law Committee (2015 to 2024).
PUBLICATIONS
- “Case Update on “The “Sea Justice” [2024] SGHC 37 – Forum Non Conveniens Stays and In Rem Security” in Volume 24, Issue 4 (May 2024) of the Lloyd’s Shipping and Trade Law Newsletter.
- “Case Update on The “Thorco Lineage” [2023] EWHC 26 (Comm) – Can a loss in value count as damage to goods?” in Volume 23, Issue 3 (April 2023) of the Lloyd’s Shipping and Trade Law Newsletter.
- “Case Update on The “Jeil Crystal” [2022] SGCA 66 – Changing the Grounds of Arrest” in Volume 23, Issue 1 (January/February 2023) of the Lloyd’s Shipping and Trade Law Newsletter.
- “Revisiting slow steaming and wrongful arrest claims” in Volume 22, Issue 8 (October 22) of the Lloyd’s Shipping and Trade Law Newsletter.
- “Case Comment on The “MT Cavalier” [2022] MLJU 673 – Bills of lading: incorporation of charterparty arbitration clauses” in Volume 22, Issue 6 (July/August 2022) of the Lloyd’s Shipping and Trade Law Newsletter.
- “Think Tank – Halliburton v Chubb: A Discussion from a Malaysian Perspective” in the Asian International Arbitration Centre Newsletter 01, April 2021.
- Contributor to Malaysian Civil Procedure 2021 and 2018 editions, Sweet and Maxwell, commonly known as the ‘White Book.’
- “Maritime Law Legal Practice in Malaysia” in the August 2021 issue of I-Risk Spot, a publication of the Malaysian Bar.
- “The Moscow Stars – Charter Party Liens and Arbitration,” The Newsletter of The Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators (Issue 1/2019).
- “New Remedies for Seafarers,” The Sun, 6 February 2017.
