Iain Sharp is a partner based in the firm's Singapore office. He is a member of the International Arbitration team and Commercial Litigation Client Service Group.

Mr. Sharp has a wide range of experience - both contentious and non-contentious - and has been involved in matters that include international trade and commodities, oil and gas, shipping, banking and finance disputes, defense products, civil fraud, intellectual property and technology (including trade marks, image and author rights, sponsorship and endorsement contracts), and insurance/reinsurance. In addition to resolving disputes through litigation and alternative dispute resolution (including mediation and negotiation), he has conducted several major arbitrations in London, Scandinavia, Continental Europe, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and South Korea under institutional rules ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, LMAA, HKIAC, SIAC, CIETAC, CMAC and ad-hoc arbitrations (UNCITRAL). Mr. Sharp has also conducted arbitrations under trade association rules including LME and GAFTA.

Mr. Sharp regularly advises clients on a wide range of legal issues, including contracts for the sale and purchase of goods, agency/distribution agreements, general trading terms and conditions, charter parties, operational and legal risk management, trade finance, and letters of credit.

Mr. Sharp has particular experience working with clients and handling commercial, international trade and commodities, and dispute-related matters involving China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Select Representations

• Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd v (1) Far East Chartering Ltd (2) Binani Cement Ltd (The “Jag Ravi”) [2011] - defending an Indian commodity importer in English Commercial Court (including Court of Appeal) proceedings involving the sale and purchase of coal and claims for indemnity under Letters of Indemnity (LOIs).
• Acting for an international steel trader in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration involving the sale and purchase of hot rolled steel sheets in coils.
• Acting for Singapore and Indonesia-based commodity traders in SIAC and LCIA arbitrations involving the sale and purchase of coal from Indonesia and South Africa.
• RaiffeisenZentralbankÖsterreich AG v China Marine Bunker (Petrochina) Co. Ltd. [2006] - acting for a Chinese state-owned joint venture company in an international trade dispute in the Commercial Court involving the sale and importation of fuel oil from Singapore into China and the enforcement of an irrevocable payment undertaking. 
• Acting for North America’s largest integrated lead producer in an LME arbitration involving the sale and purchase of lead concentrates and their shipment from the US to China.
• Acting for an oil and gas exploration company in connection with a dispute arising from an exploration license for North Sea assets.
• Acting for a global commodities trading company in connection with a multi-party dispute involving the sale and purchase of fuel oil.
• Acting for a US-based international supplier of defense products in two London arbitrations concerning Colombian agency contracts.
• Acting for a Middle Eastern Government in a US $200 million ICC arbitration involving the sale and purchase of shares in a telecoms company.
• Acting for a leading multinational pharmaceutical company in two BCCI arbitrations in Bulgaria.
• Acting for international bank syndicate in connection with claims under a US $35 million loan facility agreement and guarantees.
• A multi-million dollar claim brought by a large investment and development group in Hong Kong against a large international bank for misrepresentation and/or breach of duty in relation to a joint venture company in PRC and the re-structuring of a syndicated loan agreement.
• Acting for HK listed company and private individual in multi-million dollar claim and counterclaim under shareholders agreement, loan agreements and personal guarantees in connection with financing for joint venture project in the PRC.
• Acting for US-based enterprise software firm in a dispute involving claims for misrepresentation, copyright infringement and breach of contract arising from a Memorandum of Understanding.
• Advising an investment bank in connection with a US $100 million facility agreement and associated trade and finance contracts relating to the sale and purchase of commodities.
• Advising a Singapore-based coal trader in relation to commission and coal marketing agency agreements (governed by English law) and letters of mandate relating to the sale of mining assets in Indonesia.

Bar and Court Admissions

England and Wales, 1998

Education

De Montfort University/University of Birmingham, CPE, LPC, 1994, 1995

University of Birmingham, B.A., 1993

Languages

French

Swedish

Speeches and Seminars

• "Case study: Operational and Legal Risks in Physical Commodities Trading," OpRisk Asia Conference, June 2012
• Moderator "Going Rogue - How Do We Control Rogue Traders?" OpRisk Asia Conference, June 2012
• "Shipment of Dangerous Bulk Cargo," November 2011
• Moderator/Panelist "Implications of Dodd-Frank for Asian Institutions," Energy Risk Asia Conference, September 2011
• "Letters of Indemnity in International Trade and Shipping," August 2011
• "Letters of Credit and Legal Developments involving UCP600," March 2011
• Panelist "Energy Trading Regulation and the Future for OTC Derivatives," Energy Risk Asia Conference, September 2010

Professional Affiliations

• Law Society of England and Wales
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Member of the Groupe ASA des Jeunes Praticiens de l'Arbitrage (part of the Association Suisse de l’Arbitrage)
• Member of the Young International Arbitration Group (with the LCIA)
• Member of the Association for International Arbitration (AIA)
• Member of the Australasian Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA)