Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP

Deputy Head, Shipping & International Trade

V Bala is currently deputy head of the firm’s Shipping & International Trade practice group.

As a trained marine engineer with sailing experience, V Bala is regularly instructed by leading shipping companies and terminals as Counsel in a wide range of matters.

His contentious practice has seen him appear before all levels of the Singapore courts and arbitral tribunals on a wide range of commercial disputes, with particular focus on shipping, energy and offshore and international trade / commodities sectors. Being adept in dealing with engineering disputes and matters of a technical nature, he has acted for ship builders, repairers and equipment suppliers. He also has a strong non-contentious practice advising and drafting of documents pertaining to ship finance, ship sale and purchase, charterparties, contracts of affreightment, pooling arrangements, tankage, pilotage bunkering, trade finance and port documentation. Given the breadth of his practice and experience, he is consistently invited to speak in conferences and seminars around the world on cross-border litigation, arbitration and transactions.

Bala is amongst the distinguished and select group of experts to be named as an Accredited Specialist for Maritime and Shipping Law by the Singapore Academy of Law’s Specialist Accreditation Scheme.

Bala has been recognised as a leading shipping practitioner by Chambers Asia-Pacific (2024) and is described as one who “is very bright, knowledgeable and supportive.“

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific cited that “advocacy is one of the strengths” of V Bala and “his background as a marine engineer is particularly helpful.”

He is also identified as a Distinguished Practitioner by Asialaw Leading Lawyers (2024) and acknowledged by Best Lawyers (2025) for his Shipping & Maritime Law expertise.

LLB (Hons), Bristol Diploma in Marine Engineering, Singapore Maritime Academy Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore Registered Practitioner, DIFC Court Acc. Spec. (Maritime and Shipping), Singapore Academy of Law