Boutique firm Blackstone & Gold for one client, is the ‘holy grail for dispute resolution and arbitration in Singapore’ with the ’right blend of commercial nous and arbitration experience’. Commodities disputes are a key strength of the practice, with the team well-versed in financing, trading, enforcement, and fraud-related disputes, in addition to crypto-related arbitrations. Baldev Bhinder is ‘the best commodities disputes lawyer in the market’, and is ’fantastic for managing a team’. Key to the team is Raman Kaur, who is according to some the ‘most hard-working disputes lawyer you will ever meet’.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Baldev Bhinder and his team are the holy grail for dispute resolution and arbitration in Singapore. They are lean, hard-working, and highly skilled. Baldev is fantastic at managing a team and is highly experienced. His raison d'etre is to get clients what they want how they want it. Ramandeep Kaur is the most hard-working disputes lawyer you will ever meet.’

  • ‘Expert surgeons with the right blend of commercial nous and arbitration experience. They knew the right tool to use for every claim. Agile team which is very responsive to our needs. ’

  • 'Raman Kaur is also very hard-working and goes the extra mile for clients.’
  • ‘Baldev Bhinder is exceptional, understands the practicalities of international trade, is well connected in the commodities market, knows the arbitration process inside and out, instinctively knows where the pressure points are, and can map out an effective strategy from the get-go.'

  • 'Baldev Bhinder is well known in the market for his commodities work and network. His understanding of international trade is second to none and he brings that expertise to any claim or arbitration.'
  • 'On multiple occasions, Baldev and Raman had gone the extra mile in giving their advice on matters that do not necessarily fall under their official scope of work. Their genuine desire to help us achieve a positive outcome makes working together a pleasure.'
  • ‘Excellent team with deep knowledge of commodities disputes ’

  • ‘Baldev Bhinder is the best commodities disputes lawyer in the market.’

Key clients

  • EFA Group
  • Avani Resources
  • MRI Group
  • NS Bluescope
  • Pertamina
  • Idemitsu International
  • Global Transit Trading
  • QBE Insurance

Work highlights

  • Advising and acting for a global insurance company in relation to numerous claims and investigations involving likely fraudulent and fictitious trades in the commodities market straddling court and arbitration proceedings with a total claim value in excess of $70m. The case involves novel points of law with respect to circular, financing or fictitious trades and whether they are covered under a trade credit policy.
  • Successfully acted for a Singapore commodities trader in SIAC proceedings against an Indonesian miner in respect of a novel issue as to which party should bear the loss for a third party hacking, spoofing and diversion of payment. The case involved a successful arbitration defence alongside ancillary court proceedings in Hong Kong for third party disclosure orders and Indonesian court proceedings for enforcement.
  • Advised a lender in respect of a global enforcement exercise against a shipping group including obtaining a UK freezing order alongside Singapore court proceedings in respect of diversion of trade finance loans in excess of $150m from various lenders.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Baldev Bhinder

Other key lawyers

Raman Kaur