Sylvia is counsel in the firm’s dispute resolution group.
Sylvia has extensive experience advising clients on a broad range of commercial and contractual disputes, with particular expertise in matters involving the interpretation and enforcement of complex commercial agreements, financing documents and cross-border contractual arrangements. She regularly advises clients on contractual rights and obligations, breach of contract claims, risk allocation issues, events of default and strategic dispute resolution.
Sylvia also has a well-established maritime disputes practice and regularly advises clients across the shipping sector on a full range of contractual and tortious disputes, including those arising out of charterparties, bills of lading, ship sale and purchase contracts, marine insurance policies and agreements relating to specialised offshore and support vessels. She frequently represents shipowners, operators, charterers, financial institutions and commercial parties in international arbitrations.
In addition, Sylvia possesses comprehensive knowledge of the insurance industry, with particular experience in marine and aviation insurance matters.
On the financing side, Sylvia works closely with the firm’s Corporate Finance and Asset & Structured Finance teams, advising on financing and leasing arrangements, transaction documentation, contract reviews, enforcement issues and risk allocation. She also advises financial institutions, leasing companies and corporates on contractual interpretation, dispute avoidance strategies and remedies arising from financing transactions and defaults.
Sylvia is fluent in English, Mandarin and Shanghainese.
- Advising a client on a multi-million demurrage dispute, with successful recovery against an Indian state-owned counter party.
- Assisting a client in a high-profile arbitration under a long-term charter, following the changes under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol).
- Advising and assisting a client in a dispute arising from late delivery of the ship under the Sales and Purchase Agreement.
- Advising a client on collision and pollution liabilities following a casualty incident.
- Representing a client in London arbitration for a charterparty dispute arising from Covid-19 and winning the favourable award.
Education
- 2010 · The College of Law, London, LL.B.
- 2010 · The College of Law, Bloomsbury, LPC (Commendation)
- 2009 · The College of Law, Bloomsbury, London, GDL
- 2008 · University College London, LL.M
- 2007 · Shanghai Maritime University, LL.B.
