Sitpah Selvaratnam is a fulltime Independent Arbitrator with extensive experience in dispute resolution, specialising in shipping, international trade, commercial and shareholder disputes.
She has been appointed as arbitrator in more than 60 disputes, and has dealt with expedited as well as emergency processes.
Ms. Selvaratnam is regularly appointed by arbitral institutions, parties and co-arbitrators in commercial arbitrations including under the AIAC, SIAC, HKIAC, ICC, LMAA, SCMA and DIAC Rules, and in ad hoc arbitrations seated in Delhi, London, Singapore and Malaysia.
Her appointments in international arbitration often involve:
• Charterparties, ship sale, shipbuilding, ship repair, ship services agreement, construction of maritime facilities, and other maritime-related issues, including issues on sanctions;
• International trade and commodities disputes including demurrage claims, loss from failure to deliver or take delivery of cargo, entailing market price evaluation, restitution and unjust enrichment considerations, and other determination of loss;
• Commercial contracts including disputes between shareholders, over the sale of shares in a company, transfer of business goodwill and assets, and sale and development of property.
She has had extensive experience as Presiding Arbitrator, Co-Arbitrator and Sole Arbitrator and has handed down numerous awards.
Prior to becoming a fulltime independent arbitrator in January 2024, she was an advocate and solicitor and was involved in over 100 shipping In Rem and In Personam actions, including arrest of ships, charterparty, cargo, international trade, documentary credit, marine insurance, and bunkering disputes; and collision, shipyard and port claims. Featured in successive editions of The Asia Pacific Legal 500 since 2005.
Ms. Selvaratnam was appointed to the ICC International Court of Arbitration as Court Member from 2018 to 2024. She was also appointed to the Permanent Court of Arbitration from July 2019 to June 2025.