Where Duskfield Began
Duskfield was founded in Kuala Lumpur with a single conviction: that maritime law practitioners who understand the operational realities of shipping — not just the statutes — serve their clients better. The founding team brought together years of experience advising carriers, ship owners, and cargo interests across Southeast Asian shipping lanes and Malaysian port operations.
The name draws from the hour when port lights begin to appear — a moment of transition that calls for steadiness and clear sight. That image captures something of how we approach legal work: methodically, with awareness of the wider context, and without unnecessary drama.
Over the years we have developed particular depth in cargo claim management, vessel registration under Malaysian flag state requirements, and admiralty proceedings in the High Court. We have handled matters ranging from straightforward registration filings to contested ship arrest applications requiring urgent court attendance.
Our Mission & Values
Clarity Over Speed
We take the time needed to understand each matter properly. Quick advice that misses a key element of maritime law does not serve anyone well.
Candour with Clients
We give honest assessments of prospects and risks. A client who understands their position clearly can make better decisions.
Discretion as Standard
Commercial shipping matters are often sensitive. We treat all client information with appropriate confidentiality as a matter of professional duty.
Respectful Engagement
We believe in considerate, measured communication — with clients, counterparties, and the courts. It produces better outcomes.
The Duskfield Team
Each member of our team concentrates specifically on maritime and shipping law, bringing a depth of focus that broader commercial practices cannot replicate.
Razif Amin
Senior Partner
Called to the Malaysian Bar in 2008, Razif leads the firm's admiralty and dispute resolution practice. He has represented both arrest claimants and vessel owners in contested High Court proceedings across a range of maritime disputes.
Suraya Fairuz
Partner — Shipping & Cargo
Suraya focuses on cargo claim handling and charterparty disputes. She advises both cargo interests and carriers on their rights and obligations under Malaysian law and international conventions including Hague-Visby.
Kelvin Lau
Associate — Vessel Registration
Kelvin manages the firm's vessel registration and flag state advisory work. He has guided ship owners through the Marine Department registration process for a variety of vessel types and sizes, including transfers of registry from foreign flag states.
How We Maintain Quality
Our work is shaped by clear internal standards and the professional obligations that govern legal practice in Malaysia.
Bar Council Membership
All our practitioners are members in good standing of the Malaysian Bar, practising in accordance with the Legal Profession Act 1976 and the rules of professional conduct.
Client Confidentiality Protocol
All client information is handled under strict confidentiality. We maintain clear data handling procedures and limit access to matter files within the firm on a need-to-know basis.
Continuing Legal Education
Each member of the Duskfield team participates in ongoing professional development, keeping current with developments in Malaysian admiralty jurisprudence and international maritime conventions.
Conflict Checking Process
We conduct conflict of interest checks before accepting each new matter. This protects client interests and maintains the integrity of our advice across the matters we handle.
Timely Communication Standards
We aim to acknowledge all client communications within one business day and provide substantive updates at regular intervals during active matters, without needing to be asked.
Court Procedure Compliance
Our admiralty filings comply with the Rules of Court 2012 and the specific procedural requirements of the High Court Admiralty jurisdiction, ensuring matters proceed without procedural complications.
Maritime Legal Expertise in Kuala Lumpur
Duskfield operates from Kuala Lumpur, a city positioned centrally within one of the world's most active shipping corridors. The Straits of Malacca — through which a significant proportion of global seaborne trade passes — places Malaysia in a position of considerable importance in maritime commerce. Our location allows us to work closely with port authorities, surveyors, and logistics operators across Peninsular Malaysia.
Our legal work spans both contentious and non-contentious maritime matters. On the contentious side, we appear in the Admiralty division of the Malaysian High Court, handle arbitrations arising from charterparties and cargo contracts, and advise on pre-action steps including the preservation of evidence following cargo incidents. On the non-contentious side, we assist ship owners and managers with registration and flag state compliance, crewing agreements, and standard forms used in the regional trade.
The Merchant Shipping Ordinance, together with international frameworks such as the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act and various international conventions, forms the backbone of the legal regime within which we work. Familiarity with how Malaysian courts interpret these instruments — and where Malaysian practice diverges from other common law jurisdictions — is central to the advice we give.
Ready to Speak with Our Team?
We welcome enquiries from carriers, ship owners, cargo interests, and freight operators at any stage of a matter.
Contact Duskfield