P&I & Claims led from operational experience.
From pre-loss prevention through to post-casualty recovery, we support shipowners, ship managers, P&I clubs, and P&I correspondents on the full lifecycle of P&I matters arising in India and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Where our specific expertise changes outcomes.
Most P&I work in India sits with two or three large law firms whose Mumbai and Delhi practices handle the volume but rarely deploy on the technical detail. Lex Dux LLP occupies the space between full-service big-firm representation and specialist surveyor work — bringing partner-led time, sea-experience-led judgment, and direct accountability for the matter.
The firm's founder is a Master Mariner (F.G.) with five years in command and fifteen years as DPA / CSO across diverse trading routes. That history matters in P&I work because the right questions in a claims investigation, a casualty response, or a cargo dispute often turn on operational reality that desk-based counsel cannot reconstruct accurately.
We accept engagements where our specific expertise produces materially better outcomes than generic P&I representation would. The matters where we add the most value tend to involve technical operational disputes (machinery failures, navigation incidents, cargo handling), casualty response coordination requiring rapid on-scene technical interpretation, charterparty cargo claims with operational complexity, container survey and inspection work at the Delhi NCR inland container depots, and independent incident investigation where a combined Master Mariner / Chief Engineer perspective produces defensible findings.
Where matters require pure commercial litigation, large-team document management, or specialised in-court advocacy, we say so honestly and route to firms better suited. Our positioning is deliberately narrow.
Specific scopes we deliver well.
Each of the six areas below is a discrete scope of work we accept on a project or retainer basis. Engagements typically start with a defined deliverable and expand into broader retainer relationships where the fit is right.
Claims handling & advisory
Investigation, evidence preservation, witness statements, technical opinion, settlement-positioning analysis, and ongoing advisory through quantum determination. We work either as primary handler or in support of incumbent counsel where specialist input is needed.
Pre-loss prevention surveys
On-board operational risk reviews for clubs and members. Bridge and engine room observation, SMS implementation review, master and crew competency assessment, port-state-control readiness — written reports with prioritised recommendations.
Casualty response coordination
On-scene response for pollution incidents, collisions, groundings, fires, and serious machinery failures. Master mariner credibility on board, port-state and DG Shipping interface ashore, evidence preservation, and immediate exposure assessment for the club.
P&I correspondent support
Specialist technical support to P&I correspondents whose general practice doesn't extend to the specific matter type. We work in second-seat support or take direct conduct as the correspondent prefers — without competing for the primary relationship.
Cargo claims & subrogation
Pre-discharge survey coordination, claim quantum analysis, defence preparation, and subrogation work on recovered claims. Particular strength in matters with technical loading, stowage, or handling questions that turn on operational expertise.
Container survey & inspection — Delhi / NCR
Pre-loading inspection and post-discharge survey of containers at the inland container depots and CFSs across Delhi NCR — Tughlakabad (ICD TKD), Dadri, Patparganj, and others. Condition surveys, damage assessment, seal verification, stuffing and de-stuffing supervision, and documentary evidence packages for cargo claims. Our Delhi NCR base makes this fast and cost-effective for North India cargo movements.
Independent maritime incident investigation
Independent investigation of collisions, groundings, machinery failures, cargo incidents, personal injury, and serious near-misses — instructed by owners, P&I clubs, or insurers. Master Mariner and Marine Chief Engineer perspectives combined: bridge and engine-room root-cause analysis, evidence preservation, witness interview, and defensible written findings that withstand scrutiny.
Partner-led, scoped tightly, accountable end-to-end.
Every P&I engagement at Lex Dux LLP is led directly by Capt. P. Singh. There are no junior-staff hand-offs, no associate review chains, no document review centres. You receive the partner who took the instruction, the partner who develops strategy, and the partner who attends the meetings, signs the correspondence, and stands accountable for the outcome.
For new instructions, we run an initial assessment without obligation — an exploratory conversation to confirm conflict-clearance, understand the matter, and decide whether our specific expertise materially helps. Where it does, we issue a written scope of work covering deliverables, timelines, and fee structure before any substantive work begins. Where it doesn't, we say so and where possible suggest counsel better placed.
Fee structures are matter-appropriate. Casualty response and discrete advisory matters typically run hourly; ongoing P&I correspondent support or member retainers run on monthly fee structures. We are transparent about both and confirm explicitly which applies before engagement.
Response commitments: within one working day for new enquiries, within four hours for matters flagged as casualty or urgent.
Common questions, candidly answered.
Do you act as a P&I correspondent yourselves?
Lex Dux is not currently appointed as a primary correspondent for any of the International Group P&I clubs. We work in specialist support of correspondents — bringing technical maritime expertise where the correspondent's general practice doesn't extend.
This is a deliberate positioning. Correspondent appointment is an institutional, multi-year process, and we believe specialist support work is the right entry point for a boutique firm — building demonstrated competence on individual matters before any panel consideration.
How does sea experience actually matter in P&I work?
Three concrete ways. First, in claims investigations and casualty response, the right line of inquiry often turns on operational reality — what a master would actually do at 0300 with the equipment in question, what the engine room watchkeeping practice would have shown, how a particular cargo handling decision gets made on a real vessel. Desk-based counsel often miss the relevant questions entirely.
Second, in evidence presentation — to tribunals, surveyors, or opposing counsel — the credibility of explanation matters. A counsel who has actually stood watch on the bridge of an ocean-going vessel speaks differently about navigation incidents than one who has only read about them.
Third, in crew matters and master-witness work, the seafarer audience responds materially differently to a counsel from their own professional background. This affects evidence quality and case preparation depth.
Can you handle urgent casualty response?
Yes. Casualty-flagged enquiries receive a response within four hours; on-scene mobilisation across Indian ports is typically within 24-48 hours depending on location. Our base is Delhi NCR with Mumbai accessible within a half-day flight where matters require physical presence.
For casualty response, the early decisions about evidence preservation, statement-taking sequence, and Administration interface have outsized influence on later claim outcome. We prioritise these matters accordingly.
Do you work with foreign P&I clubs and correspondents directly?
Yes. Most of our P&I work involves international clubs (UK P&I, NorthStandard, Britannia, Gard, Steamship Mutual, others) operating through their Singapore, Hong Kong, or London desks, with matters arising in Indian waters or involving Indian counterparties.
We are familiar with the standard club correspondent appointment structures, Letters of Undertaking, security demands and forms, and the typical communication protocols. Where the matter routes through a primary Indian correspondent, we work in their second-seat; where the club instructs us directly, we report directly to the relevant claims executive.
What's the typical engagement structure?
For discrete matters: written scope of work specifying deliverables, fee structure (usually hourly with a not-to-exceed cap), and timeline. Engagement begins after written acceptance from the instructing party.
For retainer relationships (typical for active P&I correspondents or shipowner members wanting on-tap expertise): a monthly retainer covering a defined consulting hours envelope, with overflow hours billed against an agreed rate.
For casualty response: we mobilise immediately on telephone instruction with paper scoping confirmed within 24 hours. Casualty response is the one area where we do not delay engagement on documentation.
Do you handle the related litigation if a P&I matter escalates?
Litigation in Indian courts (admiralty matters, NCLT proceedings, writ petitions, arbitration before MCIA or LMAA) and Indian court advocacy is generally handled by specialised litigation counsel rather than Lex Dux directly. Where a matter escalates, we work alongside instructed litigation counsel — usually in technical-witness preparation, expert-opinion development, and strategy advisory roles.
For international arbitration where technical maritime evidence is determinative, we can serve as expert witnesses or in expert-witness support capacity. This is a discrete sub-practice.
Conflict-clearance and an exploratory call, without obligation.
Send a brief note about the matter. We respond within one working day; within four hours for casualty-flagged enquiries.