Toplis and Harding (Marine) Ltd

華 証 行 ( 海 事 ) 有 限 公 司

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

The Toplis & Harding Group



The Toplis & Harding Group

The company was originally formed in London in 1790 by James Toplis, who was an upholsterer and cabinet maker. He was later joined by William Daniel Harding in 1844.

In February 1811, James Toplis, was appointed "Surveyor of Stock" to the Sun Fire Office and thus begun our long association with the insurance industry.

Since its early humble beginnings as the founding member of the loss adjusting profession, the Toplis and Harding Group eventually developed into one of the world’s largest and independent International Loss Adjusting and Surveying practices.

In 1995, the majority of the companies within the Group negotiated a Management BuyOuts. This resulted in many changes in trading names, although in many regions the name "Toplis and Harding" was retained.

Hong Kong office - Corporate Structure

The Hong Kong operation is the longest established office in the Asia Pacific Region, commencing operations in 1968. Over the years it has gained for itself an excellent reputation in the local and international insurance markets, starting from the adjustment of simple construction and civil engineering related losses to more complex and substantial infrastructure projects in Hong Kong.

It is a fact that our company has been the training ground for many of the Hong Kong’s indigenous loss adjusters and their growth had contributed to the development of the industry in Hong Kong in recent decades. Our senior executives continue to strive to maintain and further improve the standard of professionalism and integrity.

The Hong Kong office successfully negotiated a Management BuyOut in 1995 and successfully renamed it’s Chinese name to 華証行 (meaning Grand Adjusting) in January 1996.

In order to provide total solution to our clients, the Company established two new subsidiary companies in 1995 - The Toplis & Harding (Marine) Ltd and Toplis & Harding (Recoveries) Ltd.

In May 2000, we have invited Capt Lee Fook Choon from Integral Marine Consultants, Singapore to join our group as Technical Consultant.

From our staff complement of some 50 in 2002, our pool of adjusters and surveyors are grouped into various departments although we encourage inter departmental integration wherever possible. In so doing, our adjusters’ experience are considerably focussed and enhanced, thus better placed to accept the increasing challenges and diversities of modern day insurance claims.

Apart from being the nominated loss adjuster and surveyor of the Insurers in Hong Kong, we have been engaged in various aspects of claims backing activities such as recovery actions, salvage auction and fraudulent claims investigation. In the global insurance market, we are the nominated Survey and Settling Agent for many overseas Insurers.

Our Corporate Logo




The Corporate Identity for Toplis and Harding Group creates a consistent image for every aspect of the Group and its activities. In order to achieve this, a mark has been adopted which utilises a seated figure signifying authority and judgement. This has been resolved into the seal device reinforced by the surrounding motto. The mark embodies the ethos of the group in all its activities.

Our Fee Tariff

A new fee tariff for our Marine Services for 2010 (with effective 1 April 2010) is now availble to our clients upon request.

Marine Hull & P&I Claims:
captainlee@toplishk.com

Marine Cargo Survey:
general@toplishk.com

Marine Cargo Claims Handling/Settling:
perrine@toplishk.com

Marine Claims Recovery:
perrine@toplishk.com

Non-Marine / Property Recovery:
donna@toplishk.com
joan@toplishk.com

Non-Marine / Property Survey:
enquiry@toplis.com.hk

Telephone enquiry: (852) 2861 2030
Facsimile: (852) 2866 3134

Range of our Services


Survey Agency
We have the human resources to undertake the following surveys: -
Cargo Survey – General Merchandize, Frozen Foods, Vegetable Oils, Machines, Raw Materials,
Hull and Machinery Survey
Pre-shipment / Pre-insurance Survey
General Average Survey
Other Investigation – Total Loss of Ships
Non-marine – Property Losses
Value-added Services – Loss Minimization, Salvage Auction, Risk Improvement Advice, Recovery Advice

Settling Agency
Arranging survey, minimization of loss, protecting recovery rights and evidence, conducting salvage sales, collecting documents necessary for settling and recoveries, adjusting claims, advising on policy liability, arranging settlement, declining liability on Insurers’ behalf.

Recovery Agency
We have a good team in place to handle all aspects of cargo claims recoveries for insurers and uninsured interests in pursuing recovery claims against carriers for loss of or damage to cargo whilst in transit. We have a sound combination of legal and technical expertise to offer value added service to our clients in the sense that all claims are being reviewed and pursued with diligence. Where possible, we will try best to obtain security and enter into substantive negotiation without having to resort to expensive legal expenses to obtain the necessary security. Our in-depth understanding of ship operations and charter party business, will enable us to deal with standard defences raised by shipping companies ie perils of the sea, insufficient packing, pre-shipment damage etc, as well as raising issues with cargo surveyors whose findings may appear ambiguous or in doubt.

Our work is carried out on ‘ No Cure No Pay’ basis. Our fees are inclusive of incidental disbursements but where specific disbursements are concerned (legal fees and search fees for example), prior approval would be sought from the insurers.

Arbitration & Mediation
Alternative Dispute Resolution is an area which is gaining popularity in the resolution of commercial disputes in many jurisdictions as against relying on the local judicial systems which may have yet to gain acceptance and trust by foreign parties. We are able to offer qualified and experienced arbitral and mediation services to resolve cross claims between insurers; between insurers and the assureds; between different contractual parties in international transactions and between insurers and third parties interests.

Capt Lee is a qualified chartered arbitrator and accreditated mediator. He is well placed to adjudicate insurance related disputes or commercial transaction disputes. Subject to the agreement of the parties, he can preside either as a sole arbitrator or as one of the arbitrators in a two men or three men tribunal. Arbitral awards issued in Hongkong or China are binding on the parties and enforceable in more than 120 jurisdictions.

Capt Lee had also acted successfully as a mediator in several transnational claims involving disputants in Scandinavia, China, Vietnam and Singapore. Mediation is a much cheaper option than arbitration and its attraction lies in the fact that the goodwill between the disputing parties is preserved.

Technical & Legal Consultancy
Advice on packaging and stowage.
Advice on policy liability.
Legal Advice on the viability of the case and jurisdictional procedures in China, Japan, Korea, USA and other better known common-law countries.

Our Strength

Expertise
There is an integration of expertise in our office - Master Mariners, Chartered Arbitrator, Accredited Mediator, Legal Consultants, Recovery Experts, Experienced Surveyors and Claim Handlers. They are in charge of our service sectors and are also responsible for training and guiding junior staff.

Staff Quality
Our staff quality is centered on degree holders in shipping and law. They are encouraged to enhance their skills whenever possible through further education and hand-on field experience.

One-stop Services
We are capable of providing one-stop professional services to Insurers, thus saving Insurers’ time and effort in appointing expertise from different companies and countries. Communication between expertise is fast and accurate. Documents are centralized in one office and the risk of documentary loss by post is minimized.

Strategic Planning
Centralization of expertise enables identification and monitoring of complicated cases at the survey stage and results in well-planned actions throughout the survey, settling and recovery process.

Global Network
Due to our vast network and close local support in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and China and India, we are able to offer multiple-country services managed by a single office.

No Cure No Pay
Our recovery service is provided on a "no cure no pay" basis, enabling simplified budgets.

Time-bar Security
Our unique recovery system protects Insurers’ right of recovery early at the survey stage.

Flexibility

Insurers are free to select our choice of services separately or in package according to their needs. We are flexible to meet Insurers’ different needs by offering a tailor-made service scheme.

Number of Staff

Toplis & Harding Group - over 60

Staff Profile


CAPT LEE FOOK CHOON (李 福 泉)
Master Mariner, MNI, ACII, FCIArb, LL.M(Wales), Chartered Arbitrator,
Listed Mediator
Position : Technical Director

Direct Telephone No: (852) 82268420
Direct E-mail: captainlee@integralmarine.com
Skype Contact: captleesir

Backgrounds
Besides holding the post as Technical Director in our Hong Kong Operations, Capt Lee Fook Choon is also the principal officer of Integral Marine Consultants, Singapore and also concurrently acting as consultant to IMC’s associate offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, China. He has been working as an insurance claims loss adjuster for marine insurers for the last 27 years and as a maritime arbitrator since 1993. Over the years, he has also been active as a cross-border dispute mediators in Singapore, China and Vietnam.

As head of the company, he is involved in the day-to day management of the company, business development region wide, conducting surveys and fraud investigations of substantial magnitude, supervision of fellow colleagues, training of new entrants, delivering technical talks to institutions and acting as arbitrators in various maritime disputes. To date, he has handled more than 7000 cases of marine related losses and loss adjustment work either directly or together with his colleagues.

Capt Lee is an experienced Loss Adjuster and Maritime Arbitrator and by qualifications is a master mariner, a chartered arbitrator with the UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, holder of ACII and a master degree in maritime law from Cardiff Law School. He is also a Chartered Insurance Practitioner. He is a panel maritime arbitrator with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Hongkong International Arbitration Centre, China Maritime Arbitration Commission, Indian Arbitration Council, Regional Arbitration Centre Kuala Lumpur and Institute of Arbitrators UK. His areas of interests are charter party disputes, insurance claims, collision liabilities, ship repairs and ship building disputes and international sales of goods disputes.

As a Loss Adjuster, he had represented many insurers in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, UK, Scandinavia, China and Hongkong in handling thousands of marine hull and cargo cases. He heads an operation with associate offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and China. With him onboard, we are able to enlarge considerably our scope of services and penetrations to a large network of associates in many countries.

EXPERIENCE OF CAPT LEE FOOK CHOON

Hull Survey/Investigation / Loss Adjustment
More than 27 years experience in surveying/investigation major hull losses like collision, fire stranding, heavy weather damage and sinking in South East Asia, India, Middle East and China on behalf of hull and machinery insurers in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Norway, Vietnam and Hongkong. Such experience also involved related work on off-shore platforms and production rigs as well as fixed structures like wharf, piers, jetties, dolphins, single buoy moorings etc.

Cargo Losses and Investigations
Had been appointed by major insurers in China, Singapore, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia and Germany to conduct investigations and to limit claims in large cargo losses involving a range of products like machineries, rice, timber, commodities, plant produce, hydrocarbon and vegetable oils.

Loss Prevention and Risk Assessment
Have acted on behalf of many insurers on loss prevention and risk assessment surveys involving ships, suction dredgers, manufacturing plants in Malaysia and Indonesia, risk assessment of movements of heavy machineries in inland transit modes, privatized ports and shipyards in Singapore and Malaysia.

Liability Investigations
Have been appointed by insurers in Malaysia and Singapore to investigate liabilities on hull policies, cargo policies, mortgagee interests insurance policies and seller interests insurance policies.

Arbitration and Mediation
Have seated as sole arbitrator and as a member of a two arbitrator or three arbitrators tribunal in more than 15 maritime arbitration proceedings involving trade, charter party, quality of goods and custom duties disputes. As a mediator, had acted successfully as a transnational mediator in more than 8 cases involving claims between Norwegian and Mainland Chinese interests, between Singapore/Norwegian interests, between Singapore and Vietnamese interests etc.

Conducting Seminars
Have participated as seminar speakers in many international maritime seminars held in London, Rotterdam, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Beijing, Dalian, Hangzhou and Jakarta. Also conducted customized in-house lectures for insurance companies in Singapore, Malaysia and Hongkong solely for their managers and agents. Had also participated as one of the seminar speakers in regional conferences organized by AIU and CGU. Besides the above, Capt Lee is a regular lecturer with The Singapore College of Insurance, a non-profit making institution owned by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and an approved tutor of the UK Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.



Perrine K. B. Chan LL.B (Hons), MCIArb
Position : Director

Backgrounds
Perrine started her insurance career by first joining Asia Insurance Co Ltd in September 1981 in the Marine Claims Department handling marine cargo claims and in November 1984 joined a local recovery company (later renamed as Toplis & Harding (Recoveries) Ltd) chiefly involved in the handling of marine cargo claims adjustment & recoveries and started to involve in assisting the development of business in the insurance market. During mid 1989, Perrine joined another local recovery company assuming the position of Manager and also undertook the supervision of the staff in the non-marine claims recovery matters.

In December 1992, Perrine had set up her business in running an insurance claims consultant company when she had actively involved in the marketing of the Company and also undertook the handling of the work for the Cargo Underwriters. During this period, Perrine had traveled extensively to the Asian countries to develop business with main focus on the People’s Republic of China, at the same time, also looking after the office management and administration work.
In May 1996, Perrine rejoined Toplis to assist in developing the Marine & Recoveries divisions which were formally incorporated as two subsidiary companies of Toplis. With her continuous efforts, the divisions under her supervision have extensively expanded from 3 members to over 20 members including the recent set up of the airport operation office in 2005.

During the past 25 years working in the professional field, Perrine has been involved in investigations in a number of significant marine insurance claims which enable Cargo Underwriters to assess policy liability on technical issues and to enable subrogated Cargo Underwriters to preserve sufficient evidence in pursuing successful recovery actions against responsible parties in the Admiralty Court Actions.

EXPERIENCE
Marine Cargo Claims Survey, Settling and Recoveries
Cargo Loss Investigations
Aviation Claims Handling
Non-Marine & Motor Recoveries
Goods in Transit Claims Handling
Policy Liability Consultant
Bailee / Forwarder’s Liability Consultant

Contact Us


Hong Kong Regional Office
Unit 1506-8, 15/F., Yen Sheng Centre
64 Hoi Yuen Road
Kwun Tong
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2866 7744
Fax: 852-2858 2633
E-mail: general@toplishk.com
Person to Contact: Ms Perrine Chan

HK Airport Operation OfficeRoom 6024, South Office Block
HACTL Super Terminal 1
H.K. International Airport
Hong Kong
Tel : 852-2866 7744
Fax : 852-2753 1232
Email: hkairport@toplishk.com
Handphone: 9034 7852
Person to contact : Mr. Kenneth Koo

Our China Associates

TIANJIN, PRC
Tianjin Huazheng Adjusters Co Ltd
5-501 Shi, No. 1 Lou, Zhu Bo Li
Li Min Dao, Hexi District
Tianjin 300201
CHINA

天津華証公估有限公司
中國天津市河西區
利民道珠波裡深方小區 1號樓 5-501室
郵編: 300201

Tel : 86-22-28300418
Fax: 86-22-28316282
Handphone : 86-13902112605
Email : tedadalu@public.tpt.tj.cn
Person to contact : Mr. Liu Geng Xin(劉更新先生)

SHANGHAI, PRC
Tianjin Huazheng Adjusters Co Ltd (Shanghai Rep. Office)/
Integral Marine Consultants Ltd
Suite 1616, 16/F., Shanhai Tower
No. 1476 Pudong Avenue
Pudong, Shanghai 200135
CHINA

天津華証保險公估有限公司(上海代表處地址)/
上海忠立海事咨询有限公司
中國上海市浦東新區
浦東大道1476號
山海大廈1616室
郵政編碼:200135

Tel / Fax: 86-21-3392 6949
Handphone: 86 21 3875 1716
Email : huazhengsh@vip.sina.com
Person to contact : Capt. F. C. Lee
Personal email : captainlee@toplishk.com

Recruitment in Hong Kong

  • Junior / Senior Cargo Surveyors;
  • Claims Handler

For interested parties, please send full resume to perrine@toplishk.com or via fax no. 3764 5450 for interview arrangement.

Our Worldwide Network

SINGAPORE

Integral Marine Consultants Pte Ltd
21 Bukit Batok Crescent
#07-76, Wcega Tower
Singapore 658065

Tel : 65-6734 0798
Email: captainlee@integralmarine.com
Person to contact : Capt F.C. Lee / Ms Priscilla Tan

INDONESIA

Integral Marine Consultants
C/o P.T. Carsurin
Sarana Penjaminan Bldg (Pekaka Bldg)
7th Floor, J1. Angkasa Blok B-9, Kav. 6
Kota Baru Bandar Kemayoran
Jakarta 10720
Indonesia
Tel : 62-21-654 0425
Fax : 62-21-654 0418
Email : mailto:gimk@centrin.net.id
Person to contact : Capt Sunardi
Email : vpdir@carsurin.com

MALAYSIA

Integral Marine Consultants Sdn Bhd
No. 25, 2nd Floor
Jalan Chengal
96000Sibu, Sarawak,
East Malaysia
Tel : 60 84-345 916
Fax : 60 84-347 524
Handphone: 019-8866161
Email : iylau@pc.jaring.my
Person to contact : Mr. Peter Lau

MYANMAR

Integral Marine Consultants Pte Ltd
Representative Office (Myanmar)
No. F17/F18, Aung San Stadium (North Wing)
Kan Daw Galay Road
Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township Yangon, Myanmar
Tel : 95-1-252259
Fax : 95-1-571086
Person to contact :
Ms Tint Tint Aung

VIETNAMVietminh Marine Services Ltd
59/11 Pham Viet Chanh,
District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel : 84-8-8331648
Fax : 84-8-8334503
Handphone: 84-903908049
Email: vmmarine@hcm.vnn.vn
Person to contact : Mdm Thu