International Trade

We have significant experience in the trade and commodities sector, having worked for some of the largest industry players, dealing with a variety of disputes:

  • International sale of goods disputes
  • Joint venture arrangements
  • Production problems and disruptions in the logistics chain
  • Disputes before the High Court in Lonon, Trade Association Arbitrations (LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL, GAFTA, FOSFA and LMAA) and monitoring advising in complex multi-jurisdistictional issues
  • Sanctions issues

Admiralty and Casualty

We have assisted clients with:

  • Groundings
  • Collisions (including those involving STS transfers)
  • Vessel fires
  • Pollution
  • Salvage
  • Wreck removal
  • Unsafe port/berth claims

Please call any of the directors to discuss any admiralty or casualty related issues to see if we can help.

Dry Shipping

The majority of the work undertaken by the firm relates to “dry” shipping matters and disputes.

We have acted in a number of high-profile cases and represented clients across the globe in the shipping sector, combining decades of expertise involving disputes under:

  • Charterparties / contracts of affreightment / vessel sharing agreements, including:
    • Off-hire disputes
    • Laytime and demurrage disputes
    • Early / late redelivery disputes
    • Withdrawal and termination
    • Speed and performance claims
    • Disputes relating to breaches of employment orders
    • Unsafe port claims
    • Inter Club Agreement claims
    • Damage to hull claims
    • Cargo claims
    • Lien disputes
    • Bunker quality disputes
  • Bills of lading, including:
    • Cargo claims
    • Misdescription disputes
    • Disputes and issues relating to clausing bills of lading
    • Disputes and issues relating to delivery of cargo without production of original bills
    • Disputes relating to fraudulent / forged bills of lading
  • MOAs, including:
    • Deposit disputes and non-performance
    • Condition on delivery and class status
    • Disputes relating to inspections, documentation and notice clauses
    • Default and enforcement disputes
  • Pool Agreements, including:
    • Allocation of pool earnings
    • Breach of pool rules and exit clauses
    • Disputes regarding management and operational matters
  • Agency and brokerage agreements

We have a wealth of experience advising clients in relation to injunctions (freezing, anti-suit, inspection and preservation of evidence) and enforcment issues (arrest and attachment of assets).

We are very familiar with High Court procedures and the rules of the arbitral bodies to whom maritime related disputes are regularly referred (LMAA, LCIA, LCC etc).

We can help clients resolve problems using alternative dispute resolution methods and regularly assist clients in mediations.

On the non-contentious side, we:

  • work with and assist clients in drafting specific clauses for inclusion in charterparties.
  • provide advice on a wide range of charterparties, covering different vessel types and sectors.
  • assist clients in the negotiation of a variety of different ship related contracts.

If you have a query about a shipping related legal issue, there is a very good chance that one of the team will have the necessary experience to assist you. That said, we also know our limitations and will always be open and honest with clients if we feel their problem or issue could be better addressed by another legal professional.