The Legal 500

Dry and wet shipping are amalgamated in one general shipping section, incorporating casualty work, shipbuilding, bill of lading and charterparty disputes, and marine insurance. For shipping finance practices, readers should refer to the Asset finance and leasing section.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP has been heavily involved in ship contract disputes and piracy incidents. Recent instructions include acting in the Westerhaven, grounded off Belize. Hugh Livingstone and Richard Crump are recommended for dry work, and Julian Clark is ‘knowledgeable and commercial’. Dry shipping partner James Mackay is well regarded, and James Gosling is noted for wet work. The ‘well-resourced’ team ‘has very good knowledge of the industry, and response times are excellent’. Matt Illingworth joined from DLA Piper UK LLP.

Ince & Co has seen an increase in shipbuilding and piracy-related instructions. The practice advised Gearbulk, in connection with the buyers’ rights on termination of a shipbuilding contract. Colin de la Rue acts in major oil spills from ships; Paul Herring is noted for charterparty disputes, and sale and purchase contracts; James Wilson advises in marine casualties; and Faz Peermohamed leads the worldwide casualty team. Shipping litigator Graham Crane heads the dry practice.

Derek Hodgson heads Clyde & Co LLP’s department, which works on contentious shipping matters, has expertise in problems arising from the carriage of oil and gas cargo by sea, and has a strong advisory practice for the bunkering industry. The cargo recovery practice has enviable experience in pursuing claims against carriers and vessels, and the firm increased its work with shipowners in relation to parties attempting to renege on contracts. Steve Pink is noted for ship casualty matters; Andrew Nicholas for marine insurance litigation, Ben Knowles for cargo damage and sale and purchase disputes; oil market specialist Irvine Marr for charterparty work; Hatty Sumption for charterparty and bill of lading disputes; and Nick Graydon recommended for shipowner representation.

Hill Dickinson LLP’s ‘advice is always tailored to the nature of the dispute, the jurisdiction and the level of assistance required’. The firm recently merged with Middleton Potts, boosting its presence in the commodities sector, and bringing in partners Fred Konynenburg, Andrew Meads and David Lucas. In the Silver Constellation matter, the practice advised on whether the owners were obliged to provide a vessel with rightship approval. Wet shipping lawyer Tony Goldsmith is recommended; Philip Haddon advises on international marine casualties and cargo disputes; Stuart Armstrong is an experienced goods-in-transit and commodities lawyer; and dry shipping partner Russell Gardner ‘has a fine ability to balance the commercial and legal aspects of a claim to achieve a win-win situation for the client’. Andrew Johnson has over 20 years’ experience in international dispute resolution, and Robert Wallis is noted for salvage matters, charterparty disputes, and marine insurance litigation.

Reed Smith is praised for its ‘practical and well-considered advice’. The practice was instructed by salvors Nippon Salvage, following a T-bone collision, and advised the owners of the Red Jasmine following the tragic sinking of the tug Flying Phantom. Global shipping head Nick Shaw offers ‘superb response times’, and Richard Gunn leads the casualty and admiralty practice. Mark O’Neil is noted for complex claims; the ‘enormously experienced’ Lindsay East for dry shipping litigation, and Stephen Kirkpatrick for casualty matters. ‘Safe pair of hands’ Andrew Taylor has particular expertise in relation to P&I clubs and their rules.

Niche practice MFB goes from strength to strength. The practice advises shipowners, charterers and operators in disputes and non-contentious matters, including contract drafting, agency and construction agreements. Andrew Hughes is recommended for bill of lading disputes, marine insurance and maritime arbitration.

Stephenson Harwood has a solid reputation for ship construction disputes, charterparty litigation, arrests and compulsory sales. It advised in connection with the hijacking of the vessel Lehmann Timber off the coast of Somalia. Paolo Ghirardani is practice head; Stuart Beadnall is noted for shipbuilding and LNG contracts; Duncan McDonald is recommended for ship construction disputes, and Haris Zografakis specialises in the resolution of shipping, international trade and commodities disputes. Alex Davis’ marine insurance team acts purely for insurers.

Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP marine insurance work is especially strong, and the team was recently involved in three major marine losses. Bill of lading, shipyard and charterparty disputes work from owners and charterers has been on the increase, as has piracy activity. Patrick Foss is highly recommended; Nigel Wagland is a ‘great strategist’; and Tim Taylor ‘possesses the ability to be direct and strong when required, yet malleable when circumstances dictate’.

Bentleys, Stokes and Lowless offers experience in shipping and marine insurance law, and in contentious and non-contentious issues arising out of international trade and transport.

TLT LLP’s maritime division remains known as Constant & Constant. The practice is well known in the Greek shipping market, but since the merger, it has diversified into India and Turkey. It has been advising on the termination of existing contracts, and on contracts where high-net-worth individuals are still ordering yachts. Highlights include advising Maersk Line on a major claim concerning grapes shipped to Europe, and assisting Global Ship Lease on the purchase of two newbuilding container ships. Duncan Bateson is recommended for commercial shipping and superyacht matters, and Jeremy J Thomas for shipping litigation.

Thomas Cooper’s Tim Kelleher is experienced in dealing with claims arising from container vessels and tankers, while Richard Morris has extensive experience in casualties. Yacht specialist Ira Harris recently joined from Hill Dickinson LLP, and Graham Harris is noted for charterparty disputes. On the wet side, Ben Browne handles casualty incidents. The team acted for the owners and underwriters of the MSC Prestige in respect of her collision in the Red Sea.

Waltons & Morse has participated in several major marine casualties, while on the dry side, the practice works for major owners and traders in FD&D disputes. The firm has also expanded its insurance and reinsurance practice, and has a notable goods-in-transit practice.

Waterson Hicks has been busy with charterparty disputes and renegotiation cases, as well as piracy and war risks cases. The practice advised on a major vessel sinking and enjoys a strong market position in commodities trading. Wet instructions include admiralty issues arising from collisions and salvage situations. John Hicks is the department head. Brian Isola, Mark Aspinall and Martin Wisdom are noted practitioners.

Winter Scott recently advised on several shipbuilding and individual charterparty disputes. Wet lawyer Ken Scott is ‘very experienced and commercially astute’, while the ‘fast and accurate’ Glenn Winter and Tim Haughton are ‘devoted to client satisfaction’.

‘Value for money’ firm Curtis Davis Garrard LLP acts for shipowners, charterers, shipyards and insurers, and its work also encompasses the megayacht market. Typical experience includes contracts for the chartering, sale and purchase of ships, and shipbuilding and ship conversion projects.

Following its 2008 merger with Holmes Hardingham, HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP’s enlarged contentious shipping practice has several fee-earners specialising in charterparty and ship sale disputes, as well as wet work. An established team handles yacht insurance claims, complementing the expertise of Richard Coles in yacht sales and purchases. The practice recently acted for the yacht insurers in relation to two major fires in Spanish marinas. ‘Perfect professional’ Jane Hobbs and the ‘highly competent’ Adrian Hardingham are key contacts.

Lax & Co LLP’s Mike Lax, Tom Crampton and Stuart Dench are recommended. The practice advised on the headline Premium Nafta Products High Court case.

Mills & Co ‘continues to impress’. It acted for MSC in relation to the grounding of the MSC Napoli. Guy B Mills specialises in dry shipping, casualty work, and shipbuilding matters, and Michael Smith is ‘careful and competent’.

Andrew Jackson is recommended for shipping-related personal injury incidents. On the dry side, the practice is heavily involved for AXA Insurance UK in relation to its GIT book of business. The firm is also recommended for sea fisheries and marine environment law. Team head Dominic Ward is noted for dry shipping, cargo work and liens. Silas Taylor concentrates on wet shipping and casualty work. The firm is new to the ranking this year.

Also new to the ranking, Ipswich-based Birketts LLP benefits from being close to Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port. The practice was recently instructed by cargo reinsurers in relation to a crane accident, and receives instructions from shipowners, clubs and charterers on dry matters. Nicholas Woo is the key contact.

DLA Piper UK LLP works for several P&I clubs and blue-chip clients. It advised the time charterers in relation to a grounding near Papua New Guinea. Michael Kim is recommended for litigation, international arbitration and shipbuilding contract issues, while David McKie specialises in marine insurance, and shipping dispute resolution.

E G Arghyrakis & Co’s George Arghyrakis has dealt with a raft of shipping cases in the Commercial Court and in arbitration.

Insurance-focused firm Elborne Mitchell has seen increased levels of disputes between owners, charterers and cargo interests. Recent activity includes acting for the insurers in respect of the seizure of a vessel by pirates off the coast of Somalia, and a succession of unsafe port cases. Peter Tribe is recommended.

Eversheds LLP has witnessed an increase in contentious work of an FD&D nature, including charterparty and shipbuilding disputes. The team acted for Stocznia Gydnia Shipyard on a US$90m shipbuilding dispute.

Jackson Parton is noted for its representation of insurers and shipping companies in relation to collision cases.

At Kennedys, wet specialist Martin Watson is recommended for his work with hull and machinery underwriters, and P&I clubs. The team liaises closely with colleagues in Singapore, Hong Kong and Madrid.

LG specialises in international shipping and trade litigation. One highlight was representing the Government of Gibraltar in connection with the removal of the FEDRA wreck after her grounding on Europa Point, and the practice is strongly focused on the Swiss market, where several oil trader clients are based. Imogen Rumbold ‘grasps the crux of a problem from the outset, and provides clients with reasoned and sound suggestions’.

The eight-strong team at Mays Brown, Solicitors is new to the ranking. It is recommended for bill of lading issues, casualty cases, vessel transactions, and commercial shipping disputes.

Norton Rose LLP’s all-service practice ‘is excellent in a crisis’. The practice recently acted on collision cases for charterers and a shipping-related insolvency for the administrator, and represents the industry on greenhouse gas emissions. Neil Q Miller and Philip Roche’s ‘excellent responsiveness and go-to attitude’ are appreciated.

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP joins the ranking this year. Clients include international mining companies, insurers and charterparties, with Iain Sharp handling international shipping disputes. The team acted for global commodities trading company Trafigura Beheer in connection with multi-party disputes.

Salans’ Michael Lloyd has over 30 years of specialist shipping experience. The practice acts on major loss arbitrations and shipbuilding contractual disputes.

The newly ranked Swinnerton Moore is noted for its representation of owners, charterers, insurers, and clubs in shipping and international trade matters.

The ‘professional and experienced’ Watson, Farley & Williams LLP is recommended for shipping disputes. Typical work includes claims between owners and shipyards, and between different owners and charterers. International litigation head Andrew Savage is recommended.