The Legal 500

Clyde & Co LLP offers ‘excellent service and clear guidance’ on contentious and non-contentious shipping matters. Irvine Marr is acting for Herren & Partners on two non-payment claims potentially worth $50m against a charterer. Christopher Mills has ‘great commercial acumen and provides the kind of legal comfort that clients require’, while associates Katie Lenko and Hari Krishna have ‘great passion for their work and excellent commitment to client needs’. The firm strengthened its resources by recruiting and/or relocating four lawyers, including Marr and Mark Ledger.

Hadef & Partners has ‘good knowledge of the laws and industry practices, and a good team’. The team is representing Standard Chartered and Deutsche Bank on a $100m loan secured against four vessels, and acted for Arab War Risks Insurance Syndicate on potentially multimillion-dollar liability claims under a reinsurance contract. Richard Briggs and Erik Muthow are ‘well experienced and good lawyers’.

Holman Fenwick Willan LLP’s team of ‘strong, knowledgeable, hardworking’ lawyers have ‘excellent response times’. The firm entered into an association with Abu Dhabi-based Salem Al Maddfa Advocates & Legal Consultants and Riyadh-based Allazam Law Office, and promoted to partner Simon Cartwright, who possesses an ‘excellent legal knowledge base, is clear in his advice, and does a good job’. Edward Newitt heads the team.

Bashir Ahmed and senior consultant C Chakradaran handle shipping disputes at Afridi & Angell. Chakradaran recently obtained immediate release of two vessels held by authorities in Khorfakkan and Abu Dhabi for Transworld Group, and represented West of England Ship Owners Manual Insurance Association and Steam Insurance Management Services in contentious matters.

Al Tamimi & Company’s team has ‘extremely good knowledge, local contacts, and is very prompt in its responses’. The team represented the shipowners regarding a fatal explosion on the MV Lissy Schulte, and advised Norsk Tillitsmann on the mortgage arrangements for an oil-drilling rig. Yazan Al Saoudi ‘gives clear advice on the way forward’, and ‘has an impressive style and presence that really counts in dispute resolution work’.

Fichte & Co’s group is ‘highly commendable’, and clients are ‘particularly pleased with the expertise and knowledge in the maritime field’ of Jasamin Fichte and Alessandro Tricoli. The firm’s joint venture with C Solution aims to provide legal services and sound technical advice from master mariners and engineers. Notable work includes advising a shipowner on its acquisition programme for five newbuild vessels.

Galadari & Associates is representing shipowners in a $10m-plus customs dispute regarding allegedly undeclared tobacco containers, and acting for a freight-forwarding company in a dispute concerning the shipment of steel products. Adam Greaves leads the shipping team.

Ince & Co is known internationally for its shipping expertise, and has a solid offering in the UAE through Dubai-based Graham Crane and Brian Boahene. Boahene advises on contentious and non-contentious matters, with a particular emphasis on insurance and reinsurance, while Crane is recommended for litigation.

Reed Smith’s Adam Morgan advised the Port of Salalah on acquiring a number of harbour tugs, and represented Eagle Bulk Shipping on its newbuild programme in China and Japan as well as its $1.6bn financial restructuring.

Paul Jarvis and Ibrahim Elsadig head SNR Denton’s practice, which primarily focuses on high-value transactions. The team advised Standard Chartered on a $45m syndicated ship finance facility for Nico Middle East, and acted for Fal Oil Company on financing for two new tankers.