
- Tel:
- Work 0117 975 8649
- Fax:
- Fax 0117 905 8810
- Web:
- www.blmlaw.com
Gemma Pearce
- Tel:
- Work 0117 933 7721
- Email:
Work Department
Marine/business stream 2.
Position
Gemma qualified as a barrister in 2001, cross-qualifying as a solicitor in 2005. She has extensive legal experience specialising in shipping, marine and non-marine insurance, international trade and in the travel and cruise sectors. Gemma handles all aspects of charter parties, bills of landing, supply and carriage of goods by sea, cargo, passenger and crew claims, with particular emphasis on P&I and FD&D matters; assisting owners, charterers, operators, brokers and insurers in a wide range of jurisdictions. She also advises on personal injury and loss of life cases; medical negligence claims and class actions arising out of illness and disease outbreaks, as well as extensive occupational disease experience. She draws upon her practical experience and real commercial understanding when handling marine casualty work but with particular emphasis on shipping/transport-related personal injury and fatal accident cases including accidents involving cargo ships, passenger ships and port/terminal operations. She also drafts/advises on health and safety procedures, policies and risk management, and trains management and personnel. On the non-marine side, Gemma has worked extensively with a global self-insured chemical company for many years, handling disease claims on their behalf. Gemma also works with a national museum and a local contractor with respect to insurance archaeology and occupational disease claims handling. Significant reported cases: Davis v Stena Line [2005] EWHC 420 (QB). Gemma works with numerous P & I Clubs within the international group, traditional mainstream insurers and bespoke marine specialist insurers and brokers. Additionally Gemma has worked with a large ship owner for 15 years, providing claims handling services to their Ro-Ro fleet.
Career
Trained Eversheds LLP, qualified 2005; New Law, 2010-11; Greenwoods, 2011-14; joined BLM in 2014.
Languages
French, German - intermediate, Spanish - basic.
Member
BMF; Chamber of Shipping.
Education
Caerleon Comprehensive School – GCSEs and A levels; University of Derby, LLB (Hons); University of Cardiff, BVC.
Leisure
Running, cooking and reading.
South West: Transport
Shipping
Within: Shipping
BLM in Bristol predominantly focuses on marine insurance work, with a larger focus on so-called 'wet' shipping matters; this area is split relatively equally between injury and non-injury work. Team head Gemma Pearce, who is dual-qualified as a solicitor and as a barrister, has 18 years of experience of the sector. The work includes matters involving charter parties, bills of lading, the supply and carriage of goods, cargo, and passenger and crew claims. Policy coverage disputes are another area of strength.