The Legal 500

Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, CDG was established in 1996 when senior partner Simon Curtis decided to break away from a well known City shipping law firm to build his vision of a new kind of maritime law firm.

The firm: CDG is a niche law firm specialising in the provision of maritime legal services with a particular focus on the shipbuilding and offshore oil and gas sectors. Over the past 15 years it has built a significant reputation within these sectors with a team of lawyers that is internationally regarded for its industry knowledge, expertise and commercially driven advice.

The firm’s shipping clients comprise shipowners, charterers, shipyards, financing banks and insurers, including P&I clubs, covering the entire spectrum of commercial shipping and including the rapidly growing international superyacht market. In many cases, it is engaged by, and works with, professional advisors, overseas lawyers or other intermediaries to represent its clients. CDG is generally acknowledged as the UK market leaders in the provision of legal advice in relation to shipbuilding and ship conversion projects of all kinds. Senior partner, Simon Curtis is author of the leading textbook on shipbuilding contract law, ‘The Law of Shipbuilding Contracts’ published by LLP, and the firm is continuously involved in a wide range of newbuilding projects and disputes.

Offshore clients include major oil and gas companies with worldwide development interests, smaller independent oil and gas companies, offshore contractors providing a range of exploration and production services and specialist suppliers of oilfield services and equipment, including shipyards. The firm’s expertise extends from upstream licensing arrangements, through the exploration, production and transportation of oil and gas. It advises its clients on the operational issues involved in the extraction, processing and transportation of these products, and on the procurement, construction and installation of offshore drilling and production facilities and transportation pipelines.

CDG’s success has been built on a strategy to excel in a chosen number of areas of legal expertise. Located close to Heathrow for the convenience of its international, largely European client base.

Types of work undertaken: The firm provides advice and assistance to companies on a wide range of commercial shipping activities, including structures and contracts for the construction, chartering/employment, sale and purchase of ships as well as the financing of these activities. It has an international reputation for its work on shipbuilding and ship conversion projects. It represents shipowners, shipyards and financiers and works in all of the major shipbuilding sectors, from small tugs and supply vessels to the largest and most advanced passenger ferry and cruise vessels. Much of its work involves newbuilding projects in Europe and Northern Asia, in particular Japan and Korea, and the conversion of existing vessels in South-East Asia, particularly Singapore. Reflecting that nation’s extraordinary growth in the sector in recent years, CDG has developed a sound commercial knowledge in relation to the construction of new ships in China.

Alongside work in commercial vessel newbuilding and conversion, the firm has established a significant presence in the rapidly growing leisure market for custom built superyachts. It represents owners and shipyards involved in high-value projects for the construction of these vessels, which are normally designed and built to the specific requirements of private purchasers. The team routinely advises owners, managers, brokers, designers and builders in relation to building and conversion contracts and financing arrangements for yachts up to 120 metres.

Principal involvement in the offshore sector is with companies involved in the location, production and sale of oil and gas. It advises oil and gas companies and their specialist contractors on a range of offshore procurement, and offshore oil and gas field development issues and disputes. Generally recognised as leaders in offshore construction contracts, principally for floating units such as semi-submersible drilling and production rigs and vessels. Involved in some of the largest offshore vessel construction projects undertaken in recent years. Extensive experience in relation to contracts for the provision of drilling and other oilfield (in particular seismic) services. Regularly reviews and evaluates invitations to tender for drilling services and prepares appropriate exceptions and qualifications for clients as part of their bid. Negotiates drilling contracts, and where the contractor has the opportunity to present terms, prepares suitable agreements. Advises on joint venture and agency arrangements between drilling contractors and their local counterparts in local jurisdictions, and on a wide range of joint venture and management agreements.

Number of UK partners 4
Number of other UK fee-earners 13