The team at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP demonstrates strong capabilities in shipping law, and is routinely instructed by shipowners, operators, ship builders, charterers, liner companies and marine terminal operators, both in Canada and overseas. The group’s contentious expertise covers cargo claims, limitation actions, customs claims, collisions and spills, while on the advisory side it offers counsel on the drafting of logistics and warehousing agreements, the purchase, sale and financing of ships and permits work. Jean-Marie Fontaine steers the practice from Montreal and is experienced in both contentious and non-contentious matters, including advising on the transportation of dangerous goods, shipbuilding disputes and marine insurance policies. Vancouver-based Dionysios Rossi handles high-profile disputes.
Shipping in Canada
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Practice head(s):
Jean-Marie Fontaine
Other key lawyers:
Dionysios Rossi
Key clients
Hapag Lloyd
Kirby Corporation
BELPacific Excavating and Shoring Limited Partnership
Ridley Terminals
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
BC Ferries
BMT Fleet Technology
Major Insurers, Allianz, AXA XL, USAIG, AIG, TT Club, Swiss Re, Lloyds, ITIC
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
Chantier Davie Canada
Kintetsu World Express (Canada)
Work highlights
- Acted for the owners of the M/V Scott Stuttgart in the defence of a claim arising from a damage incident in New Brunswick.
- Acted for the City of Toronto and Shipowners Mutual P&I Association following the Sam McBride boat crash in 2022.
- Represented Maersk in an incident relating to an alleged silver cargo theft.
Norton Rose Fulbright
The group at Norton Rose Fulbright is well-equipped to handle the full range of maritime law matters. Transactional expertise includes ship financing, importation and registration and bespoke contracts of affreightment, while on the contentious side, the team is experienced in acting on maritime incidents and casualties, pollution, cargo claims, passenger claims and insurance disputes. Shelley Chapelski steers the practice and specializes in both transactional and contentious aspects of maritime law, including maritime contracts, torts, liability claims, creditor’s remedies and marine insurance matters. Key Vancouver-based partner Andrew Stainer has substantial experience with contentious matters involving casualty and emergency response, such as oil spills, fires, floods, injuries and fatalities, maritime collisions and cargo claims.
Practice head(s):
Shelley Chapelski
Key clients
Seaspan ULC
Western Pacific Marine
Victoria Shipyards Company
Bridgemans Services
Vancouver Shipyards
Prince Rupert Port Authority
Harlock Murray Underwriting
Neptune Bulk Terminals (Canada)
SAAM Towage Canada
TotalEnergy (through its subsidiary Atlantic Trading)
Travelers Insurance (London)
Tidewater Canada
Seaspan Energy
HaiSea Tugs JV
Maersk & its P&I insurers (GARD)
Martech Polar
NorthStandard P&I Club
DNV Group AS
Ship Source Oil Pollution Fund of Canada
Tindall Riley (Britannia P&I Club)
Work highlights
- Negotiated the use of a former ferry as a ‘floatel’, providing accommodation for over 600 workers at a water access-only LNG terminal construction site in Squamish BC.
- Negotiated and drafted a tripartite agreement between Neptune Bulk Terminals, SAAM Towage Canada and Teck to build two battery operated ship docking tugs in Turkey.
- Acted for the owner of the SM Mumbai and its P&I Club in relation to a multi-million dollar claim from the Department of Fisheries & Oceans resulting from damage to a lengthy wall of pilings on the Fraser River caused by a container ship.