Shipping in South East

Clyde & Co LLP

Jai Sharma is the key contact at Clyde & Co LLP, which focuses on three distinct areas of the shipping sector: cargo, insurance and casualty. Sharma heads up the group on the casualty front and has assisted cargo underwriters with over 300 marine casualty cases throughout his career.

Practice head(s):

Jai Sharma

Lester Aldridge LLP

The 'highly approachable' marine department at Lester Aldridge LLP provides a full service to shipping clients. The scope of its work includes assisting clients with the sale and purchase (and related financing) of yachts and superyachts, and also advice on sponsorship agreements and contracts. In addition, the group acts for clients in charterparty disputes, commodity disputes and security actions. It also handles investigations and prosecutions brought by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch/Maritime and Coastguard Agency for alleged regulatory offences Russell Kelly is the practice head.

Practice head(s):

Russell Kelly

Testimonials

‘Lester Aldridge’s Southampton office has a number of marine financial specialists who are highly approachable and easy to work with on transactions‘.

‘Russell Kelly is always on hand to guide us through complex marine transactions; he will identify potential problems early which saves time‘.

‘Russell Kelly is like an additional member of my team and is highly respected in the sector.’

Thomson Snell & Passmore

Thomson Snell & Passmore's client base includes freight forwarders, warehouse operators, importers and underwriters. Fielding a cross-practice transport and logistics team, the firm provides corporate and commercial advice on acquisitions and disposals, as well as preparing various types of commercial agreements, including sector-specific agency and distribution agreements, supply agreements and warehousing, transport and logistics agreements. Employment-related work is another driver of activity. The firm also has a strong reputation in contentious matters, handling the full range of disputes arising from the logistics, distribution and supply chain processes. Practice head James Cradick is experienced in domestic and international litigation and arbitration.

Practice head(s):

James Cradick

Key clients

AXA Corporate Solutions

Gefco UK Ltd

Colas

Richard Hochfeld Ltd

Colas Rail

BDP International Ltd

Work highlights

  • Represented a leading French packaging and distribution company in a dispute with one of the largest, leading warehousing and logistics providers.
  • Acting for AXA Paris and Gefco UK Ltd in longrunning litigation with Taiwanese forwarders.
  • Acting for Peru-based commodity traders specialising in the shipment of fruit in a dispute with UK-based buyers and distributors.
  • The firm is acting for leading traders in frozen fish products, with significant global distribution and trading operations, in SCC arbitration proceedings against respondents based in Belgium.
  • Acting for one of Russia’s oldest and most respected owners/operators of fishing vessels, warehousing and cold storage facilities in a series of disputes arising out of various supply contracts.

Verisona Law

Verisona Law's cross-practice shipping team is led by Tim Reynolds, who is 'a key authority on maritime matters'. The firm's profile in the marine sector was enhanced by its merger with Gosport-based firm Donnelly & Elliott (the amalgamated entity has subsequently become part of the Metamorph Group Limited). It advises high net worth individuals and corporate entities on all aspects of the production, ownership and use of leisure and small commercial craft. It also has expertise in the operation, development and disposal of shoreside properties and businesses. In addition, it assists clients with insolvency and restructuring, employment and litigation.

Practice head(s):

Tim Reynolds

Testimonials

‘The team’s specialists have experience of unconventional cases‘.

‘Veronisa Law had exceptional experience of maritime law‘.

‘Tim Reynolds has a great depth of practical experience in this subject‘.

‘Tim Reynolds can be relied upon to provide formidable and expert representation in any dispute‘.

‘Tim Reynolds is great fun to work with while being impeccably professional‘.

‘Tim Reynolds is extremely efficient and has a vast knowledge of maritime law‘.

Key clients

Global Insulation

Mr & Mrs Tarrant

Work highlights

  • Advised Global Insulation on non-payment by a number of contractors in relation to the client’s invoices and the subsequent winding up of the sub-contractor obliging clients to pursue a claim for payment against the individual vessel owners.
  • Acted for private clients on the purchase of a significant sized sailing yacht.