Wikborg Rein > London, England > Firm Profile
Wikborg Rein Offices
30 Cannon Street
EC4M 6XH
England
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Wikborg Rein > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution > Commodities disputes Tier 3
Wikborg Rein‘s shipping and offshore sector group, in which the commodities team resides, is best known for its work in the LNG sector, though it also handles disputes concerning agricultural commodities and alternative fuels. Practice head Chris Grieveson (who is ‘cool under pressure and knows how to build an attractive and robust case‘) plays a key role in the firm’s commodities work but the standout practitioner is up-and-coming partner Eleanor Midwinter, who is ‘an absolute star, incredibly responsive and commercial‘. Midwinter, who has significantly grown the firm’s work in soft commodities, recently advised a sustainable building materials enterprise in connection with disputes under a trading contract for by-products from fossil fuelled power stations.Practice head(s):
Chris Grieveson
Other key lawyers:
Eleanor Midwinter; Fiona Rafla
Testimonials
‘Wikborg Rein has a market leading grasp on the interaction of UK, EU and Norwegian sanctions, on commodities contracts. They are well-accustomed to dealing with OFSI, OFAC and other regulators as needs be, and have succeeded with some delicate license applications.’
‘Chris Grieveson – an excellent team leader. He’s cool under pressure, and knows how to build an attractive and robust case.’
‘Eleanor Midwinter – diligent; provides clear and forthright advice in an area plagued by uncertainty. Lots of experience dealing with OFSI.’
‘Eleanor Midwinter is an absolute star. She is incredibly responsive and commercial.’
Key clients
Yara International AS
Elkem ASA
Pon Power AS
Ekin Maden Ticaret Ve Sanayi A.S.
Golar LNG Limited
MET Group
Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries S.A.
Transport > Shipping Tier 3
Wikborg Rein is praised for its ‘ability to advise in English and Norwegian law’, which allows the firm’s shipping and offshore group to be a go-to outfit for multi-jurisdictional matters including those relating to casualties and sanctions. Practice head Chris Grieveson has a broad advisory portfolio that sees him dealing with work ranging from shipbuilding cases and contentious sale and purchase issues to wet shipping matters. The firm also has particularly strong connections to the Greek market, where Baptiste Weijburg took over as the group’s main contact following the retirement of Nick Shepherd in December 2022. Rob Jardine-Brown is the key name for contentious work, while Eleanor Midwinter has in-depth experience pertaining to dry shipping, marine insurance, and shipbuilding matters. The firm secured a major coup in September 2023 with the hire of a team of 17 fee earners from Ince including Michael Volikas and Ian Chetwood.Practice head(s):
Chris Grieveson
Other key lawyers:
Eleanor Midwinter; Jonathan Goldfarb; Rob Jardine-Brown; Baptiste Weijburg
Testimonials
‘We work with Wikborg Rein in particular due to their ability to provide our clients legal advice not only in English law but also in Norwegian law.’
‘I have always found them to be friendly, efficient, sensitive to commercial realities as well as legal principles and in general a pleasure to work with.’
‘Very flexible approach and client friendly.’
‘Ability to advise in English and Norwegian law, comprehensive and quick advice.’
Key clients
Havila Kystruten Operations AS
Navios Maritime Holdings and its group companies
Eastern Pacific Shipping
Marmaris Navigation
George Economou group companies (TMS Group, Dryships, Cardiff Marine)
Gard
Marmaras Navigation
Prysmian PowerLink
West of England P&I
The Standard Club
Work highlights
- Acting for Havila Group in litigation against GTLK, involving sanctions and divestment of finance contracts for the design and build of coastal passenger vessels in Norway; obtained freezing order and custodianship order for forced use, and won a judgment on interpretation of payment clauses and rights under the contracts.
- Acting for Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association and Samudera Shipping Line in respect of a collision between two tankers in the Singapore Straight and related class action by 1200 claimants before the Singaporean High Court.
- Acted for Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte Ltd in a reported force majeure case, successfully defending a deposit claim by buyers of the VLOC ‘SHAGANG GIANT’ and obtaining a declaration that the MOA was incorrectly terminated due to the impact of Covid-19 in India.
Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas Tier 4
Wikborg Rein‘s London-based contingent has demonstrable expertise across both contentious and non-contentious oil and gas matters, including projects work and disputes. The team also has a particular specialism in marine & offshore recycling, focusing on FPSOs. Team leader Jonathan Goldfarb is a go-to name for LNG projects, receiving praise as among the ‘leading practitioners when it comes to all matters relating to floating production units’.Practice head(s):
Jonathan Goldfarb
Other key lawyers:
Renaud Barbier-Emery
Testimonials
‘Highly diversified group, who are extremely hard working and always available. They come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. I also believe you get great value for your money.’
‘Strong knowledge of our industry, fast working and very experienced. They are a pleasure to work with.’
‘Jon Goldfarb is exceptionally knowledgeable in a wide spectrum of Offshore Oil & Gas contracting issues and one of the leading practitioners when it comes to all matters relating to floating production units. Renaud Barbier-Emery has a considerable in-depth knowledge and experience and covers a broad range of matters for us, as do the other members of the team.’
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Key clients
Deutsche ReGas GmbH & Co. KGaA
Dynagas Ltd
Golar Ltd
GasLog Ltd
BW Group
Exmar
Enauta
Transocean
MOL
Vantage Holdings International
Work highlights
- Advising NYSE-listed Transocean in handling of contractual matters arising in the course of the construction and delivery of two ultra-deepwater, 20k psi mobile offshore drilling rigs, the cost of which is expected to exceed USD 2.25 billion.
- Acted for Deutsche ReGas on the development of the ‘Deutsche Ostsee LNG Terminal’, the first (and so far only) privately financed LNG terminal in Germany which was developed under an accelerated timeline to ensure it would be fully operational for Winter 2022/2023.
- Acted for Teekay Corporation in connection with the decommissioning of the Foinaven FPSO, in particular the wide and complex range of regulatory applications required for such purpose, including under international conventions, EU regulations and local legislation.
Real estate > Construction: contentious Tier 5
Wikborg Rein specialises in oil and gas, shipping, offshore wind, and other renewable energy projects. Practice leader Rob Jardine-Brown brings expertise in offshore construction disputes, and Shawn Kirby focuses on shipbuilding, rigs, and offshore unit construction.Practice head(s):
Rob Jardine-Brown
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Wikborg Rein’s London office is relatively small, but punches well above its weight in the highly contentious offshore construction sector.’
‘Rob Jardine-Brown is one of the market leaders in offshore construction disputes. He is bright, responsive, sensible and hugely respected.’
‘The team are very knowledgeable in the offshore industry and have a wealth of experience in dealing with disputes in this sector.’
‘Shawn Kirby is an excellent lawyer and counsel, with an eye for detail and can really make a witness squirm under cross-examination.’
Work highlights
Finance > Transport finance and leasing Tier 6
Wikborg Rein‘s London-based team is appreciated for its ability to provide ‘perfect legal guidance through complex transactions’ on both commercial and offshore shipping mandates. Although its principal function is to support its lender and borrower client base on English law security issues pursuant to Norwegian-led mandates, the team also does handle some standalone work, particularly for alternative lenders providing finance on smaller-to-mid ticket deals. Practice head Jonathan Page is a ‘remarkable and impressive’ partner, who is appreciated for his ability and willingness to ‘go the extra mile’ to deliver for clients. Beatrice Russ joined the team from Ince & Co in September 2023.Practice head(s):
Jonathan Page
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team provides perfect legal guidance through complex transactions, and displays huge flexibility in providing solutions to clients.’
‘Jonathan Page is very approachable, experienced and understanding to the concerns raised by the client. A remarkable and impressive partner who is always available to hear us out and run the last mile to deliver.’
Key clients
Nordea Bank Abp, filial I Norge
Commerzbank
AVIC International Leasing Co., Ltd
Bank of America Europe Designated Activity Company
Credit Suisse Ag
CMB Financial Leasing
ICBC Financial Leasing
SMBC Bank International Plc
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Pearl Bidco AS
Work highlights
- Advising Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge in connection with a senior secured facilities agreement in relation to the ongoing DOF Subsea AS (and generally the group’s larger) restructuring.
- Advising Avic International Leasing Co., Ltd with regards to the termination of x4 leases (in relation to x4 oil tanker sale and leaseback transactions) for the purpose of refinancing the vessels.
- Advising Bank of America in connection with a senior secured credit facility agreement for the financing of the construction and purchase of a 5,500 TEU container vessel.
Transport > Aviation
Norway > Employment
Wikborg Rein > Firm Profile
The Firm: We are a full-service international law firm boasting a team of over 230 lawyers spanning the globe. Our roots are deeply embedded in Norway, and we have proudly served clients for nearly four decades in London. Â Clients who engage our services benefit from receiving top-tier legal advice from London, seamlessly fused with a pragmatic Nordic approach. Â Our London office houses a dedicated team specialising in shipping and offshore matters, complemented by our colleagues in Norway, Singapore, and Shanghai. Â The London team is ardently sector-focused, with the majority of our lawyers possessing invaluable in-house commercial experience. Â Clients turn to us seeking strategic, industry-specific guidance and innovative, straightforward solutions, and that’s precisely what we deliver. Â While our goal isn’t to be the largest firm, we are unwavering in our commitment to hiring the best talent.
Our lawyers are recognised leaders in the fields of transport, shipping, infrastructure, construction, energy, trade, commodities, and insurance. Â Within these sectors, we bring a unique depth of experience in project management, financial matters, commercial contracts, alternative dispute resolution, commercial litigation, fraud investigations, and asset recovery. Â We have cultivated strong relationships with many key players in these industries, affording us an exceptional understanding of the intricate commercial dynamics driving the sectors we serve. Â For additional details and illustrative case examples, please refer to the profiles of our lawyers on our firm’s website.
Scope of Services:
Shipping and Transport: Our comprehensive shipping team is equipped to handle a wide range of commercial shipping matters. We maintain an international emergency-response unit capable of addressing incidents such as collisions, groundings, fires, piracy, with on-call mariner support. Every member of our London team possesses substantial experience in managing “dry shipping” disputes and transactions, spanning finance, shipbuilding, logistics, charters, and bills of lading. We also offer supplementary expertise in areas like sanctions, data, and regulatory compliance, and have a particular focus on the Greek and Singaporean markets.
Superyachts: Our firm places significant emphasis on this prospering area of practice, boasting a highly regarded team with extensive experience. We provide invaluable “project counsel” guidance throughout the construction and conversion phases of super-yachts, along with expert handling of complex, high-value disputes.
Commodities / LNG: Our services encompass the entire trading lifecycle, covering projects, financing, production, sales, storage, and transportation. We collaborate with traders, shippers, financiers, and insurers in the energy commodities, chemicals, metals, and softs sectors. Our firm has intentionally assembled a team of experts specialising in LNG work, with remarkable expertise in FLNG / FSRU projects.
Offshore: Despite a challenging market landscape, offshore work remains at the core of our London practice. Our team in London delivers comprehensive advice covering the entire lifecycle of shipping and offshore assets.
Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Enforcement, and Asset Recovery: Our disputes team is exceptionally effective, with a strong focus on enforcement and asset recovery. Our advice in this domain is characterised by its pragmatism, creativity, and unwavering commitment to achieving commercially favourable outcomes. We maintain close ties with insolvency practitioners and foreign legal professionals worldwide. Notably, we have successfully taken on enforcement assignments that were deemed “impossible,” receiving accolades from clients for employing inventive strategies and leveraging our extensive network to secure substantial recoveries.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main contact | Chris Grieveson | cjg@wrco.co.uk | 02073670308 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Mr Renaud Barbier-Emery | Renaud’s practice focuses on the development and finance of offshore energy projects… | View Profile |
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Ms Gillie Belsham | Gillie is a highly experienced senior commercial disputes resolution lawyer specialising in… | View Profile |
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Mr Matt Berry | Matt is an experienced shipping lawyer with a strong international shipping background.… | View Profile |
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Mr Ian Chetwood | Ian is a disputes lawyer with significant experience in shipping cases and… | View Profile |
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Mr Jonathan Goldfarb | Jonathan’s practice focuses on the development and finance of offshore energy projects,… | View Profile |
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Mr Chris Grieveson | Chris is a Managing Partner at Wikborg Rein’s London office and… | View Profile |
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Mr Matt Illingworth | Matt works extensively with ship owners and insurers on dry and wet… | View Profile |
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Mr Rob Jardine-Brown | Rob’s main area of practice lies within the shipping and offshore fields.… | View Profile |
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Mr Shawn Kirby | Shawn is an international dispute resolution specialist with a particular focus on… | View Profile |
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Ms Eleanor Midwinter | Eleanor mainly works for companies operating within international trade, energy and shipping.… | View Profile |
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Mr Jonathan Page | Jonathan’s main practice area lies within the commercial shipping and offshore sectors… | View Profile |
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Ms Fiona Rafla | Fiona acts for a wide range of clients active in the oil… | View Profile |
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Ms Beatrice Russ | The focus of Beatrice’s practice is the finance and development of projects… | View Profile |
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Mr Michael Volikas | Michael specialises in resolving commercial disputes on behalf of those in the… | View Profile |
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Mr Baptiste Weijburg | Baptiste is a shipping and international trade specialist with extensive experience in… | View Profile |