Hill Dickinson LLP

Shipping

Partner

Donal started his career in shipping in 1997, as a cadet in the British Merchant Navy. After attaining his master mariner’s certificate of competency, he held shore-based positions in ship management and ship broking.

Donal Joined a law firm in Hong Kong in 2013, initially providing advice to the firm’s shipping lawyers and investigation the cause of marine casualties. As his legal knowledge improved, he started case-handling before moving to London and joining Hill Dickinson in 2016. In 2020, Donal took up a role with another international law firm, before returning to Hill Dickinson and moving to Singapore in 2023.

During his legal career, Donal has worked on some of the largest marine casualties of recent times, as well as a number of lower-profile collisions and other marine casualties. He regular handles matters from ‘cradle to grave’, advising clients not only in relation to the casualty itself, but also the various contractual and other issues that arise.

Since moving to Singapore, Donal has been instructed by ship owners and IG P&I clubs to advise on some of the largest marine casualties to have occurred in Asia, in recent years.

English

Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (MICS)

Associate of the Association of Average Adjusters

Bachelor of Science – Munster Technological University – 2011

Masters of Science – Liverpool John Moores University – 2013

GDL – BPP – 2017.

Donal is a keen advocate for seafarers’ rights and often takes part in fund-raising events for various maritime charities. He is also a mentor to seafarers beginning their shore-side careers and has mentored young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. He is a keen traveller, having visited more than 100 countries and hiked in some of the world’s most scenic mountain ranges.

Hiking, running, leisure sailing and travelling.