Mike Phillips > Watson Farley & Williams LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Watson Farley & Williams LLP
15 APPOLD STREET
LONDON
EC2A 2HB
England
Mike Phillips photo

Work Department

PARTNER IN THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION GROUP

Position

Mike specialises in shipping, contentious ship finance and ship and offshore vessel construction. Mike’s clients include shipowners, traders, insurers, banks, funds and shipyards.

With over 20 years’ of practice in the marine and international trade sector, Mike has a wealth of knowledge and experience which he brings to bear to help clients resolve their most complex and difficult problems. Representing some of the largest and most well-known companies in the marine and international trade sector, Mike is known as both an exceptional lawyer and a clever strategist. Equally at home in London arbitration or multi-jurisdictional Court proceedings, Mike has a strong record of success for clients in a wide range of matters from shipping and cargo claims, groundings and vessel fires through to complex multi-vessel finance enforcement. On the construction side, Mike represents shipyards and buyers on a range of construction projects from super-yachts through to complex offshore vessels and rigs.

Mike regularly delivers training to industry professionals, on a bespoke basis for clients, and through the leading industry association, BIMCO.

The Legal 500 2019 has called Mike “outstanding”.

Mike was shortlisted as Legal 500 Transport Lawyer of the Year in 2019.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Transport > Shipping

(Leading individuals)

Mike Phillips – Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP‘s shipping team delivers comprehensive advice to maritime clients, showcasing deep proficiency in the enforcement of ship mortgages alongside insolvency and restructuring work. The firm also sports expertise in sanction-related matters as well as disputes and ESG issues. George Macheras is the key partner, acting as global maritime sector co-head, and noted for his experience in dry shipping and ship finance matters. Mike Phillips is lauded for his ‘valuable and creative support’, while Robert Platt focuses on contentious matters and commercial contracts. Marcus Dodds left the firm for an in-house position in November 2022.

London > Dispute resolution > International arbitration

With ‘excellent instincts when it comes to international disputes‘, Watson Farley & Williams LLP‘s practice stands out for its specialist sector expertise in energy, transport and infrastructure across the firm’s international network. Construction and energy disputes expert Rebecca Williams is ‘a fighter that clients want in their corner‘; Rob Fidoe acts in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under various rules; Mike Phillips is maritime disputes leader; Andrew Ward specialises in heavyweight international arbitration; and Andrew Hutcheon is ‘skilled at securing good outcomes‘. Mark McAllister-Jones is a recently-elevated counsel, while Archit DhirAlexander Creswick and Jack Moulder are experienced senior associates.