Mr Gavin Fitzmaurice > Webber Wentzel > Cape Town, South Africa > Lawyer Profile

Webber Wentzel
15TH FLOOR, CONVENTION TOWER
HEERENGRACHT, FORESHORE
CAPE TOWN 8001
South Africa

Work Department

Dispute Resolution Practice

Position

Managing Partner – Cape Town

Career

Gavin has been involved in major maritime litigation resulting from disasters and casualties since 1992, including all aspects of casualty investigations, dealing with access to crew, vessels and documents, taking evidence on commission, subsequent trial and arbitration work, and in courts of marine enquiry. He also has extensive experience in all aspects of arrest work, having represented parties in relation to enforcement proceedings, obtaining of security, and both effecting and setting aside complex associated ship arrests. He has considerable experience in all port related work, and also in dealing with P&I Club matters, whether for owners or charterers. During his career, he has been involved in precedent-setting legal decisions and numerous judgments. He also has expertise in mortgage foreclosures, judicial ship sales, and related commercial work, as well as in marine and transport insurance and related cargo claims. He deals with loss of life and personal injuries matters in the marine context. He has experience in ship repair matters, including related arbitration work.  Gavin is currently the president of the Maritime Law Association of South Africa (MLA).  He chaired the Cape Chapter of the MLA from 2007 to 2017. He is an external examiner for the University of Cape Town’s Admiralty Law Department.  Gavin is also the managing partner of the firm’s Cape Town office.

Memberships

Member of The Maritime Law Association of South Africa’s National Executive Committee (2014 to present).

Education

Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Law, University of Cape Town, 1994
LLB, University of Cape Town, 1990
BA, University of Cape Town, 1989
Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa

Lawyer Rankings

South Africa > Shipping and transport

(Leading individuals)

Gavin FitzmauriceWebber Wentzel

At Webber Wentzel, the shipping team is jointly led by Gavin Fitzmaurice, Patrick Holloway and Andre Bowley, with Scott Edmundson and Neerasha Singh leading on aviation. On the shipping side, the group assists a client base including port owners and operators, shipowners, insurers and charterers with maritime casualties, commercial shipping transactions, international trade matters and enforcement of maritime claims, to name a few areas of expertise. On the aviation side, aviation finance and the import and export of aircraft are prominent in the group’s workload. Andre October handles contentious maritime and aviation mandates, and Sheena Dias is sought after for her expertise in marine insurance and port-related work. Sharmila Naidoo left the firm in July 2022.