Shipowners and operators

Advising over 30 shipowners in disputes arising in respect of the collapse of OW Bunkers and dealing with arrests, security arrangements, conflicts of laws, receivables financing and on-going arbitrations.

Advising and representing various shipowners in relation to disputes arising under bareboat, time and voyage charters, including repossession of vessels, early redelivery, speed and performance, unseaworthiness, uncargoworthiness, groundings, detentions and liens.

Representing liner operator in relation to a US$28 million claim regarding alleged misdelivery of goods before the Hong Kong high court, court of appeal and court of final appeal in respect of Mareva injunction, Chabra injunction and receivership orders. Issues as to jurisdiction, competing courts and contempt of court.

Representing charterers in relation to uncargoworthiness of LPG vessel.

Representing charterers in suite of three arbitrations in respect of underperformance of vessels under time charters.

Advising charterers in respect of the loss of bills of lading by the shipper.

Shipping litigation

Shipowners and P&I clubs

Advising over 30 shipowners in disputes arising in respect of the collapse of OW Bunkers and dealing with arrests, security arrangements, conflicts of laws, receivables financing and on-going arbitrations.

Advising and representing various shipowners in relation to disputes arising under bareboat, time and voyage charters, including repossession of vessels, early redelivery, speed and performance, unseaworthiness, uncargoworthiness, groundings, detentions and liens.

Representing liner operator in relation to a US$28 million claim regarding alleged misdelivery of goods before the Hong Kong high court, court of appeal and court of final appeal in respect of Mareva injunction, Chabra injunction and receivership orders.

Charterers

Representing charterers in relation to uncargoworthiness of LPG vessel.

Representing charterers in suite of three arbitrations in respect of underperformance of vessels under time charters.

Bills of lading

Representing shipowners OT Africa Line in respect of the commencement of proceedings in breach of the exclusive jurisdiction clause in a bill of lading before the English High Court and Court of Appeal.

Advising charterers in respect of the loss of bills of lading by the shipper.

Shipbuilding

Successfully represented shipowners in arbitration with a Chinese shipyard that failed to construct vessels, successfully claiming on Chinese refund guarantees.

More: Shipping litigation

Marine and international trade

Shipowners and P&I clubs

Advising over 30 shipowners in disputes arising in respect of the collapse of OW Bunkers and dealing with arrests, security arrangements, conflicts of laws, receivables financing and on-going arbitrations.

Representing liner operator in relation to a US$28 million claim regarding alleged misdelivery of goods before the Hong Kong high court, court of appeal and court of final appeal in respect of Mareva injunction, Chabra injunction and receivership orders.

Charterers

Representing charterers in relation to uncargoworthiness of LPG vessel.

Representing charterers in suite of three arbitrations in respect of underperformance of vessels under time charters.

Bills of lading

Representing shipowners OT Africa Line in respect of the commencement of proceedings in breach of the exclusive jurisdiction clause in a bill of lading before the English High Court and Court of Appeal.

Advising charterers in respect of the loss of bills of lading by the shipper.

Shipbuilding

Successfully represented shipowners in arbitration with a Chinese shipyard that failed to construct vessels, successfully claiming on Chinese refund guarantees.

International trade

Advising a major trading house on the Chinese and Hong Kong law aspects of their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in Qingdao. Particular advices on transfer of title in sale of goods contracts.

Advising seller of agri-products in relation to numerous disputes arising with purchasers in relation to quality, quantity, timing of shipments, demurrage and guarantees.

Advising a major bank on its documentary credits and integration with electronic bills of lading.

Commodities

Advising a major trading house on the Chinese and Hong Kong law aspects of their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in Qingdao.

Advising creditors in relation to their position in respect of a receivables financing arrangement following the insolvency of the insolvency of a major trader, and representing the creditors in subsequent arbitrations.

Representing sellers in relation to LC disputes arising out of the sale of goods in to Vietnam, VIAC arbitrations and injunctions from the Vietnam courts.

Advising a major trading house in respect of their claims arising out of the insolvency of a bunker trader.

Advising seller of agri-products in relation to numerous disputes arising with purchasers in relation to quality, quantity, timing of shipments, demurrage and guarantees.

Advising on electronic bills of lading.

Instrumental part of the Stephenson Harwood team drafting the first LNG Voyage charter.

Shipbuilding and offshore construction

Contract negotiation and drafting

Negotiated and drafted the construction contracts on behalf of owners for two semi-submersible drilling rigs and the long term charters, responsible for the procurement contracts for OFE and oversight of the contracts for the on-going construction process.

Negotiated and drafted the construction contracts on behalf of owners for a series of ground breaking semi-submersibles to be built in China.

Negotiated and drafted EPIC and O&M contracts for a MOPU and FSO to operate in West Africa.

Negotiated the construction contract in French for the construction of a major passenger ship.

Dispute resolution

Conducted successful arbitration for shipowners against a Chinese shipyard for the failure to construct vessels. Successful claims on Chinese refund guarantees.

Conducted successful mediation of dispute on behalf of owners of a semi-submersible and a towage company for damage and arrest.

Conducted successful mediation of a dispute between a drilling company and the field operator in relation to failure to pay day rates.

More: Shipbuilding and offshore construction

Marine

Advising over 30 shipowners in disputes arising in respect of the collapse of OW Bunkers and dealing with arrests, security arrangements, conflicts of laws, receivables financing and on-going arbitrations.

Advising and representing various shipowners in relation to disputes arising under bareboat, time and voyage charters, including repossession of vessels, early redelivery, speed and performance, unseaworthiness, uncargoworthiness, groundings, detentions and liens.

Representing liner operator in relation to a US$28 million claim regarding alleged misdelivery of goods before the Hong Kong high court, court of appeal and court of final appeal in respect of Mareva injunction, Chabra injunction and receivership orders. Issues as to jurisdiction, competing courts and contempt of court.

Representing charterers in relation to uncargoworthiness of LPG vessel.

Representing charterers in suite of three arbitrations in respect of underperformance of vessels under time charters.

Advising charterers in respect of the loss of bills of lading by the shipper.

International trade

Advising a major trading house on the Chinese and Hong Kong law aspects of their successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim, relating to “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in Qingdao.

Advising creditors in relation to their position in respect of a receivables financing arrangement following the insolvency of the insolvency of a major trader, and representing the creditors in subsequent arbitrations.

Representing sellers in relation to LC disputes arising out of the sale of goods in to Vietnam, VIAC arbitrations and injunctions from the Vietnam courts.

Advising a major trading house in respect of their claims arising out of the insolvency of a bunker trader.

Advising seller of agri-products in relation to numerous disputes arising with purchasers in relation to quality, quantity, timing of shipments, demurrage and guarantees.

Advising on electronic bills of lading.

Instrumental part of the Stephenson Harwood team drafting the first LNG Voyage ​charter.

Offshore

Contract negotiation and drafting

Negotiated and drafted the construction contracts on behalf of owners for two semi-submersible drilling rigs and the long term charters, responsible for the procurement contracts for OFE and oversight of the contracts for the on-going construction process.

Negotiated and drafted the construction contracts on behalf of owners for a series of ground breaking semi-submersibles to be built in China.

Negotiated and drafted EPIC and O&M contracts for a MOPU and FSO to operate in West Africa.

Negotiated and drafted two 15/20 year time charters with put and call options for the import of LNG to China on behalf of the Chinese Charterers and Standby Charterers, to support the construction of two 79,500m3 vessels in Korea.

Negotiated and drafted 20 year tonnage contract for the provision of tonnage to a middle eastern gas exporter for the import of LNG to USA.

Advised an African power generation company on the procurement of LNG facilities for the construction of an LNG import terminal in West Africa.

Drafted the first iteration of the LNG Voyage Charter.

Dispute resolution

Conducted successful mediation of dispute on behalf of owners of a semi-submersible and a towage company for damage and arrest.

Conducted successful mediation of a dispute between a drilling company and the field operator in relation to failure to pay day rates.

Representing owners in relation to a dispute arising in relation to the construction of a 45,000m3 LNG carrier.  Issues arising in relation to the operation of the engines.

Banks and banking

Enforcement

Acted on the arrest and repossession of two vessels in Hong Kong for a major German bank.

Acted in the enforcement by a major Swiss bank over a fleet of seven vessels. Complications arose with alleged competing prior mortgages over hulls under construction in China. Disputes in PRC and Singapore.

Acted in relation to the collapse of an Islamic finance structure with Singapore and English litigation.

Trade finance

Acted in relation to a dispute arising over warehouse financing scandal in China.

Advised on the relevant applicable laws in relation to “repo” arrangements and transfers of titles of goods.

Represented a major Chinese bank in obtaining a US$79 million Mareva injunction in Hong Kong.

Japan

Acting for a major Japanese trading house in respect of a commodity export transaction with Russian counterparts.

Acting for Japanese traders in respect of disputes arising due to the insolvency of a major shipping group.

Acting for Japanese charterers in respect of shipping documentation and disputes arising thereunder.

Acting for a major Japanese shipping line in respect of compliance with European competition law.

Africa

Negotiated and drafted EPIC and O&M contracts for a MOPU and FSO to operate in West Africa.

Acting for a major African exporter of LNG in respect of the restructure of their shipping assets. Client required advice in French.

Acted for clients on ground investigations into fraudulent shipping claims in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Congo and DRC and conducting litigation in London and locally in respect of these matters.

CIS and CEE

Acting for a major private Russian oil company in relation to construction of floating offshore installations in the Arctic.

Acting for Ukrainian shipbuilder in relation to dispute with Middle Eastern buyers.

Acting for a Russian commodity trader in relation to disputes arising in respect of agri-products.

Acting for a Western shipowner in relation to disputes arising due to the early redelivery of reefer vessels.