Shipbuilding and offshore construction

Offshore projects

Advised on the restructuring of a £10 billion LNG FPSO project and the transfer of technology in LNG Carriers to shipyards in CIS countries.

Offshore construction disputes

Advised on issues arising from and related to construction contracts for 4 semi-submersible rigs under constructions at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s Okpo yard including issues concerning of front end engineering design and potential liquidated damages claims. 

Shipbuilding disputes

Advised on the extent of a shipbuilder's liability under a warranty clause. Buyers claimed US$100 million in relation to every possible loss suffered due to an incident which occurred during the vessel's maiden voyage. Achieved a very successful outcome that the builder was liable only for the repair costs of the alleged defect and no more.

Shipbuilding projects

Advised on issues arising from and related to shipbuilding contracts for the construction of six Arc7 LNG carriers to be used as part of the Yamal LNG project. This is a high value matter which required advice on the highly bespoke contractual terms reflecting the state of the art, innovative nature of the Arc7 LNG vessels. 

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Shipping litigation

Ship finance disputes

Advised various ship finance banks on restructuring their troubled ship finance loan portfolios and finance banks and shipbuilders in relation to the restructuring and refinancing of the vessels which have been subject to cancellations and disputes with buyers.

Charterparties

Acted for leading shipowners, charters and their P&I club regarding various disputes arising out of charterparites and various charterparty chains. 

Memorandum of agreement

Successfully defended a claim made by buyers of a vessel under a memorandum of agreement (Norwegian Saleform 93) by which the clients agreed to sell a single hull bulk carrier to buyers.

Restructuring and cross border insolvency

Successfully made an application to the Chancery Court in London under Cross Border Insolvency Regulations 2006 for an order recognising Korean Chapter 11 Order made by the Korean and Japan courts for restructuring of ship owning companies. This effectively prevented any possible claims and suspended all the existing claims made against the clients. 

Bunker disputes 

Advising various shipowners in relation to potential claims and risk of arrest arising from the collapse of OW Bunkers, including arrests and proceedings in Belgium and the Netherlands. 

Managed local counsels in multiple jurisdictions including Belgium, Netherlands, Singapore, China and South Africa as well as advising the clients on strategy in avoiding payment to both traders and physical bunker suppliers for the same deliveries.

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International arbitration

Construction disputes

Michael is an expert in litigation and international arbitration. He has been involved in numerous international arbitrations including one involving the nuclear power plant projects in the Middle East.  

Banking disputes

Advised a party in a banking dispute over payment of interest coupons in bearer forms. 

Trade and letter of credit

Advised on a wide range of international trade, internal sales contract, insurance & reinsurance, agency agreements, letters of credit and commercial notes.

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Shipbuilders

The unstable nature of the shipping industry and global economy have had a serious impact on various interests within the shipping sector. Ever declining profitability and ever increasing cut-throat competition among the players in the market elevate the demand for practical legal advice underpinned by a clear understanding of the sector in which the clients operate.

Michael has the foremost knowledge and expertise combined with an acute commercial awareness of the sector. He has always adopted a hands-on approach and provided practical commercial and legal solutions in the context of both contentious and/or transactional matters to the full spectrum of interests in the sector including shipbuilders, ship owners, charterers, finance banks, traders and insurers, enabling his clients to face the plethora of challenges in today's market with greater confidence. 

Shipowners and operators

The unstable nature of the shipping industry and global economy have had a serious impact on various interests within the shipping sector. Ever declining profitability and ever increasing cut-throat competition among the players in the market elevate the demand for practical legal advice underpinned by a clear understanding of the sector in which the clients operate.

Michael has the foremost knowledge and expertise combined with an acute commercial awareness of the sector. He has always adopted a hands-on approach and provided practical commercial and legal solutions in the context of both contentious and/or transactional matters to the full spectrum of interests in the sector including shipbuilders, ship owners, charterers, finance banks, traders and insurers, enabling his clients to face the plethora of challenges in today's market with greater confidence.

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Korea

Michael is the office managing partner of the Seoul office.  The members of the Seoul office and he have an unrivalled knowledge of the Korean market and culture which are essential for the efficient progress of cases and transactions.

Michael has been acting for Korean clients for all of his career.  The Seoul office and he have developed the practice considerably in both professional and social contexts, the key to which has been the provision of commercial and pragmatic legal advice to clients and a unique understanding of their situation and the industry in which they operate.

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