Marine and international trade

Our world leading marine law practice offers a breadth of services to clients in the shipping, offshore and commodity sectors. Our clients include many of the world's largest shipowners, shipyards, major ship finance banks, marine insurers and IG P&I clubs, energy services companies, oil and gas business and commodities traders.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

Our practice is international and is serviced by specialist lawyers based in key shipping and trade hubs worldwide. Lawyers in our Dubai, Greater China, London, Paris, Piraeus, Seoul and Singapore offices deliver market-leading maritime expertise to a truly international clientele.

The size of our team and the depth of our experience means we are well positioned to advise on any shipping or trade-related concern, from the most complex marine incident or financing structure to the more straightforward sale and purchase dispute or cargo claim.

We also offer our clients a wide range of ancillary legal services that includes corporate, competition, environmental, intellectual property and tax advice.

“They are a standout firm; they are very active and are experts.”
Chambers UK 2021

Mercuria – commodity repo dispute

We acted for Mercuria in the successful defence of a headline-making US$270 million claim - relating to commodity “repo” deals affected by a major metals warehousing fraud in China.

Container ship casualty

We advised in relation to an explosion and subsequent fire on a container ship situated in the Indian Ocean, including providing rapid response by our market-leading casualty team.

Yamal LNG project

Advised Stena LNG on a bid for the construction and chartering of ice-classed LNG tankers for use in the Arctic Circle.

Major Chinese offshore project

Advised Prosafe on a US$540 million Chinese offshore project - a series of semi-submersible units for operation in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

Coverage dispute for lead marine insurer worth US$1 billion

Coverage dispute for lead marine insurer worth US$1 billion relating to a major international navy.

On-demand refund guarantees and performance bonds dispute

We acted for a major East Asian bank in an ICC arbitration in relation to on-demand refund guarantees and performance bonds with a value of approximately US$95 million. 

Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project

We advised a leading international EPIC contractor in the contracts for a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) project worth in excess of US$10 billion offshore Africa.

Swiss-based oil trader

Advised our client on two attempts made by an oil major to escape from its obligations under an unprofitable sale contract to purchase 40,000mt of vacuum gas oil (VGO).

Pirate attack off the West coast of Africa

We advised the shipowner in relation to a pirate attack on a vessel off the West Coast of Africa.

The "B ATLANTIC"

Advising War Risks underwriters following the detention and confiscation of the vessel "B ATLANTIC" in Venezuela following the discovery of drugs below the waterline. Representing underwriters in the English High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and successfully establishing that the loss is excluded under the terms of the policy.

Lawyer

Alex Davis Practice group leader

T:  +44 20 7809 2671
M:  Email Alex | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Michael Kim Seoul office managing partner

T:  + 82 2 6138 4888
M:  + 82 10 2005 1690 Email Michael | Vcard Office:  Seoul

Lawyer

Daryll Ng Singapore office managing partner

T:  +65 6835 8656
M:  Email Daryll | Vcard Office:  Singapore

Lawyer

Evangeline Quek Office managing partner Greater China

T:  +852 2533 2799 +86 21 2250 6912
M:  +852 9222 4856 +86 136 3217 8216 Email Evangeline | Vcard Office:  Hong Kong, Shanghai

Lawyer

Andrew Rigden Green Partner

T:  +852 2533 2761
M:  +852 6013 2520 Email Andrew | Vcard Office:  Hong Kong

Latest news & insights

19 Sep 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Issue 47

Vive la différence: English High Court refused to grant an interim anti-suit injunction in support of ICC arbitration proceedings seated in Paris given the unavailabil..

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15 Sep 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood wins maritime award at Asian Legal Business Hong Kong Law Awards

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has won the 'Maritime Law Firm of the Year' award at the Asian Legal Business (ALB) Hong Kong Law Awards 2023.

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07 Sep 2023

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Sustainability in yachting article

Every yacht is a unique and bespoke construction, built to accommodate its owner's specific tastes.

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29 Aug 2023

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Commodities in Focus Weekly: ICC publishes new papers on financial crime risk control

Financial crime risk control remains a great challenge for financial institutions as they often have limited time and resources to identify and manage associated risks..

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24 Aug 2023

From Insights

Ofgem fines Morgan Stanley for failure to record and retain electronic trading communications following traders' use of Whatsapp on personal phones

We look at the first UK fine for failure to record and retain electronic communications relating to trading wholesale energy products, and ask whether this might heral..

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23 Aug 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Addax Energy SA v Petro Trade Inc

In Addax Energy S.A. v Petro Trade Inc, the London Circuit Commercial Court was tasked with examining the parties' dealings over a number of years, ultimately finding ..

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22 Aug 2023

From Insights

The United Nations Convention on the International Effects of the Judicial Sale of Ships

The shipping industry has for years encountered issues with the recognition of the judicial sale of ships by a foreign court.

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10 Aug 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Smart Gain Shipping Co. Ltd v Langlois Enterprises Ltd [2023] EWHC 1683 (Comm)

On 5 July 2023 the High Court handed down its judgment in Smart Gain Shipping Co. Ltd v Langlois Enterprises Ltd [2023] EWHC 1683 (Comm).

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04 Aug 2023

From Insights

MASS at Moorgate

Following the success of last year and the developments globally in the sector over the last 12 months, we are excited to announce that MASS at Moorgate will be return..

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03 Aug 2023

From Insights

Takeaways from Stephenson Harwood's MASS at Moorgate 2022

On 18 October 2022, Stephenson Harwood hosted the inaugural MASS @ Moorgate in its London office.

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01 Aug 2023

From Insights

Transportation and trade newsletter

Welcome to the first edition of Stephenson Harwood’s transportation and trade update – our specialist newsletter for clients engaged in the aviation, marine, rail and ..

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01 Aug 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: In a sticky situation? Force majeure under sugar contract rules

This is the first in a series of three articles looking at issues currently affecting the sugar market.

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31 Jul 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood maritime lawyers contribute to maritime decarbonisation book

Stephenson Harwood partners Haris Zografakis, Dora Mace-Kokota and Andrew Rigden Green have contributed to a new book, titled: 'Maritime Decarbonisation: Practical Too..

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27 Jul 2023

From Insights

UK government unveils its Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme

On Wednesday, 26 July 2023, the UK Department for Business and Trade finally announced its Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme.

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18 Jul 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Issue 38

Demand & Integrity in the Voluntary Carbon Markets – The Publication of the VCMI Claims Code of Practice

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12 Jul 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance advises on award-winning sustainable infrastructure deal

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance has advised on a sustainable infrastructure deal – relating to Peacock Container Group's (Peacock) US$240 million sustainabilit..

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.