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

31 May 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Quadra Commodities SA v XL Insurance Company SE & Ors [2023] EWCH Civ 432

On 21 April 2023 the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Quadra Commodities SA v XL Insurance Company SE & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 432

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25 May 2023

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Four lawyers featured in Spear's Magazine's 2023 rankings

Stephenson Harwood senior partner Roland Foord, partners Kiersten Lucas and Ezio Dal Maso, and consultant Neil Noble have been included in Spear's Magazine's 2023 'Emp..

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19 May 2023

From News

Mark Lakin and Paul Katsouris named in Seatrade Maritime Middle East's '20 under 40' 2023 list

Stephenson Harwood Dubai-based partner Mark Lakin and managing associate Paul Katsouris have been included in Seatrade Maritime Middle East's '20 under 40 ' 2023 list...

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16 May 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood wins shipping and transport law firm of the year award

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has won the 'Shipping and Transport – Law firm of the year' award at The Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards.

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10 May 2023

From Insights

Lithium-ion batteries - The writing on the wall (Part one)

Eloquent and timely are the words of a leading academic who concludes in no uncertain terms that "Micromobility devices [incorporating lithium-ion batteries] should NO..

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09 May 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Smit Salvage B.V. and ors v Luster Maritime S.A. and ors [2023] EWHC 697 (Admlty)

The High Court has found, following trial of a preliminary issue, that an exchange of emails between shipowners and a salvor did not result in a contract for salvage s..

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03 May 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Challenge under s. 67 of the Arbitration Act 1996

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26 Apr 2023

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25 Apr 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Deductions from hire

Did hire remain payable, in the absence of owners' agreement, when vessel was allegedly off hire at the instalment date?

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17 Apr 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood promotes eleven to partnership

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has promoted eleven lawyers to its partnership, effective from 1 May 2023.

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04 Apr 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Mediation

The use of mediation as a tool in the disputes arsenal is increasingly prevalent. Whether it is in settling a matter without proceeding to trial/hearing, or in finessi..

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31 Mar 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood lawyers named in Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers list

12 Stephenson Harwood lawyers have been named Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers in 2023.

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31 Mar 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance advises ICBC, BOC and CPF on three LNG vessel financings

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance has advised Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), Bank of Communications (BOC) and CPF Dubai (CPF) on the finance doc..

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28 Mar 2023

From Insights

Commodities in Focus Weekly: Pan Ocean Co Ltd v Daelim Corporation (DL LILAC) [2023] EWHC 391 (Comm)

An award has been remitted back to the original tribunal in a case concerning an appeal under s.69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 on a point of law.

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27 Mar 2023

From Insights

End of the Offshore Wind Workers Concession….

On 27 March 2023, the Home Office finally confirmed that after seven years, the Offshore Wind Workers Concession (the 'Concession') will expire on 30 April 2023 and wi..

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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.