About me
I’m one of a relatively small number of dual-qualified solicitors/Master Mariners and have more than 20 years of casualty investigation experience. Having seagoing experience allows me to instinctively understand issues arising on board vessels.
Most of my work involves maritime disputes with a particular focus on admiralty claims, including collisions, wreck removal and salvage. I also work on broader maritime issues such as ports and terminals, carriage of goods and unsafe ports disputes.
Accordingly, my clients are mostly shipowners, P&I clubs and H&M insurers, as well as port operators, pilotage bodies and maritime authorities.
I appreciate that the client’s preference, generally, is to resolve any dispute as quickly as possible – and at the lowest cost, which is what I aim to help them do.
Following the initial investigation, I advise on liabilities with a view to an early negotiated settlement, but if that’s not possible, I aim to ensure that the client’s case is presented in the best possible way in arbitration, mediation or court proceedings.
Knowing that the client is satisfied is my greatest reward.
My experience
- Younger Brother of Trinity House.
- Former seafarer with 15 years’ experience as a deck officer and nine years as a pilot.
- In the past three years, notable cases I’ve worked on have involved: a serious fire on a car carrier; a three-vessel collision in the Singapore Straits; a high profile collision in the North Sea; and a collision in the Gibraltar Straits between a very large container vessel and a tanker.