About me
I’m an expert in admiralty and casualty, shipping, transport and logistics, ports and terminals, insurance as well as marine, trade and energy matters.
My clients include vessel owners and operators, P&I clubs and other insurers, charterers, port and terminal operators and government authorities.
I’m a former Master Mariner who served at sea for 12 years, and I’ve also worked as both a Casualty Investigator and Marine Manager, giving me extensive insight into the maritime sector.
I’m experienced in guiding clients through every stage of casualties, from investigations through to final resolutions. I negotiate wherever possible, and where necessary, I’m well versed in resolving matters through the courts, arbitrations, mediations or other forms of dispute resolution.
I’m experienced in passenger ship and ferry accidents, having acted in relation to significant incidents involving the losses of vessels like the Achille Lauro and the Sea Diamond, as well as in ports and terminals matters. I also regularly advise major UK harbour authorities.
I aim to achieve the best result possible, and take pride in exceeding client expectations. I work closely with clients to understand their business and requirements, then offer the straightforward advice and clear strategies they need to bring about favourable outcomes.
My experience
- 35 years’ experience of investigating, advising on and assisting in the resolution of most forms of maritime casualty, across most parts of the world, acting for all sides of the industry, and involving most ship types and sizes: in particular collisions / allisions, fire / explosion cases, groundings, pollution, salvage and wreck removal, breakdowns, heavy weather issues, stability / cargo shift issues, etc
- Particular expertise and experience in insurance issues and general average matters: the latter involving claims and recoveries, including in relation to numerous large container ship incidents, which often involves coordination of claims across many legal jurisdictions
- Regularly deals with cargo damage claims, unsafe port issues, grounding and blocking incidents in ports and rivers, unseaworthiness aspects, etc
- Particular expertise in passenger ship issues and casualties, having dealt with many of the major passenger ship casualties over the last 35 years
- Regularly assists and advises the largest of UK port authorities in all manner of casualty and incident aspects, damage to port infrastructure, unsafe / dangerous ships, places of refuge issues, pilotage, port conservation issues, arrest and detention, port powers and enforcement, etc. Regularly lecture at Harbour Master training courses.
- Extensive experience of the courts, arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution strategies, in the UK and many other jurisdictions in the world, with emphasis on trying to reach amicable settlement / resolution without formal proceedings