Shipping remains a distinct and ever-evolving area of law, requiring specialised experience and judgement. Marine law and English commercial law have developed hand-in-hand with one another, and England remains the venue of choice for the litigation and arbitration of maritime disputes.
The recent economic climate and the increasingly globalised face of the shipping industry means that contractual relationships have become ever more complex, making sound legal guidance and expert handling of claims and recoveries more important than ever. The cost of disputes, and of litigating them, is an increasingly major consideration in an industry dominated more and more by controlling spend and protecting value.
TM Law’s marine team boasts a reputation earned over decades serving shipowners, charterers, ports, logistics operators, P&I Clubs, Defence Clubs and commercial underwriters in all areas of this ever-changing sector.
As well as dealing with all contentious marine matters, TM Law offers cost-effective and diligent handling of non-contentious work including ship sale and purchase, site and asset transactions, and contract drafting.
Marine liability and dispute
Wet & dry bulk, container, general cargo, passenger, offshore and specialised shipping
Cargo loss, damage, shortage and contamination
Collision and damage to fixed & floating objects
Charterer’s damage to Owner’s hull
Speed & consumption of chartered vessel
Delivery & redelivery dispute
Demurrage
MAIB investigations and MCA prosecutions- advice, representation and defence
Maritime Arbitration and mediation
Ports & Logistics
Ports & Terminals – vessel damage, cargo, mis-delivery, equipment
Logistics Operators – NVOCs, haulage, rail and air freight, tank and container operators
Cargo handling, stevedoring and warehousing
Contract & Commercial
Ship sale & purchase
Charterparty forms, clauses and wordings- Lloyds, BIMCO, NYPE etc
Crew contract forms and international regulations- MLC conditions, STCW standards, ITF forms