Maritime Shipping / Transport Law - PRACTICE AREAS

The practice

The Firm’s lawyers regularly advise clients on questions concerning breach of charter; cargo and bills of lading claims; arrests of vessels and cargoes; marine insurance claims; collision; salvage; and environmental liabilities.

Since 1994, the Firm has provided legal assistance to large international ports, Russian and foreign shipowners, marine creditors, and insurance companies in Russian commercial courts and international courts, using its wealth of experience in settling disputes in Australia, Argentina, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Ethiopia, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Mauritania, Namibia, Netherlands, Panama, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom and United States.

We have acted on behalf of creditors and debtors in vessel seizures and other disputes in more than 20 foreign jurisdictions and Russian ports, from St. Petersburg, to Sochi, to the Far East of Russia.

On the extrajudicial side, the Firm advises clients on contractual arrangements for the construction, financing and registration of marine vessels, customs and licensing, as well as documentation relating to charter-parties and bills of lading. Furthermore, the Firm has dealt with a range of transactions concerning port and shipping assets.

We deal with all parties that may be involved in shipping, involving agents (forwarding, liner, ship, etc), bunker suppliers, charterers, commodities traders, funders (including banks), ports, ship owners and operators, shipyards, support services, suppliers, salvors, the offshore sector, the cruise industry and the yacht sector.

Services

We advise on such matters as:

Bill of lading and charter party disputes
Collisions and groundings
Unsafe port and berth disputes
Salvage, towage, wreck removal and general average
Ship arrest and release
Ship building and ship repair, ship sale and purchase, as well as corporate acquisitions and shareholder agreements, ship mortgage registration
Passenger and crew claims, personal injury and industrial disease
Marine insurance and re-insurance policies and disputes (including P&I), advising on ISM compliance
Environmental damage, bunker spills and contamination, ship recycling issues
Advising owners, charterers and cargo interests on all aspects of piracy incidents, covering the legal and practical aspects of responding to a hijacking, release of vessels, insurance and mitigating the risk of such incidents reoccurring
Dealing with national and international authorities and representing clients’ interests in formal enquiries and investigations
Yachting (sale, purchase, new build contracts, insurance, financing, charter disputes, commercial disputes)

Reputation

“They know everything about transportation, in particular seaport transport infrastructure matters.” (The Legal 500 2020)

“The team stand out beyond their competitors thanks to their very reputable litigation practice, which handles the full scope of transport law matters including corporate, land, antitrust and other regulatory issues.” (The Legal 500 2020)

“The team is well versed in the aviation industry.” (The Legal 500 2020)

“The team has the best experience in this region [Russia], particularly in the field of transport.” (The Legal 500 2020)

"They are responsive and very comprehensive in their advice" (Сhambers Europe 2018)

“Excellent knowledge of the local justice system while also being aware of the European and global context of each matter’ cases” (The Legal 500 2018)

"Incredibly accurate in their advice, patient and very good at explaining things" (Chambers Europe 2017)

“Significant expertise in transport and administrative law”. “Well organised and able to handle the time pressures associated with competitive aviation project tenders” (The Legal 500 2017)

“Delve deeply into the essence of the question at hand” , providing “solid recommendations and thorough answers” (The Legal 500 2016)

For more testimonials please follow the link.