Wikborg Rein
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Baptiste is a shipping and international trade specialist with extensive experience in resolving international disputes arising from charterparties, bills of lading, shipbuilding contracts, memorandums of agreement, ship management agreements, and marine insurance. He also advises clients on other related sectors, with his practice spanning any issues in relation to the logistics, storage and transhipment of physical commodities (wet and dry), and the sale and purchase of the same. With a strong focus on the European market, he advises some of the biggest owners/fleets across all market sectors (wet, dry, container cargo, LNGs, and tug/tow). He has gained a reputation for his broad range of services, both litigation and advisory/contract drafting, and is seen as "a practical, hands-on lawyer, possessing not only good legal skills but also the commercial understanding to resolve issues". Baptiste has also assisted several owners/operators in recent years with complex issues arising out of war risks and global sanctions, including in relation to Iranian, Venezuelan, Belorussia and more recently Russia. Baptiste also regularly advises clients on greenhouse gas and carbon intensity issues and regulations, including EEXI, CII, and EU ETS. Baptiste is also multilingual.
The focus of Beatrice's practice is the finance and development of projects in the shipping, offshore, travel and aviation sectors taking projects from the planning and construction phase through to full operation. Having spent time in-house with UKEF, she also has particular expertise with ECA or other state backed projects and their implementation within domestic and international frameworks. Her clients are some of the leading owners, operators and contractors, as well as some of the major financiers to the industry, including banking syndicates, banks, funds and other alternative finance providers.
Bjørn Frode's main areas are issues related to contract law and company law. He mostly works with clients in the real estate market (transactions, management and construction of real estate). Bjørn Frode is specialized in building- and construction law, and he also assists clients in the offshore sector.
Chris is a Managing Partner at Wikborg Rein's London office and is an English Solicitor. Chris specialises in shipping, oil & gas, and commodity trading law. Shipping He has extensive experience of all aspects of shipping law (both globally and especially within Asia having lived and worked there for 12 years). He has been involved in handling some of the world’s major casualties and pollution incidents. Chris regularly advises shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs and traders on all aspects of carriage of goods, charterparty and marine insurance law. Chris also has extensive experience of shipbuilding and S&P disputes. Offshore In the offshore industry Chris advises operators and contractors in the drafting and negotiation of proposed contracts; handling claims and disputes concerning contractual performance; accidents; and claims under insurance policies. His experience includes all aspects of the industry from the initial bid and tender process through commissioning, and in-field operation. He has acted for all sectors of the industry including EPC and EPCI contractors, drilling contractors, FPSO/FLNG operators, accommodation rig providers, supply boat /barge operators, and oilfield service contractors. Trading Chris’ trading experience includes advising commodities traders, especially metals, coal and oil traders with their sale and purchase arrangements, particularly for long term off take contracts and disputes. Chris has handled numerous disputes for traders arising out of delays, force majeure, quality issues and letter of credit problems. Commercial Fraud Chris has extensive expertise of acting in civil fraud claims in the shipping and offshore industry including asset tracing, he has particular expertise in cases involving Russia, the CIS, China, Indonesia and Vietnam as well as Europe. Compliance and Crisis Management Chris has significant experience advising clients on compliance, regulatory and investigations in the Marine Sector. In particular, he has been extensively involved in anti-bribery and corporate crisis management including the conduct of internal investigations and the handling of criminal law consequences and civil disputes triggered by potential misconduct.
Fiona acts for a wide range of clients active in the oil and gas and offshore markets including owners, charterers, P&I clubs, yards and energy majors. She focuses on international commercial dispute resolution and advises on disputes arising out of international trade contracts, charterparties, ship building and superyacht construction. She has broad experience of substantial High Court litigation and arbitration (in particular LMAA, LCIA, SIAC, GAFTA, FOSFA and LME). Wet experience includes high-value casualty claims, salvage and cargo disputes. Fiona has particular expertise in complex commercial fraud and multi-jurisdictional disputes within the shipping sector, with comprehensive experience in injunctive relief, including freezing orders, anti-suit injunctions and general mandatory injunctions.
Ian is a disputes lawyer with significant experience in shipping cases and large scale commercial disputes in court proceedings, arbitrations and ADR for clients around the world. His clients include ship owners, cargo owners and insurers. He specialises in wet and dry shipping cases and has taken cases to the Supreme Court and to the CJEU. He has provided expert advice on English law in foreign courts.
Jonathan's main practice area lies within the commercial shipping and offshore sectors assisting Norwegian and international clients with structuring, risk assessment, negotiation and accomplishment of projects related to the construction/conversion, sale/purchase/chartering, management and operation of commercial vessels and offshore assets. Jonathan also advises on the provision of construction/acquisition finance and regularly acts for borrowers/banks in the traditional bank finance markets and lessors/lessees in sale and leaseback transactions. Prior to re-joining Wikborg Rein LLP as a partner, Jonathan was General Counsel at jack-up installation vessel owner Seajacks International Limited.
Ketil is a member of the firm's Board of Directors. He has more than 25 years of experience as advisor to investors, securities firms, banks, companies and state-owned entities with establishments, share listings and issues, mergers, acquisitions, divestments and restructurings both in Norway and abroad. In addition he advises a number of profiled Norwegian businesses and market participants with investments, project work and general commercial law advice. Ketil has in recent years increasingly focused his work within transactions in the financial industry and advice to financial institutions and other regulated firms. He has advised key Norwegian and international clients with acquisitions and transactions within banking, insurance, asset management, payment services and establishment of family offices. He also actively advices on debt capital market matters, particularly corporate bond issues and Norwegian and international borrowing programmes for Norwegian and foreign issuers. Ketil is recognized by Chambers and Partners as "Leaders in their field" in the category Corporate M&A.
Lars-Erik's main area of expertise is ship finance, and he has broad experience within shipbuilding, chartering, loan documentation and export credit finance. In 2014 he co-authored the book "International Bankruptcy", where he wrote the chapter about international bank insolvency, and in recent years he has been actively involved as lenders' counsel in several challenging insolvency, refinancing and restructuring matters. Lars-Erik's main legal expertise is within contract law, security law, guarantee law and insolvency law.
Matt works extensively with ship owners and insurers on dry and wet shipping cases. He has a wide range of experience in English civil proceedings and court proceedings across the world as well as international arbitration and mediation. His clients include major shipowners and operators, P&I Clubs, insurers, port operators, dredging companies, shipyards, trading companies, offshore operators, drilling contractors, offshore constructors and oil and gas companies. He regularly writes and speaks on shipping industry matters. Matt has worked in shipping law since 1995 and is qualified in England and Wales. Legal 500 UK recommends Matt as an "exceptional shipping and insurance specialist" and is also highly recommended within Shipping.
Matt is an experienced shipping lawyer with a strong international shipping background. Drawing upon seafaring experience from the oil and gas industry and provides technical and legal advice to clients. He is a former mariner and a qualified solicitor specialising in maritime casualties and claims. He began his career at sea with James Fisher, working on coastal product tankers, trading between the UK and Europe. In 2003, he joined Shell, and spent the next seven years sailing on product tankers, VLCC’s and LNG vessels up to the rank of Chief Officer. Matt also worked ashore in Shell's Operation Department. As a member of the firm's Maritime and Offshore Emergency Response team, he is primarily involved in the investigation and handling of casualties worldwide and regularly advises ship owners, P&I clubs and H&M insurers in the aftermath of collisions, groundings, fires and pollution, as well as other major casualties. He regularly acts for clients on collision claims providing advice on liability and quantum. He also handles both salvage and General Average matters, as well as unsafe port claims and a broad range of dry shipping disputes. More recently he assists clients with sanctions related issues using the latest technologies and vessel tracking software. He travels widely on a variety of matters, including collisions, groundings, salvage, fire and pollution incidents.
Michael specialises in resolving commercial disputes on behalf of those in the shipping sector, both in court and through arbitration. Michael works on both wet and dry shipping cases, with a strong focus on dispute resolution. He has specialist expertise in charterparties and bills of lading; sale and purchase agreements; and shipbuilding and refund guarantees. He has acted in cases that have reached the House of Lords, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as in the European Court of Human Rights and the CJEU.
Renaud's practice focuses on the development and finance of offshore energy projects (specifically those involving FSRU, FLNG and offshore drilling assets), and acquisitions and divestitures in the offshore energy sector. He also has expertise in dispute resolution (in particular in connection with acquisitions and divestitures, joint venture matters and construction projects) and regulatory matters (specifically in connection with offshore decommissioning and the demolition and recycling of vessels, drilling units, FPSOs and other offshore assets). Client endorsements: "First-rate intellect" (Legal 500 UK) "Renaud Barbier-Emery advises companies from the shipping and offshore oil and gas sectors. He is noted for the efficiency and dedication of his client-oriented practice." (Chambers UK) "Recommended", "Very precise and knowledgeable" (Legal 500 UK) "Renaud and his team have a deeply ingrained client service philosophy on a broad spectrum of projects from litigation to contractual negotiation." (Legal 500 UK) “Renaud Barbier-Emery 'understands the commercial aspects of clients’ intentions'.” (Legal 500 UK) "Renaud Barbier-Emery is a world class lawyer in the field of offshore drilling. He has in-depth knowledge of the applicable legal frameworks, as well as a wealth of experience that he can draw from." (Legal 500 UK) "Renaud and his team at Wikborg Rein are the go-to lawyers in the offshore energy M&A and related commercial transactions. Their effective advocacy and attention to detail are key strengths." Legal 500 (Oil & Gas) "Renaud Barbier-Emery is a tremendous asset to Wikborg Rein." Legal 500 (Oil & Gas) "Renaud Barbier-Emery is unique due to his in-depth knowledge of the oil and gas industry, his multi-jurisdictional experience and his constant availability to find a solution." Legal 500 (Oil & Gas) "Renaud Barbier-Emery is the lawyer who you would want to have on your side as much as possible." Legal 500 (Oil & Gas)
Rob's main area of practice lies within the shipping and offshore fields. He is a lawyer with a broad range of marine and offshore experience specialising in dispute resolution, mediation, commercial litigation and arbitration. Within shipping his experience covers all aspects of the construction of ships together with their employment, operation and disposal. In the offshore field Rob deals with a variety of commercial and operational issues with particular emphasis on disputes relating to the construction of offshore units including FPSOs, drilling rigs and offshore production and supply vessels. He also lectures on shipbuilding matters.
Shawn is an international dispute resolution specialist with a particular focus on complex commercial disputes before arbitral institutions and courts around the world. Shawn is dual-qualified as an English solicitor and as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand. His contentious work has included acting in ICC, LCIA, SIAC, LMAA, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations subject to numerous governing laws, as well as in English court proceedings and in an advisory capacity in relation to court proceedings in many other jurisdictions. Based on his dispute experience, Shawn is also often asked to assist clients in the negotiation of high value contracts, particularly in the energy, construction and shipbuilding arenas. Shawn led the WR team which won "Deal of the Year: Disputes" in the Latin Lawyer Awards 2021 and he is recognised in the Legal 500 rankings with clients describing him as "extremely pragmatic and [a] solution maker" (Legal 500, 2023: Projects, Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas).
Tormod is Global Head of Renewable Energy. He headed up the firm's Shanghai office from 2013-2016. Tormod assists Norwegian and international clients in the renewable energy sector. His main areas of expertise are acquisitions, financing, negotiations and regulatory requirements within the electricity sector. Tormod is highly regarded for his skills and expertise in i.a. Legal 500 (Renewable Energy) and IFLR (Project Development), and the firm's Renewable Energy department is considered to be among the most prominent in Norway in particular for acquisitions, project development, investments and joint ventures in clean tech and PPAs. Tormod has headed many complex transactions and projects. Tormod also has extensive experience form energy sourcing, physical PPAs, financial PPAs and PPAs with sleeving structures.