Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Shipping, Marine, trade and aviation

Tony is a partner in the London shipping team. He provides legal and practical advice to ship owners, charterers, salvors, P&I clubs and property insurers about marine casualties, charterparty disputes, salvage, general average, limitation and cargo claims.

Drawing on his experience as both a former mariner and a lawyer, Tony routinely analyses navigational and ship-damage incidents, including groundings, fires, collisions, dock damage, towage incidents, ice damage, stowage failures and mooring incidents, and advises on legal liabilities arising from them. He assists both owners and contractors in negotiating wreck removal agreements, drafts standard-form and bespoke contracts, and supports clients in finding solutions when problems arise during wreck removal projects. Tony has particular expertise in advising on complex casualty situations, and regularly conducts casualty investigations, including interviewing witnesses, processing VDR data, obtaining documentary evidence and assisting owners and crew onboard in the aftermath of collisions and groundings.

He is also experienced in Admiralty and Commercial High Court proceedings and London arbitration - including LOF salvage arbitration - and has an extensive track record in cases involving multi-jurisdictional proceedings.

Tony was a Royal Navy officer for over eight years, serving as officer of the watch on a variety of vessels, including an aircraft carrier. He was involved in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and has managed intelligence analysis teams.

Member of the Nautical Institute