Nikki Chu > Watson Farley & Williams LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Watson Farley & Williams LLP Offices
15 APPOLD STREET
LONDON
EC2A 2HB
England
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Nikki Chu
Work Department
Dispute Resolution
Position
Nikki has over 11 years’ experience as a disputes lawyer in the marine and international trade sectors. She adopts a practical and commercial approach to ensure that disputes are resolved efficiently.
She specialises in dry shipping, including charterparty, bill of lading, cargo and shipbuilding disputes and assisting clients with LNG shipping issues. Nikki has also advised on commercial disputes including injunctive relief and issues arising from ship finance contracts. She has worked on cases involving major incidents such as container stack collapses and fires. On the non-contentious side, she advises on the drafting and negotiation of shipping contracts (including LNG charterparties).
She has acted for a wide range of clients including owners, charterers, P&I Clubs, insurers, traders, cargo interests and maritime investment companies. Having spent a year at an International Group P&I Club in London, she is well-experienced in dealing with FD&D and P&I matters, often with a real-time element.
Nikki is listed as a Rising Star by The Legal 500 UK 2024. Clients value her dedication to cases and attention to detail and say that “Nikki Chu has the capacity to delve to the bottom of the legal issues at hand. She would leave no stone unturned to research all the available authorities and academic writings, and to consider the matter from all possible angles.”
She is passionate about improving diversity within the legal industry and was shortlisted as a finalist in The Rising Star in Diversity Change category of Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2022.
Education
- 2008 – 2009 · BPP Law School, London – LPC
- 2005 – 2008 · London School of Economics and Political Sciences – LLB Law (Hons)
Lawyer Rankings
London > Transport > Shipping
(Next Generation Partners)Hailed as a ‘fantastic all round practice in all aspects of shipping’, Watson Farley & Williams LLP complements its strong ship finance practice with capabilities in maritime disputes, shipping contracts, and sanctions-related advice. George Macheras is noted for his expertise regarding the enforcement of ship mortgages as well as handling insolvency and restructuring work. Ship and offshore vessel construction form part of Mike Phillips‘ areas of focus alongside contentious ship finance, while Robert Platt specialises in commercial contracts and contentious matters within the shipbuilding and offshore sectors. Nikki Chu joined from Stephenson Harwood in March 2024.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Dispute resolution > Commodities disputes
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Renewables
- Finance > Transport finance and leasing
Firm Rankings
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: Project finance and development
- Transport > Aviation
- Dispute resolution > Commodities disputes
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity and nuclear)
- Finance > Trade finance
- Industry focus > Emerging markets
- Real estate > Environment
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Risk advisory > ESG
- Employment > Immigration
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
- Transport > Rail
- Transport > Shipping
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Real estate > Planning
- Corporate and commercial > Private equity: transactions - mid-market deals (up to £500m)
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Employers
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition