BDM Law LLP

BDM is a niche shipping, insurance, trade and offshore energy law firm. The firm represents blue chip shipping, trading and offshore energy companies and those who insure them. The founding partners Nick Burgess, Bob Deering and David McInnes were all formerly senior partners at an international law firm and between them have over 90 years of combined legal and industry experience. The BDM team is dynamic and responsive and comprises 4 partners, 1 consultant, 5 associates and 2 trainees all supported by a dedicated back office team covering secretarial, administration, accounts and IT.

The majority of the firm’s practice is contentious.  The firm handles dozens of arbitrations each year and is familiar with all the customary institutional rules including the ICC, LCIA, LMAA, UNCITRAL, SCC, CIETEC, SIAC, DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, GAFTA, FOSFA and other trade bodies as well as ad hoc arbitrations subject to the Arbitration Act.  The firm is also experienced at Lloyds Form Salvage Arbitrations including appeals under the Lloyds Rules.  

In terms of court proceedings, the firm represents clients in the Admiralty, Commercial and Companies Courts on matters in the shipping, offshore, trade and insurance sectors.  One specialist area is obtaining and enforcing interim injunctions to secure clients’ claims.  BDM are active members of the Admiralty Solicitors Group and are at the forefront of the latest advances in casualty investigation and liability.   Most of the work involves dealing with high-value casualties and groundings and advising on liability, quantum and limitation as well as dealing with the contractual complications. One of the firm’s consultants is an experienced casualty investigator and all four partners have specialist experience of collisions, groundings, container stow issues and ship fires.

On non-contentious matters, BDM frequently advises clients on the drafting and negotiation of ship sale and purchase agreements, high-value shipbuilding contracts, pooling arrangements, sale of goods contracts, contracts of carriage and charter party agreements.   They also advise clients on more general commercial agreements including those relating to finance and joint ventures.  The firm is very familiar with the container trade and acts for many of the world’s leading container lines/ alliances as well as acting for container manufacturers and their insurers.  On the operational side, they support clients who own and operate ships in connection with common trading problems such as compliance with MARPOL and international regulations.

The majority of the firm's clients are blue chip shipowners, trading, offshore and insurance companies, including the international group P&I clubs.  They also represent some high net-worth individuals principally on issues relating to yachts.  The firm has an extensive international network of fellow lawyers in other jurisdictions who refer clients to them on shipping matters and who consult them on the shipping aspects of wider projects.