Reed Smith LLP‘s shipping practice commands market recognition for its comprehensive expertise across maritime issues, representing insurers, shipowners, and commodities companies in multiple jurisdictions. Under the leadership of Richard Hakes, the team boasts specialists such as casualty and admiralty expert Richard Gunn and dispute resolution authorities Alex Andrews and Charles Weller. Alexander Sandiforth specialises in the transportation and trading of bulk commodities, and is regularly instructed to advise on shipbuilding and offshore matters. Thor Maalouf offers a broad spectrum of commercial shipping advice including charterparties and electronic bills of lading, while Stephen Kirkpatrick acts for charterers, shipowners, and insurers. Andrew Taylor has longstanding experience across the full shipping spectrum, including sale and purchase as well as casualty responses.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Very knowledgeable. Very Commercial. Very responsive.’
‘No experience of the team, our contact has always been directly with the partner.’
Key clients
- CMA CGM
- Gard
Work highlights
- Advising the newly merged NorthStandard on the drafting of 7 sets of harmonised rulebooks for the scope of marine insurance and terms of cover for vessels, shipowners and charterers.
- Successfully defended KCH Shipping in the Court of Appeal against FIMBank’s appeal of a High Court decision affirming an arbitration award confirming that the 12-month time bar in the Hague-Visby Rules applies to claims for misdelivery of cargo.