Reed Smith LLP

Reed Smith LLP stands out as a prominent player in shipping, advising and representing shipowners, banks, insurers and commodities companies in market-leading matters. The team is well-equipped to handle cross-border matters due to the firm’s global footprint, assisting with the full gamut of maritime work. Led by Richard Hakes, the practice’s deep bench includes shipping heavyweights Charles Weller, Andrew Taylor and Richard Gunn, who is praised as ‘the best mariner lawyer in the business’. Insurers, shipowners and charterers benefit from Stephen Kirkpatrick’s expertise in maritime law, while Thor Maalouf is well-versed in electronic bills of lading, oil pollution incidents, and charterparties, among other issues. Further key practitioners are shipbuilding and offshore expert Alex Andrews and Alexander Sandiforth, whose experience spans both contentious and non-contentious shipping work.