With an ‘outstanding shipping team’, Birketts LLP counts arbitration proceedings, charterparties, marine insurance, and matters pertaining to bills of lading to its designated areas of expertise, though the practice covers all major issues arising out of shipping work. ’Brilliant lawyer’ Henry Adams, litigator Alex Davey, dry shipping dispute specialist Nicholas Woo, and Tom Hodges, who focuses on international trade as well as dry shipping work, jointly lead the Ipswich-based team. The firm bolstered its ranks with the hire of a team from Ince & Co in September 2023, led by Daniel Crockford.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Outstanding Shipping Team. With excellent results.'
'Henry Adams - Brilliant lawyer. With excellent know-how and results in wet and dry shipping matters.'
'The strength in depth of the firm's people is a big plus. The friendly yet formal approach suits ours, when finding understandable explanations and solutions to a wide variety of issues in broader commercial matters as well as our particular niche in our sector.'
'The team is experienced and reactive.'
'Henry Adams is very experienced, provides valuable advice and speaks fluent French.'

Key clients

U-Ming Marine Transport Singapore Pte Ltd
TOTSA Total Energy Trading SA
Filhet-Allard Maritime
Siaci Saint-Honoré
Amica NV
Tradhol Internacional
HDI Global SE
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty
Bâloise Insurance
MS Amlin Marine NV

Work highlights

Advising Petromar in a claim for damages arising from alleged contamination of cargoes of gas oil and gasoline, acting for the claimant cargo interest in the High Court claim.
Acting or Navision Shipping in a dispute arising from loss of time due to an arrest of a vessel at a discharge port.
Advising Dubai Bulkers Ltd and its hull insurers in a claim against the Indonesian shipper of a cargo that liquefied during transit which caused the sinking of the vessel “Emerald Star”.