Shipping and transport

Webber Wentzel

The shipping practice at Webber Wentzel has extensive experience in advising on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious maritime work. Insurers, shipowners, charterers, port owners and operators, and agents are included in the client base, and the team regularly assists with, among other areas, international trade issues, ship arrests, maritime casualties, enforcement of maritime claims and commercial shipping transactions. The practice is jointly led by Patrick Holloway, the ‘technically outstanding’ Andre Bowley and Gavin Fitzmaurice, ‘one of the most commercially-savvy maritime lawyers in the international market’. On the aviation side, the group is jointly led by Neerasha Singh, who is well versed in handling aviation finance, and Scott Edmundson, who has a solid track record in assisting banks, export credit agencies and airlines with a broad range of financing matters. The team is equally strong at advising on the import and export of aircraft among other aviation regulatory issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Webber Wentzel are a leading South African shipping law firm, with some leading name lawyers and an experienced and knowledgable team.’
‘Gavin Fitzmaurice and Andre Bowley - very experienced, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.’
‘The team has the breadth and depth of experience that allows them to punch above their weight.’
‘Gavin Fitzmaurice is calm under pressure and a safe pair of hands on any shipping matter.’
‘The team is extremely strong with a good blend of very experienced maritime experts and able associates. They have unrivalled local industry knowledge and contacts.'
‘My main contact is Gavin Fitzmaurice. He is an experienced and outstanding lawyer with excellent communication skills and a pleasure to work with. His team respond promptly and always provide clear, constructive and well reasoned advice. ’
‘We have found Webber Wentzel a pleasure to deal with due to their efficiency and willingness to help and quickly understand the situation and take ownership of their role.'
‘We have worked with Gavin Fitzmaurice and would do so again due to his ability to quickly understand the situation and to explain things in layman terms and not difficult jargon.’

Key clients

Transnet National Ports Authority, a division of Transnet SOC Limited
Karpowership South Africa
Carst and Walker South Africa and Hobart Enterprises Ltd
XT Management Ltd
Celosia Shipping Pte Ltd
HK Harvest Marine Ltd and Thomas Miller Hong Kong Limited
Maryam D BV, registered owners of the ‘Maryam D’
Pequod Associates Limited
The Hollard Insurance Company
Altera Infrastructure and Varg LLC
Varg LLC and Altera Infrastructure
UK P&I Club trading as Thomas Miller
ARIA (African Rail Industry Association)
Traxtion Sheltam Proprietary Limited
Industrial Development Corporation
Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking Division
Aircraft Engine Lease Finance Inc.

Work highlights

Acting as counsel to Traxtion and the Industrial Development Corporation in relation to feasibility studies for the establishment of a train operating company for an end-to-end rail logistics solution for the automotive sector.

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