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As comfortable on the deck of a vessel as in the courtroom.
Burness Paull's marine and shipping clients include ship owners, P&I clubs, marine insurers, port and harbour authorities and companies providing logistics services to the sector across Scotland.
With deep roots in the North Sea oil and gas industry, we regularly advise marine and shipping clients on litigation, health and safety, employment, construction, corporate law and banking. The team has significant experience in carrying out incident investigations. We represent clients during investigations by the MCA, MAIB through to any prosecution and Fatal Accident Inquiry.
We are instructed by P&I clubs and marine insurers to defend personal injury claims following accidents at sea and in port. This includes fatalities, catastrophic injuries and claims with contractual, indemnity and international convention issues. We act for shipowners in respect of long-tail liabilities arising from exposure to asbestos dust, noise, vibration and other industrial diseases.
The team's marine and shipping lawyers cover the full range of commercial shipping disputes including contract, charterparty and cargo claims, advising on sale and purchase of ships, providing advice on shipping finance for both borrower and lender and negotiating shipbuilding contracts. We frequently work with legal teams from other jurisdictions on cross-border matters including ship arrest.
Key Contacts
Neil Smith
Partner
Dispute Resolution
Neil is dual qualified and has expertise in litigation, arbitration and mediation across the UK and internationally.
Andrew Forsyth
Partner
Insurance Litigation
Andrew specialises in the defence of insured claims including personal injury, insurance coverage advice and disputes, maritime claims, transport law.
Our expertise in shipping law
- Marine casualty investigations
- Personal injury and disease
- Fishing claims
- Ferries and cruise ships
- Arbitration
- Ports
- Collisions
- Salvage
- Cargo claims
- Scottish ship arrest: arresting vessels/defending owners in response to arrest
- Negotiating LOUs
- Charterparty disputes
- Drafting and negotiation of charterparties (from BIMCO to bespoke)
- Rig towage and mooring
- Vessel finance
- Vessel sale/purchase options
- Shipbuilding contracts
- Terms of memoranda of agreement and bills of sale
- Reflagging
- Vessel mortgages
Whether dealing with a major incident, a contractual dispute or a vessel purchase/sale, we have the right people to provide the shipping law advice you need.
Related News, Insights & Events
Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023
The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 comes fully into force on 1 December 2024.
New body given civil enforcement powers to tackle trade sanctions breaches
The new powers coming into force on 10th October 2024.
Employment claims out at sea: Was the Tribunal sailing in the wrong direction?
Seafarer's employment rights: The recent case of the Yacht Management Company Ltd v Gordon.