Profile

Eric is a London-based partner within our marine team. He specialises in all aspects of commercial shipping and dispute resolution; regularly acting for owners, charterers, P&I Clubs, freight forwarders; FMCG companies and commodity traders in relation to the full spectrum of shipping, transportation and commercial contracts.

Eric’s dry shipping practice relates to the full spectrum of shipping and commercial contracts including but not limited to: charterparties, contracts of affreightment, bills of lading, letters of indemnity, agency agreements, MOAs, insurance policies, and bank guarantees. He also regularly advises clients in relation to their commercial agreements, including global logistics contracts where negotiation and bespoke drafting are routinely required.

He is particularly well versed in the overseas service of process, obtaining injunctive relief and asset tracing. His expertise extend to the obtaining of security: international and domestic ship arrest, freezing injunctions and Norwich Pharmacal orders.

Eric has a wide marine insurance practice, and has been involved in some of the largest cases in recent times, including acting for Spanish cargo interests following the Maersk Honam fire and salvage incident, and acting for a large Italian shipowner during the OW Bunker insolvency, and the fallout from the UK Supreme Court judgment in the Res Cogitans.

Having represented clients and their respective insurers in both arbitration (LMAA, ICC, GAFTA, FCC and ad hoc) and High Court proceedings (Commercial and Chancery), Eric has experience working with the German and West African markets; notably within the heavy lift space (Germany) and for some of Africa’s largest commodity traders and energy companies (Nigeria). Eric is a supporting member of the LMAA, and also sits on the executive committee of the British Nigeria Law Forum.

Of particular interest to Eric, is the decarbonisation of the shipping industry. He handles an increasing number of ESG related issues for his clients, and he sits on the advisory board of the Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTAs) which was granted IMO consultative status by the IMO Council in December 2022 (subject to final approval by the IMO Assembly in 2023).

Qualifications and admissions:

  • Qualified in England and Wales in 2008

Work highlights

  • LMAA arbitration win for Greek shipowner whose vessel was arrested capriciously by the Nigerian Navy off the coast of Nigeria.
  • Acting for Italian shipowner during the OW Bunkers insolvency.
  • Acting for Spanish cargo interests following the Maersk Honam fire and salvage incident.
  • Acting for German ship refurbisher in multi-million Euro dispute against offshore support vessel owner for non-payment. Successful domestic arrest of the vessel by way of security.
  • Successfully acting for a large Nigerian commodities trader in relation to a claim for damages for breaches of its trading terms and conditions (in the context of FCC arbitration).
  • Being invited to sit on the advisory board of ZESTAs and its achievement of IMO consultative status (subject to final approval by the IMO Assembly in 2023).