Shipping

Our team has many years experience in representing liability underwriters, owners, service providers and others in disputes in the Court of Session, Scotland’s Supreme Court and Sheriff Courts up and down the country.

Admiralty Claims

We deal with salvage claims for both salvor and salved, our experience allowing us to quickly identify the information required to best serve our client’s interests – be that in or out of court. In the unfortunate event of a collision, we are equally at ease with dealing with the issues arising and helping ensure evidence is obtained as soon as possible.

Personal Injury

We have extensive experience of high value and complex personal injury, disease and fatal claims in the shipping, offshore and fishing sectors. Members of our team have worked for many years alongside P&I Clubs and their members and are committed to delivering a high quality service, with clear advice on how to handle the legal and tactical issues of such claims.

Ship Arrest

We are conscious of the need to react quickly to obtain security for claims and will guide clients through the process either of obtaining an arrest or securing release from arrest. Arrest is a powerful remedy and we work with clients to ensure that all available documentation in support of their position is available, giving the best opportunity of success.

For further details on arresting ships in Scottish waters, visit our legal update: In Troubled Waters.

Accident Investigation

With team members who have acted as correspondents for P&I Clubs and are called on to get on site as soon as possible, we appreciate the need to obtain the best evidence following an incident. Our team offers an out of hours service to respond to the needs of the industry in protecting the interests of those involved whilst allowing trading patterns to continue. We are experienced in dealing with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch in on site investigations.

Prosecutions and regulatory

Our team are no strangers to the regulatory regime within which shipping operates, having dealt with oil pollution, collision, health and safety, asbestos and loadline prosecutions. We always seek to intervene with the relevant authority at as early as stage as possible.

Oil Pollution

Scots law has provided some of the first UK interpretation and application of modern international conventions dealing with oil pollution, and members of our team have been involved at the heart of these cases on behalf of owners and P&I Clubs.

Cargo Claims

Whatever the mode of carriage, our team have experience in applying domestic and international rules to best serve the interests of cargo owners or underwriters.