Legal Services News

Worsening diplomatic relations between the United States and China are putting a spotlight on their economic inter-dependency in the context of global supply chains for both technology and energy.Top policymakers in the United States and some of its closest allies, including Australia and Britain, have recently hardened the language in which they describe relations with China.China has been labelled a “strategic competitor” for some time but the country is increasingly described as a “strategic adversary” implying a more confrontational relationship.Complaints about unfair trade practices…

Singapore has maintained its position as the world's top shipping hub for the seventh year straight, according to a report published by the Baltic Exchange and Chinese state news agency Xinhua.The Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development (ISCD) Index, now in its seventh edition, assesses factors including port throughput and infrastructure; depth and breadth of professional maritime support services; as well as the general business environment in its attempt to…

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday Rear Adm. Melissa Bert has been invested as judge advocate general and chief counsel of the Coast Guard. Bert is the service’s first woman to hold that office.Bert was most recently the director of Governmental and Public Affairs for the Coast Guard, where she was responsible for external engagement with Congress, the media and other inter-governmental entities.As judge advocate general and chief counsel, Bert will lead a group of legal professionals who are responsible for the delivery of all legal services in support of the Coast Guard's missions…

London-based international law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Credit Agricole Asia Shipfinance Limited as facility agent on a US$91m term loan facility to a subsidiary of investment firm Sole Shipping Group (advised by Nordisk Legal Services) for the financing of two VLCCs (and scrubbers).According to WFW, the ships will be bareboat chartered to Hong Kong-based Landbridge group, with the leases arranged by Pareto Securities.The lenders were Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and BNP Paribas, it said.The WFW Hong Kong Maritime team advising on the transaction was led by Partner and Office Head Madeline Leong…

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has assured Nigerians and the international maritime community that the Federal Government is actively working to keep the menace of piracy and other illicit crimes in check on the nation’s territorial waterways. In this case the word are backed by action and investment, as the Nigerian government has approved the procurement of three helicopters and 12 fast intervention…

International law firm Hill Dickinson has announced that its application to operate as a single entity in Hong Kong has been approved by the Law Society of Hong Kong following the completion of a three year period of association with a local Hong Kong firm, as required by local regulations. Currently operating as Hill Dickinson Hong Kong LLP in association with Laracy & Co, the transition will marry the two firms together as one single Hong Kong firm under the name Hill Dickinson Hong Kong, taking effect from 1 April 2017. Hill Dickinson opened its Hong Kong office in 2013 providing a convenient pan-Asia base for its clients, following expansion into Singapore in 2009.

London has come top of a listing of maritime service centres published by the Baltic Exchange and Xinhua, China’s news agency, whilst Singapore heads the overall list for its combined port and maritime services offering. The International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCD) covers 46 of the world’s largest ports and cities and is designed to bring clarity to investors and governments on the relative performance of shipping centres around the world. London makes second place on the overall index, closely followed by Hong Kong. All three cities have large port facilities and support comprehensive maritime business service sectors. Shanghai has moved up to sixth place, overtaking Dubai. Tokyo has dropped out of the top ten with Athens taking its place at number ten.

Thomas Miller the international insurance, professional and insurance services provider announces the acquisition of the partners and staff of specialist marine law firm, Davies Johnson & Co of Plymouth. The acquisition brings an additional six fee earners to the Thomas Miller Law Ltd (TM Law) team. The firm will operate from Plymouth and London in addition to TM Law’s main office in Newcastle, where it forms part of the Group’s claims handling and risk management consultancy business. Davies’ Johnson’s existing clients will continue to be able to instruct the Plymouth firm, and there will be no change to the service they enjoy currently.

“Britannia rules the waves” paid a glowing tribute to the maritime past of the United Kingdom. Over the past three centuries as the sun began to set on the British power, resilient U.K. with its pioneering characteristics began its voyage of transformation to become a world-class maritime services center, with one of the largest clusters of marine insurance, ship finance, law, classification societies, ship broking, education and consultancy organizations. Significantly, two factors were responsible for this change. The first being marine transport, since it was the only point of access to the British Isles, and the second was the maritime trade and naval power that have had a great impact on the maritime sector influencing the country’s economy for several centuries.

Shipping is the premise for international trade and has always been an international industry. A central driver for the global shift has been the operational and technological development of the shipping industry, which has lowered transportation costs dramatically, says a report from Menon Business Economics. With the emergence of standardized bulk carriers, oil and other raw materials could be traded globally. Today most shipping markets, not just raw materials carried in bulk, but also specialized segments like cruise, offshore and car carriers, are globalized. Maritime services, however, have, until recently, been relatively national or regional, often located around the ship owning companies.

New York Harbor Tug Boat Captains and Crews, Staten Island Ferry Workers, Circle Line and Other Tourist Boat Crews Vote to Join New Union. New York-area watermen who operate tugboats, dredges, tourist boats and ferries, members of Staten Island-based Local 333, have voted by an overwhelming margin to support a merger between Local 333 and the Maryland-based International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots. By a more than 2 to 1 margin, 1,300 New York and New Jersey mariners voted to affiliate with the larger national union of deck officers who serve on ocean-going ships…

Following the previous announcement regarding two group presidents’ retirements and new responsibilities for another group president, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced related changes at the vice president level, including the retirement of Vice President Steve Gosselin. After more than 35 years of outstanding service with the company, Steve Gosselin, 56, vice president with responsibility for the Customer Services Support Division, has elected to retire. Gosselin’s retirement will be effective February 1, 2015. “Much of Steve’s career has been spent in marketing and product support roles, and in his most recent position, he has provided critical leadership in strengthening and aggressively growing Caterpillar’s aftermarket parts and product support business…

Following the previous announcement regarding two group presidents’ retirements and new responsibilities for another group president, Caterpillar Inc. today announced related changes at the vice president level, including the retirement of Vice President Steve Gosselin. After more than 35 years of outstanding service with the company, Steve Gosselin, 56, vice president with responsibility for the Customer Services Support Division, has elected to retire. Gosselin’s retirement will be effective February 1, 2015. “Much of Steve’s career has been spent in marketing and product support roles, and in his most recent position, he has provided critical leadership in strengthening and aggressively growing Caterpillar’s aftermarket parts and product support business…

Blank Rome apprises that its international shipping litigation practice, and attorney John D. Kimball have again been ranked in the 2014 edition of 'Chambers Global'. The international law firm explains that the qualities on which rankings were assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by clients. Chambers & Partners, the UK-based publishers of Chambers Global, conducted research by speaking to a vast range of lawyers and their clients (i.e., commercial users of legal services). In-depth interviews with clients and with attorneys were done, each one lasting about half an hour. Thousands of interviews are conducted by a team of 50+ full-time researchers.

Seasoned shipping and corporate finance lawyer, Brad Berman, joins the global legal practice of Norton Rose Fulbright’s US member firm as a partner based in the New York Office. Brad Berman focuses his practice on maritime and corporate finance, offshore incorporation, including Marshall Islands and Liberian law, and private wealth planning. He has represented ship owners, operators, investors and lenders in transactional ship finance matters, including capital markets, debt and equity, and mergers and acquisitions.

Topaz Energy and Marine, a global offshore support vessel owner with key operations in the Middle East and Caspiantoday announced the appointment of PernilleFabricius as Chief Financial Officer. Mrs. Fabricius’career spans 25 years and she joins Topaz from her position as CFO of DAMCO, a global logistics division of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group. DAMCO has revenues of approximately EUR 3,5bn and circa 20,000 employees in over 100 countries. Mrs. Fabricius has held significant international executive positions in her previous career…

In a contribution to the legal support of seafarers worldwide, SRI (Seafarers' Rights International) launched a Charter of Good Practice for the Provision of Legal Services to Seafarers. “For seafarers, seeking the advice of a lawyer can be one of the most stressful events of their career,” said Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of SRI. “Not only are they dealing with the effects of the incident that has led them to that point, but they are also pursuing a course of action which too often seems fraught with confusion, difficulties and worries about expense.

The weather might be depressing, but the outlook for the city is anything but. Bergen’s shipping industry and maritime related services sectors are going from strength to strength, bullishly rebutting the worst of the waves caused by the ongoing global financial crisis. The secret, locals argue, is a long-term industry view, the strength and diversity of the maritime cluster and the fact that Bergen blood is very much thicker than water. Maritime Reporter goes native to investigate. Rain, mountains and fjords: The three things that spring most readily to mind when the name Bergen is mentioned.

Braemar (Incorporating The Salvage Association), announces important new additions to its worldwide team of marine surveyors and consultants, as well as the opening of two new locations. In the New York office, John Walker will be joining Braemar SA as Chief Surveyor, P&I and Legal Services Manager for the Americas, bringing with him experience in marine consultancy at a senior level. Also new to the New York office is Luca Bruga, a naval architect, who will be joining as a Staff Surveyor.

This month, the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) begins reopening its renovated International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark, N.J. In addition to a substantial hospitality center for the Port’s maritime workforce, the three-story building presents a new home for several important SCI programs, closely integrating them with the activity of the largest container terminal complex on the East Coast. Attorneys for SCI’s Center for Seafarers’ Rights, who provide professional legal services for seafarers around the globe, will now operate from the third floor of SCI’s new International Seafarers’ Center in Port Newark. SCI also moves its Christmas at Sea “Knitting Room…

M.E.B.A. Announces Appointment of Captain Lee A. Kincaid as President and James E. Caponiti as Executive Director of the AMC. Together they bring over 60 years of Maritime and Political Experience to the American Maritime Congress. The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.) and the American Maritime Congress (AMC) are pleased to announce the permaent appointment of Captain Lee A. Kincaid as President of the AMC, and James E. Caponiti as Executive Director. “I am very excited to permanently welcome Captain Kincaid as AMC President…

AKD Prinsen Van Wijmen, one of the largest law firms in the Netherlands, is expanding its transport law team. Effective October 15, three partners and three associates are joining AKD from the Rotterdam office of law firm NautaDutilh. Frans de Vries Lentsch. Also making the move are Emily Derogee van Roosmalen, who heads up the Netherlands arbitration platform, Transport and Maritime Arbitration Rotterdam-Amsterdam (TAMARA), Taco van der Valk, researcher, maritime and transport law, and Haco van der Houven van Oordt. They will join AKD's existing transport and insurance division, which currently has two partners, Leo Boersen and Carel van Lynden.

U.S. News and World report released the results for 2013 “Best Law Firm,” naming Blank Rome LLP as the top firm for Admiralty and Maritime Law. “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. While one of the largest law firms in America, Blank Rome LLP is a global firm which provides a full range of legal services.