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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.
Burness Paull have excellent knowledge of the law, combined with a deep understanding of the shipping industry. Their advice is always the perfect blend of legal knowledge and pragmatism.
Chambers UK, 2025
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
Marine & Shipping
Andrew specialises in maritime law, insurance coverage disputes and leads the team defending personal injury claims.
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
First major update on Marine Safety Code in a decade
The Port Marine Safety Code (“PMSC”) has been in place since 2000 following the grounding of the Sea Empress in 1996. A new PMSC has been recently issued.
Shipowner asbestos liabilities – 2024 in review
In general terms, the cost of asbestos liabilities has increased by the inflationary rises affecting all injury claims.
Risk in commercial shipping – The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of Hague Visby Rules for claims for misdelivery of cargo
A Supreme Court decision has shed light on the scope of protection for carriers under a key international convention, highlighting the need for thorough risk assessment in the contracting process.
