Shipping and International Trade

MFB acts for clients globally on every aspect of shipping and international trade. Our international clients include ship owners and operators, their agents and managers, banks, traders and suppliers, cargo interests and the insurance sector, whether defence, P&I, H&M, war risk, cargo or other market insurance.

We act in disputes through the English Courts and up to European level, whether as the forum of choice, in support of foreign proceedings or ancillary to arbitration. We regularly handle cases or advise in foreign arbitrations where English law is the law of the contract, as is often specified in shipping and trade contracts.

We act in all forms of arbitration for clients, whether LMAA, ICC, LCIA, CIETAC, AAA or LOF salvage, whether the seat is in London or elsewhere, and we have expertise in all forms of ADR including mediation. Liasing as required with an extensive international network of lawyers, with whom we have strong links, we aim to achieve the best result for our clients, resolving and finalising disputes, seeking security and/or enforcing awards or judgments.

We advise on all dry (contract) matters, working with our experienced Master Mariners on those matters with an Admiralty (wet) element. Our dry shipping team is familiar with all sectors from bulk and container shipping to the tanker and LNG market, advising, drafting and litigating disputes involving trade contracts, cargoes and their carriage, and all ancillary contracts concerning vessels and their operation. Our expertise covers sale and supply contracts, bills of lading, COAs, all types of charterparty (voyage, slot, time, demise) and all forms of hybrid contract in between.

• Demurrage and freight disputes
• Cancellation and termination claims
• Off hire
• Piracy
• International sanctions
• Pollution
• GA and salvage
• Hold cleaning and contamination claims
• Speed and performance disputes
• Hull fouling and damage claims
• Insolvency and restructuring
• Ship sale and delivery disputes
• Enforcement and arrest, both in the UK and internationally
• Freezing injunctions and jurisdictional disputes
• GAFTA and FOSFA disputes
• Cargo claims
• Salvage and General Average
• Collisions
• Unsafe ports
• BIMCO ‘Wreck’ contracts
• Lloyd’s Open Form salvage contracts

We also act in disputes involving contracts relating to the supply and carriage of goods and services, the operation of vessels and companies and related insurances. We advise and act in joint ventures, special projects and pool disputes and consortium agreements, other carriage regimes (CMR) as well as shipbuilding, sale and purchase and finance and ancillary contracts such as management contracts and agreements.

Recommended by Legal 500 - “Expert and focused team is excellent, particularly for dry shipping matters.”