Admiralty, Shipping And International Trade Law

Our maritime and shipping expertise covers advising and representing clients on maritime claims including claims involving wet and dry cargo, maritime casualties involving collision, fire, explosion, engine breakdown, grounding, sinking, salvage, wreck removal, pollution, general average, oil pollution, loss of life, personal injury and stevedore claims. We also represent our clients during inquiries and investigations.

We have counselled and represented clients in negotiations or proceedings to obtain security in litigation and arbitration, which arose out of cargo claims. The firm has investigated, defended and prosecuted claims for loss, damage, shortage or mis – delivery of cargo and our experience ranges from break bulk and containerised shipments to petroleum, chemical and dry bulk cargoes.

We have assisted clients in the negotiation and formation of charter parties of both cargo and passenger vessels, offering counsel on legal issues involved in drafting specific contracts or in the choice or construction of particular clauses and charter party forms. We have traditionally been active in charter party dispute resolution, representing clients in maritime proceedings.

We are experienced in the negotiation and documentation of ship finance and mortgages involving vessels registered in Nigeria and other national registries. We regularly represent both sellers and buyers of all types of vessels trading worldwide, rigs, barges, floating platforms and can advise with respect to the corporate partnership or joint venture entities formed to participate in such transactions. We have acted for both lenders and ship owners in restructuring and default situations involving commercial vessels and pleasure boats and yachts.

The firm also advises on the use of the capital markets and its products for financing the acquisition of ships, rigs and floating platforms and in arranging corporate finance for shipping companies. We advise on cabotage and the regulatory licences and approvals required for vessels to be able to engage in cabotage in Nigeria.