Associate/Senior Associate - Marine Team - London /Guildford office

We are looking for an Associate/Senior Associate to join our Marine Team to be based in our London or Guildford office.

The Team

Our history of over 80 years' experience in the marine market, making us one of the oldest maritime law firms in the world, enables us to keep our focus forward, helping our clients respond to fundamental changes in an increasingly challenging geopolitical and regulatory landscape.

We help our clients grow, diversify, and adapt no matter what the project or location, proudly representing anyone engaged in marine transportation and projects around the world.

Within the Trade & Commodities sector we specialise in hard and soft commodities, oil, gas, LNG and power, as well as newer disciplines such as carbon trading.

Our clients include governments, producers, trading companies, logistics groups, refineries, banks and insurers. We help them overcome trading challenges and resolve complex issues such as geo-political risk and the impact of multi-jurisdictional regulations.

We provide market-leading, cross-sector support to those who rely on, support and facilitate marine transportation. Examples of work undertaken by the team include:

• Advising trading clients on force majeure, delays and demurrage claims under shipping and trading contracts arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
• CSSA Chartering & Shipping Services SA v Mitsui OSK Ltd, "The Pacific Voyager", [2018] EWCA Civ 2413 - Representing CSSA in a landmark case, in which both the High Court and Court of Appeal clarified and extended the obligation on shipowners to commence the approach voyage in good time to meet the ETA or ERTL or equivalent which may be identified based on the parties' intentions.
• "MAERSK TANGIER" - [2018]First ever English reported case on meaning of container limitation provision in the Hague-Visby Rules - advising successful subrogated cargo insurers in recovery claim for US$1.2m before the UK High Court and Court of Appeal.
• Advising cargo insurers on the total loss of USD 300 million of cargo after the "MOL COMFORT" broke in two, caught fire and sank losing over 4,000 containers.
• Successfully defending a claim for general average contribution by owners in respect of a ransom paid to Somali pirates that had hijacked the vessel on board which our trading company client's soya bean cargo was being carried; and pursuing a claim for cargo damage resulting from the delay caused by the hijacking.

Essential Skills & Experience

The candidate will work within our Energy, Marine and Natural Resources group on marine insurance, shipping, trade and transport litigation and dispute resolution. The team acts for Far East and European Cargo insurers (including French and Belgian market commodities market insurers), oil majors and national oil companies and international commodity traders. The candidate will support the team on a broad spectrum of commodity disputes, related charterparty and bill of lading disputes. The candidate will also handle cargo recoveries and general average claims.

We act for the heart of the maritime industry - insurers, shipbuilders, owners, charterers, salvors, financiers, port authorities and government, and P&I clubs - and clients across the broader trade commodities and energy sector.

The ideal candidate will be:

• The successful candidate will have qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales with ideally 2+ years PQE experience in litigation within marine, trading or similar.
• Strong academic background.
• The Solicitors Act 1974 requires practising solicitors to have a practising certificate.
• All solicitors and registered European lawyers in legal practice or employment in England & Wales must comply with the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority's continuing professional development scheme (CPD Scheme).
• The ideal candidate will also display excellent legal ability and initiative, strong technical skills as well as confidence in managing and prioritising a full and varied caseload. They will be a strong communicator with good attention to detail.

In return, you will benefit from being part of an organisation that is genuinely committed to its people. Within our friendly department you will have access to a range of learning and development opportunities designed to support your ongoing progression.

For further information on the role, please contact Jonathan.Brett@clydeco.com or call me on 0161 240 2820

Clyde & Co are committed to promoting equality and diversity in all aspects of employment.