Our German Desk
Simon is a transport and trade law specialist, with particular expertise in shipping, marine insurance, logistics, commodities trading, trade finance and international debt recovery. He acts for shipowners, operators, exporters and importers, logistics companies, ship agents, brokers, port operators, P & I Clubs, marine underwriters and commodities traders.
Simon is qualified in New Zealand and England and holds practising certificates for both jurisdictions. He re-joined Hesketh Henry in 2017, after spending 6 years in London and 10 years in Dubai.
He was previously a partner in the international law firm Holman Fenwick Willan, leading its shipping and commodities practice in the Middle East. He was rated in band 1 and as a leading individual in shipping in both the Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 legal directories and was recommended by Who’s Who Legal for commercial litigation and trade.
Simon regularly assists clients with commercial issues arising from domestic and international trade. He advises on, drafts and assists with the negotiation of bill of lading terms, charterparties / charterparty clauses, commercial shipping / logistics contracts, ship build contracts, trade finance instruments, and contracts for the sale and purchase of goods.
He has extensive maritime law experience, handling both dry and wet shipping matters, including charterparty disputes, carriage of goods claims, ship build / ship repair disputes, collisions, groundings, and claims arising from damage to hull and machinery, as well as non-contentious matters such as the sale and purchase of vessels.
His trade and commodities experience includes coal, metals (iron ore and steel), oil / petroleum products, fertilisers, cement, soft commodities (grain, rice, sugar) and agricultural products. He has handled disputes in various international arbitral forums including LCIA, ICC, and trade forums such as GAFTA.
Simon has global litigation experience, regularly handling disputes in international arbitration and the English High Courts, as well as managing claims in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
He has a particular interest in insolvency and company law, having co-authored the Butterworth’s Student Companion on Company Law.
He regularly speaks on shipping and trade related legal issues, including lecturing on bills of lading and charterparties for BIMCO and on contractual issues in commodities contracts at international metals, sugar and grain conferences.
Aviation
