Rory specialises in contentious and non‑contentious matters in the maritime sector, including arbitration and high‑value cross‑border disputes.

Rory is an English-qualified solicitor focusing on the marine and offshore energy industries. He represents clients including owners, charterers, operators, ship managers, trading companies, and insurers on disputes and transactions across the maritime sector.

His contentious practice covers disputes arising under charterparties, contracts of affreightment, bills of lading, ship management agreements, shipbuilding and sale contracts. Rory has particular experience in LMAA arbitration and complex proceedings before the English High Court.

Rory also advises on admiralty matters involving salvage, general average, fire, and total loss incidents. As part of the firm’s casualty response team, he regularly attends vessels and ports to secure evidence and interview witnesses.

In the offshore energy sector, Rory supports developers, contractors, and turbine manufacturers in the negotiation and drafting of transport and installation agreements, including bespoke charterparties based on amended BIMCO or FIDIC Yellow Book forms.

On the transactional side, he advises on ship finance and the sale and purchase of commercial vessels and yachts.

Rory also advises clients on regulatory issues, including sanctions.

• Advised an offshore vessel owner on drafting and negotiating a long-term time charter, including hire prepayment arrangements and a related security package.
• Acted for owners, operators, and charterers in a wide range of voyage and time charterparty disputes in LMAA arbitration.
• Advised insurance brokers on coverage issues under a war-risk policy following the total loss of a vessel at sea.
• Advised a transport logistics company on liability for damage to project cargo during road transport.
• Represented investment managers in the English High Court in a dispute with vessel owners under a series of investment management agreements.
• Advised owners on an unsafe port claim arising from the grounding of a vessel at the load port.
• Advised an offshore wind farm developer on drafting and negotiating a reservation agreement, foundation installation contract, and project call-off mechanism.
• Advised owners in Lloyd’s salvage arbitration under an LOF contract following the shifting of explosive cargo at sea.
• Advised cargo transport insurers on the total loss of a bespoke sailing yacht during ocean transport.
• Advised wind turbine manufacturers on drafting and negotiating long-term contracts of affreightment, framework agreements, and agency agreements.
• Advised insurers on UK and EU sanctions issues, including the EU Blocking Regulation and licence applications to the EU Commission.
• Advised owners in an LMAA time charter dispute arising from the detention of a vessel following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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