HFW strengthens market-leading global shipping practice, continues APAC growth with Singapore Master Mariner hire

Global, sector‑focused law firm HFW has further expanded its market‑leading global shipping practice and continued the growth of its Asia Pacific business with the appointment of Peter Glover as a Partner in Singapore.

Peter, who previously worked at HFW in Melbourne for three years, rejoined the firm from Reed Smith on 1 August 2026. Peter is a highly experienced shipping and admiralty lawyer and a qualified Master Mariner, having spent 11 years at sea on oil tankers prior to qualifying as a lawyer.

Peter’s arrival continues the significant growth of HFW’s global shipping group, and follows the recent hires of ship finance partner Simon Petch in London, shipping disputes Partner Elizabeth Sloane in Australia and Master Mariner Stephen Angove in Greece, as well as the promotion of Senior Master Mariner Paul Miller in London.

This appointment also continues the growth of HFW’s Asia Pacific business and in particular its Singapore office, after the recent hires of financial and trade sanctions Senior Associate Anastasia Magid, construction disputes Partner Simon Bellas, disputes and international arbitration Partner Shaun Leong and Senior Associate Theodore Ang and insurance disputes Legal Director Sinyee Ong.

HFW has added more than 40 new Partners globally since the beginning of FY25 and now has around 190 Partners and more than 700 lawyers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Paul Dean, Global Head of Shipping, HFW: “I am very pleased to welcome Peter back to HFW. His seagoing experience, combined with his disputes expertise and his longstanding relationships with partners and lawyers across our Singapore, London and Hong Kong offices, positions him strongly to support our clients across key global markets.”

Adam Richardson, Singapore Office Head, HFW: “Shipping and maritime disputes remain central to our Singapore practice, reflecting the city’s role as a hub for international trade and complex cross‑border disputes. Peter’s appointment strengthens our wet and dry shipping litigation capability, and his ability to advise on matters arising at the intersection of shipping and international trade will complement our marketing-leading commodities practice in Singapore.

“Peter is the third partner we have added in Singapore since the beginning of FY26. We remain focused on attracting leading partners and teams as we continue to expand and enhance our client offering in Singapore.”

Peter’s practice spans both contentious and non-contentious matters, with experience advising clients in London, Hamburg, Athens, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and across the Asia Pacific region. He regularly advises shipowners, charterers, commodity, energy and trading companies, banks and insurers on complex cross-border litigation and arbitration. This includes advising on shipping and admiralty matters, international trade and commodities disputes, marine insurance, enforcement of guarantees, civil fraud, and competition and commercial law. He also advises on legal risk management, commercial charterparties and commodities contracts, regulatory compliance, and insurance.

Peter also brings significant experience in high‑profile casualties and crisis situations, advising on the civil, regulatory and criminal aspects of accident response and emergency response management.

He is admitted to practise in England and Wales, Hong Kong and Queensland, Australia.

Peter Glover, Partner, HFW: “HFW’s market‑leading capabilities in shipping, trade and crisis management align closely with my practice. Returning to the firm as a partner in Singapore offers an excellent platform to support clients navigating an increasingly complex maritime and regulatory landscape, while leveraging HFW’s global strength across shipping, arbitration, energy and disputes to grow and broaden my practice.”

HFW has the largest maritime practice of any international law firm, with more than 220 specialist shipping lawyers and professionals across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The team advise clients across the industry on the full lifecycle of shipping from design through to recycling including disputes, dry shipping, admiralty and crisis management, and transactional work.