Press releases
HFW continues growth with 11 new partners and legal directors across global network
Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has announced the promotion of six new partners and five new legal directors, effective 1 April 2021.
The promotions reflect HFW's continued growth across its international network, and the firm's global industry groups for insurance & reinsurance, commodities, construction, and shipping.
Jeremy Shebson, Managing Partner, HFW:
"We are always immensely proud as a Management Board to see our talented people progress their careers with HFW. Our newest partners and legal directors have each proven themselves through their expertise and outstanding client service, and are wonderful ambassadors for our creative, entrepreneurial and collaborative culture. I would like to congratulate them all on their well-deserved promotions, and look forward to working with them in shaping our future growth across our international network and global industry groups."
New Partners
James Plant (Construction, Kuwait)
James specialises in construction and engineering disputes in the Middle East, in particular in Kuwait, Qatar, KSA and the UAE. He handles complex, high-value disputes relating to all manner of projects, including oil and gas, infrastructure, renewable energy, tunnelling and airport projects. He often works with contractors on disputes during ongoing projects, and represents clients in local court proceedings and international arbitration.
William Reddie (Insurance & Reinsurance, London)
Will advises on corporate, commercial and regulatory matters, focussing on clients in the insurance sector. His experience includes M&A, complex (re)insurance arrangements, distribution agreements, transactions specific to the Lloyd's market, and insurtech products. He has also advised on several acquisitions or disposals of run-off business by way of a loss portfolio reinsurance and subsequent Part VII transfer.
Michael Ritter (Shipping, London)
Mike predominantly advises ship owners, their insurers and salvors on issues arising from marine casualties, in particular in relation to jurisdiction, limitation of liability and wreck removal as well as dry disputes arising from the same. He also has a niche in hostile environment matters, including advising on both maritime piracy and onshore kidnap for ransom events, as well as a number of the recent security incidents in the Persian Gulf.
Ranjani Sundar (Commodities, Sydney)
Ranjani specialises in contentious matters with a focus on insolvency and the Australian Corporations law, including claims for breach of directors' duties, breach of contract, negligence and fraud. Ranjani has experience in complex litigation matters led in the state Supreme Courts, and in the Federal and High Courts of Australia. Ranjani also has experience in domestic and international commercial arbitrations.
Rupert Warren (Insurance & Reinsurance, London)
Rupert acts for (re)insurers, brokers and policyholders in relation to disputes arising out of a wide range of lines of insurance including professional indemnity, property damage/business interruption, general liability/casualty, product liability, Directors & Officers and CAR policies. He frequently acts as defence counsel in professional indemnity disputes, with a particular focus on claims against brokers, construction professionals and financial advisers, and has considerable experience of international reinsurance disputes.
Matthew Wilmshurst (Shipping, London)
Matthew focuses on container shipping & logistics, marine insurance and ports and terminals. He works with ship-owners, container lines and logistics companies, terminal operators, cargo interests and insurers on logistics and supply chain related disputes and projects. His dispute resolution and litigation practice covers commercial disputes and claims arising out of the carriage of goods. He also provides advisory services to transport operators on standard terms and conditions and contracts of carriage, and to insurers on products and policy wordings.
New Legal Directors
Owen Webb (Commodities, Melbourne)
Owen specialises in contentious and non-contentious matters concerning the international sale and carriage of goods, particularly the sale and purchase of commodities, ancillary contracts of carriage, and sanctions laws. He also advises owners, charterers and financial institutions on yacht-related disputes.
Joanne Palin (Shipping, London)
Joanne specialises in and has extensive experience of a wide range of dry shipping disputes involving charterparties and bills of lading including shipping casualty related matters, shipbuilding and ship sale and purchase disputes.
Rami Al Tal (Shipping, Dubai)
Rami acts for clients in a variety of areas including civil, commercial, criminal and shipping litigation disputes in the UAE and the wider region. He has extensive experience assisting clients in debt recovery, the enforcement of local and international arbitral awards, as well as foreign judgments, by way of attachment of assets or otherwise.
Jessica Taylor (Shipping, London)
Jessica specialises in the transactional side of commercial shipping and yachting, advising owners, shipyards, financial institutions, brokerage houses, and designers on all aspects of the construction, refit, sale and purchase, design, management, crewing and chartering of ships and large yachts. She also drafts and negotiates a variety of contracts for the shipping sector.
Thomas Willan (Shipping, London)
Thomas specialises in banking and asset finance, with a particular focus on the shipping and aviation industries (including superyachts and business jets). He predominantly acts for commercial and private wealth banks, investors, owners, charterers, manufacturers and high-net-worth individuals in relation to the financing and acquisition of marine and aviation assets, general lending and private banking. His work also covers sale and purchase, leasing arrangements, restructurings and workouts.
About HFW
HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance, and shipping sectors. The firm has more than 600 lawyers, including 185 partners, based in offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture.
For further information, please contact:
Chris Johnson
Head of Communications
D +44 (0)20 7264 8159
M +44 (0)7976 939864
E chris.johnson@hfw.com
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