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Rory Butler

Partner

Talk to Rory about

• Shipping
• Dispute Resolution

More about Rory

Rory specialises in shipping, including dispute resolution arising from charterparties, bills of lading, shipbuilding, fire and explosion, piracy, collisions, groundings, general average, salvage, limitation and total loss. His expertise encompasses both dry and admiralty matters which is especially beneficial when handling major casualties with a multi jurisdictional focus. Rory has acted for owners, charterers and cargo interests and their insurers on a wide variety of cases. He has developed a reputation for successfully handling major containership casualties involving dangerous goods as well as particular expertise relating to multipurpose and heavy lift vessels.

On the advisory side Rory has assisted clients on contract terms including charterparties, COA, bills of lading, pool agreements, shipmanagement agreements, sale and purchase agreements and shipbuilding contracts. Rory has also built up extensive experience in the LNG sector with regard to shipbuilding contracts and long term charters.

Rory edits a regular case update presentation to P&I Clubs and other clients which covers recent developments in English law. He has also spent time on secondment in the industry at a P&I Club and shipbroker.

Rory has been named in the world's top ten shipping lawyers in 2018 by leading trade publication Lloyds List. One of the barristers surveyed by Lloyd’s List for the report said that Rory gets "top billing among shipping lawyers and is virtually ubiquitous at the moment".

Rory has also been listed as a notable practitioner in both the Legal 500 and Chambers (Band 2) over several years.

Chambers 2020 states "Rory Butler demonstrates wide-ranging expertise in the shipping market, particularly with regard to disputes pertaining to shipbuilding, salvage and bills of lading. His clientele includes owners, cargo interests and charterers. One client highlights his "extraordinary ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses to arrive at the best possible outcome, even exceeding my expectations".

Chambers 2019 notes: "Clients describe him as a brilliant litigator and strategic thinker" adding "You can be sure the dispute will be resolved on the best possible terms".

Chambers 2018 notes "He is sensible and very commercial, and good to deal with".

Chambers 2017 states Rory is "highly experienced in both wet and dry matters, with regular work on shipbuilding and multi-jurisdictional casualty matters. He "is very available and clearly a specialist who knows the dynamics of the market," reports a client".

Rory was also recommended in Chambers 2016, 2015 and Chambers 2014.

Rory is qualified in England and Wales