Catherine Emsellem-Rope

About Catherine

Catherine is a transactional lawyer who specialises in complex contractual arrangements in the logistics, ports and terminal and shipping sectors, with a focus on major projects and supply chain issues. She has a unique understanding of the logistics industry gained from many years working for leading logistics providers.

Catherine advises on a broad range of commercial arrangements, including master agreements and general terms and conditions for use in her specialist sectors. She has extensive experience in contract drafting and negotiation on a national and international basis. Catherine also provides advisory services to all those involved in supply chain, including logistics providers, freight forwarders, NVOCCs and buyers of logistics services. She also advises on corporate transactions, including acquisitions and disposals of businesses and multi-jurisdictional joint ventures.

Catherine was an in-house lawyer for more than 10 years and approaches cases in a very pragmatic and commercial way. Before joining HFW, she spent nine years in the logistics sector where she led commercial negotiations with major blue-chip customers. Catherine also spent two years working for a large communications group, advising the media business on global pitches and other commercial issues.

Catherine is ranked in Chambers UK 2026 for Transport: Logistics and serves as a host for HFW’s annual Multimodal Seminar, bringing together key industry stakeholders to share trends, challenges and solutions that impact the Logistics and Ports & Terminals industry. Catherine is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences such as the NEC Birmingham Multimodal Conference 2025. She also contributed to the 9^th edition of the Shipping Law Review’s Ocean Logistics chapter.

Catherine is a qualified lawyer in England and Wales. Catherine is bilingual (English and French).