Christopher Garley

About Chris

Chris is a partner in HFW’s London office, with a focus on shipping and international trade disputes in court, arbitration and mediation. He represents owners, charterers, managers and their insurers based internationally, while maintaining a particular interest in the German market.

Chris’ primary practice areas focus on contractual disputes, advising in the aftermath of shipping incidents. In that context, he has acted for Owners and Charterers advising in respect of charterparties, bills of lading, cargo claims, as well as commodities/trade disputes and vessel performance claims, including those arising from prototype “design and build” contracts. In addition, Chris advises on MOAs, VSA/slot charter arrangements and pool agreements.

Chris also has extensive experience helping clients in their immediate response to casualties, including in the context of collisions, groundings, fires, explosions and salvage.

Chris spent time on secondment to the legal department of a major German power company based in the UK, advising the freight trading and chartering operations desks. Following that valuable commercial experience, Chris continues to advise on all aspects of the charterparty lifecycle, from advisory work at the initial fixture stage, through to speed and performance claims, sales contracts, bill of lading disputes, letters of indemnity, off-spec cargo claims and redelivery disputes.

Chris has a particular interest in the use of technology to resolve disputes and has recent experience working with experts in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and other forms of scientific modelling in support of his clients.

Chris has worked in our Hong Kong and London offices and is qualified in England and Wales.