Michael Ritter

About Michael

Mike is a Partner within the HFW Shipping Team and Complex Environment Group. He handles both marine casualties and contractual disputes, acting predominantly for Owners and their H&M / P&I insurers, and also salvors. The skills developed in the field marine casualty response have proved readily transferable to broader complex environment issues both on and offshore. He is also able to appreciate the client’s perspective and commercial concerns having spent time on secondment at a major European shipowner.

In the context of marine casualty response, he has developed a specialism advising on jurisdiction, limitation and wreck removal. He has also advised on liability and causation, both in tort and under the underlying contracts of carriage. Notable casualties in which Mike has been heavily involved including, “BALTIC ACE” c/w “CORVUS J”; “SANCHI” c/w “CF CRYSTAL”; “GOLDEN RAY”; “MARE DORICUM” and “YM WITNESS”.  He has also successfully obtained both antisuit injunctions and mandatory injunctions to enforce obligations under an LOI before the English High Court.

In relation to his complex environment work, Mike has advised clients in respect of kidnap cases in mainland Africa and the Middle East; a suspected terrorist kidnap in the Philippines; demands made by the Taliban and the status of maritime boundaries. He was involved in a number of Somali Piracy hijackings and Gulf of Guinea crew kidnaps, providing advice on the Terrorism Act 2000 as well as assisting with practical, logistic and bespoke contractual arrangements necessary for the safe release of the crew, including the majority of the 2023-2024 cases.  

He was part of the Hostage Support Partnership team recognised by the UN Security Council (Resolution 2383 (2017), where HFW worked pro bono to assist in securing the release of the final crews held in Somalia.

He also advised the owners of two vessels attacked at Fujairah anchorage in 2019; a vessel detained in Nigeria in 2022; oil majors in respect of their potential exposure relating to cargo stolen by Libyan rebels; and a fine art seizure. He has also assisted several Owners and War Risk Insurers in the context of the Houthi Red Sea attacks, both in terms of response to an attack, recoveries in general average and charterparty routing disputes.

Recognition: Legal 500 (2021-2024) – Shipping: Next Generation Partner; Legal 500 (2019 & 2020) – Shipping: Rising Star

“All of the partners and associates at HFW are excellent; however, over the last year, Michael Ritter has been the one to stand out the most and provided most support and exemplary service. Michael always provides timely responses and is always available out of hours which is quite unique in my view. He has a friendly manner and very approachable. I think there are very few other lawyers who can beat Michael’s work ethic and capabilities.” Legal 500 (2021)

“Michael Ritter’s level of knowledge is astounding, nothing is too much trouble and when I call to ask a question, his answer is always to the point and most importantly, understandable!” Legal 500 (2023)