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About Richard

Richard joined HFW as a trainee in 2002 and has risen all the way through the ranks of HFW to Partnership. He is now a Partner in the shipping department in Dubai and also leads the HFW Middle East commodities practice.

Richard advises clients in all aspects of shipping and the carriage of goods by sea, with particular emphasis on disputes arising out of charterparties and bills of lading, as well as collisions, groundings and maritime casualties. He also regularly advises clients in relation to ship sale and ship building disputes.

Richard also advises commodity traders and producers on all aspects of their business, including in particular physical sale/purchase and transportation. He assists and represents clients in dispute resolution in commodities and freight related matters. He specialises in particular in energy and bulk commodities.

Richard’s clients include ship owners and operators, charterers, P&I Clubs and underwriters as well as cargo owners and traders. He also regularly lectures on shipping and trade issues and was the co-author of HFW’s quarterly case law update.

Described as “very responsive and commercially minded” individual and is viewed by fellow practitioners as “a very sensible, good lawyer” (Chambers and Partners 2019). Richard represents clients in Court and arbitration proceedings in London and the Middle East.

Whilst arbitrations are confidential, notable Court cases include:

  • The Yusuf Cepnioglu [2016] EWCA Civ 386 – Court of Appeal authority regarding anti-suit injunctions in relation to direct claims against P&I Clubs.
  • The Western Moscow [2012] EWHC 1224 (Comm) – Authority regarding the nature and scope of an owner’s lien on sub-freight and freezing injunctions.
  • The Genius Star I [2012] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 222 – Determination of applicable time bar where charterparty terms conflict with Interclub Agreement.