The firm’s Admiralty law practice has a worldwide reputation as specialists in all aspects of shipping laws. The firm acts for ship owners, charterers, hull & cargo insurers, P&I Clubs, salvage & tug companies, container handlers, cargo owners, shipbuilders and bunker suppliers. The Firm acts for and represents international lenders in ship finance deals and for enforcement of their mortgages.

Admiralty and Shipping Dispute Resolution

The firm specializes in a range of dispute resolution services including arbitration and traditional litigation. The firm has a sound understanding of the nuances surrounding disputes in this industry and the commercial implications which allows the firm to holistically represent its clients. The firm undertakes numerous ship arrests across the country and often represents mortgagee banks in realizing its security through the process of arrest of vessels, sale thereof and realization of sale proceeds therefrom. The firm acts for clients before LLMA, ICC, SCMA and has seen through recognition, enforcement and execution of arbitration awards against Indian debtors before courts in India.

• Dry Shipping
  The firm regularly deals with claims relating to cargo, bills of lading, breach of charter parties etc., often acting for P&I Clubs in this regard. The firm’s expertise allows it to comprehensively deal with multi-jurisdictional issues and the complexities involved therein.
  
  
• Wet Shipping
  The firm understands the need to promptly act on a moment’s notice on matters pertaining to marine incidents. The firm has on numerous occasions acted and defended vessel owner’s pursuant to incidents of collisions and accidents.

Ship Finance

The firm assists national as well international banks and financial institutions in their lending to the shipping sector be it structured finance or leveraged lending. The firm has acted for enumerable international lenders in over 350 ship finance deals in the past 10 years. The firm’s strong banking and finance practice acts for Indian and international banks and overseas lenders and consortiums for major bilateral and syndicated facilities of all types. The firm regularly interacts with the Reserve Bank of India, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Mercantile Marine Department, Maharashtra Maritime Board, Port Registries and Directorate General of Shipping, India in respect of clients matters.

Shipping Transactions and Regulation

The Firm frequently advises and guides multinational shipping companies in setting up place of business in India, acquiring newly built and second-hand vessels, flagging of vessels in India, cabotage, tonnage tax, regulatory registrations and compliances, crewing requirements etc. The Firm assists various stakeholders in the industry on the negotiating, drafting and execution of contracts, RFQ, bank guarantees, performance guarantees and other transactional documents relating to, inter alia, charter of vessels, financing of purchase of vessels and agreements with ship operators and managers.

Trade and Commodities

The firm frequently advises industrial houses on chartering of vessels and documentation in relation thereto, statutory transport documentation, regulatory issues and the like for the ocean carriage of their cargo transported to and from Indian ports. The firm also advises and aids in negotiations undertaken by manufacturing companies on long-term cargo handling agreements with major and non-major ports across the country while also reviewing such agreements.