Navigating the maritime decarbonisation landscape is increasingly complex, with rapidly evolving regulations heightening the pressure to adopt new fuels and technologies at pace and to adapt longstanding modes of operation.
We combine hands-on experience in regulatory compliance, contract innovation, and dispute resolution with a proven track record advising on major maritime decarbonisation initiatives. Our work with international organisations, consortia, and regulatory bodies provides unique insight and ensures we can support our clients to adapt rapidly to new challenges and be optimally positioned to seize emerging opportunities.
Our team supports shipowners, operators, charterers, financiers and technology and energy providers across the maritime eco-system. Clients choose us for our unrivalled sector expertise, global perspective, and commitment to delivering practical, forward-thinking solutions. We help clients anticipate and respond to regulatory changes – operationally and contractually - manage risk and implement strategies to respond to the practical issues arising from emissions reduction and energy transition.
Our Services
Navigating the fast-changing landscape
- Advising on the status, interpretation and commercial impact of emissions regulations for maritime, including EEXI, CII, EU MRV, EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, UK ETS and IMO NZF, and advising in respect of compliance.
- Drafting and developing emissions clauses for charterparties, ship management agreements, ship building contracts, loan agreements, security documents and undertakings and vessel sale and purchase agreements.
- Drafting and developing clauses associated with the supply and uptake of biofuel and other alternative fuels and advising on fuel transition.
- Drafting and developing compliance pooling provisions in connection with FuelEU Maritime.
- Drafting and developing carbon insetting architecture, including terms for the sale and purchase of products on the voluntary carbon market, and advising on such terms.
Launching the future
- Advising on legal considerations arising in the development and deployment of new technologies, including in relation to financing, corporate transactions, introducer agreements, supply and distribution, cost/benefit sharing mechanisms and technology performance assessments.
Enabling the industry to change
- Co-coordinating the Blue Visby Solution project, leading a consortium of 30+ companies and institutions to address the practice of "Sail Fast, Then Wait", the single largest carbon inefficiency in maritime trade and responsible for ~20% of shipping's carbon footprint.
- Supporting zero-carbon shipping transition of major consumer-goods companies as legal advisors to the Aspen Institute on the “Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels” (coZEV) initiative.
- Contributing to the creation of emissions visibility regimes as legal advisors to the Global Maritime Forum on The Sea Cargo Charter initiative.
Developing the law
- Contributing to the development of new international legal instruments concerning liability for alternative fuels as President of the International Working Group of the Comité Maritime International and through the International Maritime Organisation.
- Contributing to the development of national and international maritime emissions law through consultations and as members of the UK Chamber of Shipping Carbon Working Group.
- Developing new contractual clauses for industry as drafting committee members of BIMCO and INTERTANKO.
