Expertise
Maritime & transport law
Charters, marine transactions, cargo and shipping disputes.
- Charter party drafting and review
- Marine transactions
- Cargo and freight claims
- Shipping disputes
- Bills of lading and carriage
- Regulatory compliance for shipping
Charter arrangements, bills of lading, cargo claims and the disputes that follow them. We act for shipowners, charterers, freight forwarders and the companies that buy their services.
Maritime disputes rarely stop at the shoreline. The same cargo can touch a Ukrainian port, a Rotterdam terminal and a court in a third jurisdiction within a single voyage.
Handling that trajectory from one desk is what this firm exists to do.
- Drafting and Negotiation: Preparation and negotiation of charter party agreements tailored to meet the specific needs of shipowners and charterers, ensuring all terms are clear and enforceable.
- Charter Compliance: Advising on compliance with international maritime regulations and standards to minimize legal risks.
- Dispute Resolution: Expert representation in disputes arising from charter agreements, including breach of contract and performance issues, through litigation, arbitration, or mediation.
- Purchase and Sale: Comprehensive legal assistance in the acquisition and sale of marine vessels, from drafting and reviewing sale and purchase agreements to overseeing due diligence and closing processes.
- Financing and Registration: Guidance on vessel financing, including ship mortgages, and assistance with vessel registration and flagging procedures in various jurisdictions.
- Title and Documentation: Ensuring proper documentation and clear title transfers to facilitate smooth transactions and protect client interests.
- International Maritime Law: Advising on compliance with international maritime conventions and regulations, such as SOLAS, MARPOL, and the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.
- Flag State Requirements: Navigating the regulatory requirements of various flag states to ensure vessels operate within legal parameters.
- Environmental Compliance: Ensuring adherence to environmental regulations and protocols to minimize liability and promote sustainable practices.
- Maritime Claims: Representing clients in maritime claims, including cargo disputes, collisions, salvage, and general average claims.
- Arrest and Enforcement: Assisting in the arrest and detention of vessels to enforce maritime claims and judgments.
- Insurance Disputes: Handling disputes related to marine insurance policies, including hull and machinery, protection and indemnity (P&I), and cargo insurance.
Related practice areas
Sanctions & export control compliance
Screening, licensing and internal controls under EU, UK and US regimes.
Read moreInternational arbitration (The Hague)
Cross-border commercial disputes seated in The Hague, enforcement of awards, mediation.
Read moreIntellectual property & patents
Patent and trademark protection, more than 1,000 matters delivered.
Read moreScholarly publications
An Attack on a Merchant Vessel as a War Crime and an Act of Aggression against the Flag State and the Coastal State
When does an attack on a merchant vessel qualify as a war crime and an act of aggression against the flag and coastal States? A test built on the practice of July 2026 in the Black, Azov and Caspian Seas.
Dr. Denys V. Keshkentii · 11 August 2026 · SSRN Maritime & transport lawAttacks on Maritime Vessels, Their Detention and Confiscation Within and Outside Armed Conflict: A Single Standard for Qualifying the Use of Force Against Vessels Under International Law
One standard for qualifying any use of force against a vessel — attack, detention, arrest, confiscation or transfer — wherever it happens and whoever does it. Extended to the events of 2014–2026 across the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, Hormuz and the Atlantic.
Dr. Denys V. Keshkentii · 16 October 2026 · SSRN Maritime & transport law
The Law of Naval Warfare: Attacks on Merchant Ships
A monograph on how the law of naval warfare, the San Remo Manual, UNCLOS and the Rome Statute meet when a merchant ship is struck at sea — and how such a strike is qualified as a war crime and as aggression.
Dr. Denys V. Keshkentii · October 2026Frequently asked
Which maritime matters do you take on?
Chartering and off-hire, cargo and freight claims, marine transactions and the disputes that come out of them. The pattern is consistent: the contract was written for one set of facts and the voyage turned out differently.
How do you handle a charterparty dispute?
The charterparty is read first and the voyage record second. Most disputes turn on a clause read against what actually happened on deck, so we build the file around the clause and the contemporaneous evidence before positions are argued.
Do you work with P&I clubs and maritime insurers?
Yes. Insurers and clubs move on their own timetables and their own notifications, so handling the legal side in step with them is part of the job rather than an afterthought.
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