LinkedinJohn is a litigator “recommended for international arbitration and complex commercial disputes in the shipping arena” with over a decade of experience in London and Hong Kong.
Dual-qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate in England & Wales and as a Solicitor in Hong Kong, John is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and has represented clients at arbitrations both ‘ad hoc’ and subject to institutional rules (including LMAA, SCMA, SIAC, LCIA, ICC, UNICTRAL, HKIAC, CIETAC and others).
John specialises in disputes arising out of charterparties, bills of lading, sale & purchase contacts and contracts of affreightment. Prior to joining A&M, John spent 9 years in Hong Kong (including a secondment to an IG P&I Club) and has experience of acting for parties across Asia, including owners, charterers, P&I insurers, brokers, cargo interests and shipyards in the marine sector. Outside of the marine field, John has also acted for shareholders and creditors in commercial disputes, fraud and insolvency proceedings, both before the Hong Kong and London courts.
John has an international background, and speaks fluent German as well as basic French, Mandarin and Japanese. John has also been recognised as a Rising Star in the Shipping Litigation category of the Legal 500 Asia Pacific (Hong Kong) between 2018 and 2020.
Recent Experience
- Representing blue-chip Scandinavian charterers in relation to disputes under a long-term COA arising out of the invasion of Ukraine.
- Acting for (successful) Charterers in a London arbitration concerning the exercise of cancellation rights under a charter after the vessel had already bunkered for Charterers’ account;
- Acting for shipowners in respect of issues arising out of the invasion of Ukraine, including war risks and CTL claims.
- Acting for Greek Owners in relation to disputes arising out of fires on several vessels following the installation of scrubber systems;
- Acting for the Owners in the London Arbitration 4/22 Covid-19 test case relating to on-board temperature checks;
- Representing Charterers in several related speed & consumption claims over a long term charter, both in the LMAA arbitration and the (unsuccessful) appeals by Owners from the Awards to the High Court;
- Acting for Chinese Charterers in London Arbitration 18/18 concerning apportionment under the ICA and the conditions precedent to countersecurity;
- Representing Japanese shipowners in respect of various OMA and SIRE charter disputes;
- Acting for Greek owners on multiple bunker quality cases relating to bad stems in multiple jurisdictions;
- Acting for German cargo insurers in claims under bills of exchange, including concurrent proceedings in Hamburg, HK and Shanghai;
- Advising Hong Kong multinationals in respect of insurance policy issues relating to business interruption following the 2021 civil unrest.
- Representing Singaporean commodities traders in various claims under bills of lading and charterparties in relation to cargo damage;
