Shipping
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 1
Contact number
+27 11 530 5000About
Provided by Webber Wentzel
Our Shipping, Marine Insurance and Transport Practice consists of some of the most experienced and widely respected maritime practitioners in South Africa, covering all areas of admiralty jurisdiction and practice. The practice has a varied client base which ranges from ship owners, charterers and their P&I Clubs, cargo interests including commodity traders and cargo insurers, hull and liability insurers, shipping and clearing and forwarding agents, shipyards, necessaries men, port operators and foreign states. The practice is able to offer legal advice and assistance anywhere within Southern Africa, and through our Africa network along the East Coast of Africa. We emphasise availability, speed of response and proactive measures. Where necessary we are able to draw on the support of other teams across the firm, which specialise in areas such as tax, banking and finance, environmental, corporate, commercial and labour law.
Contacts: Andre Bowley, Partner ([email protected]); Gavin Fitzmaurice, Partner ([email protected]) and Patrick Holloway, Partner ([email protected]).
Chambers Review
Webber Wentzel has a top-tier shipping group demonstrating considerable expertise in vessel collisions and other casualties, as well as handling charter party disputes and cargo claims. The team is commended for its dry work and its representation of ports and terminal authorities, particularly in relation to issues such as damage, allisions and grounding claims. The firm additionally represents various local businesses, as well as international companies, insurers and underwriters in high-profile cases. Webber Wentzel is notably proficient on arrest work, with a growing practice acting on instructions from P&I clubs.
Work Highlights
- Webber Wentzel advised Bulk Connections on claims following an allision in the port of Durban.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Webber Wentzel's team are exceptionally knowledgeable, commercial and always available to assist."
"The team is very responsive."
"The firm offers a very good case handling and cooperation with lawyers in other jurisdictions."
"Webber Wentzel's team are exceptionally knowledgeable, commercial and always available to assist."
"The team is very responsive."
"The firm offers a very good case handling and cooperation with lawyers in other jurisdictions."
Notable Practitioners
Cape Town-based Gavin Fitzmaurice co-heads the practice. He has cultivated a stellar reputation for his representation of port authorities, shipping companies, P&I clubs and underwriters in all manner of complex issues, such as arrests, collisions and casualty response.
"Gavin Fitzmaurice provides clear, concise and prompt advice that is always user-friendly."
"He is always available to answer any question."
Andre Bowley co-leads the firm's shipping practice from Cape Town and is well versed in handling transactional and contractual matters in the space. He has further experience in shipping disputes.
"Andre Bowley is a very deep thinker. He anticipates the difficult issues that arise in cases and advises on a sensible course of action."
"He is extremely commercially aware and experienced."
Patrick Holloway co-heads the practice. He provides counsel to his clients from the firm's Cape Town office. He has a particularly deep client following among maritime insurers, advising on claims relating to matters such as allisions and collisions.
"Patrick Holloway is a pleasure to deal with."
Ranked Lawyers at
Webber Wentzel
South Africa