Showcasing 2023’s Top 10 Most Influential Shipping Lawyers in Australia

The shipping industry, with its unique and complex array of regulations and disputes, requires legal consultants who possess a deep understanding of the maritime world. While many lawyers choose to practice in this field, only a select few attain renown for their distinct abilities and profiles in the Australian market. The following attorneys affiliated with different Australian firms have made a significant impact in the sector with their in-depth knowledge and profound expertise in the shipping industry.

Shipping law is an area that involves a broad spectrum of activities such as the transportation of goods and people, maritime safety regulations, licensing of ships, salvage of property, and the environmental impact of shipping, among others. These lawyers, showcasing varied skill sets and specialties, navigate the multifaceted facets of shipping laws and regulations in Australia, providing clients with the best possible counsel and representation.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the shipping industry’s most notable legal minds in Australia, their career highlights, firms, and the services they offer in this dynamic field.

Andrew Tulloch

Based at the esteemed firm Colin Biggers & Paisley, Andrew Tulloch provides legal services to insurers and claimants on issues related to cargo damage, fatal accidents, business interruption, and personal injury in the shipping sector.

Hazel Brewer

Hazel Brewer from the reputable law firm Squire Patton Boggs primarily focuses on the litigation of shipping-related disputes. She is renowned in the industry for her impeccable expertise in dry disputes, which include charter and insurance mandates, freight and logistics-related transactions.

Maurice Lynch

Maurice Lynch is a special counsel at Mills Oakley, a firm highly regarded for contentious shipping mandates. Although they lack a firm website, Maurice’s expertise is coveted in the industry.

Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson of Colin Biggers & Paisley specialises in dealing with the transactional, regulatory and other issues related to the shipping, port and supply chain sectors. He is well noted for helping clients with contentious shipping matters.

Gavin Vallely

Based in Melbourne at the HFW firm, Gavin Vallely heads the practice of handling wet and dry litigation, as well as non-contentious shipping matters, including cargo disputes and investigations.

Naraya Lamart

Naraya Lamart is a highly-praised partner at Wotton + Kearney in Brisbane. She has a distinguished reputation in the Australian shipping market for her vast experience in advising seafarers and logistics companies on transactional and regulatory shipping matters.

Frazer Hunt

Frazer Hunt, a partner at Mills Oakley, is a highly experienced representative of most Australia-based marine insurers as well as many from Europe and the UK. No matter the geography, Frazer has asserted a strong presence in the marine insurance community.

Geoff Farnsworth

Holding Redlich’s Geoff Farnsworth is a Sydney based lawyer highly respected for his specialisation in the shipping sector. His practice revolves around the resolution of contentious issues such as admiralty and cargo claims, ship arrest cases. He also provides sound advice on ship sale, purchase and regulatory mandates.

Matthew Hockaday

As an experienced litigator in shipping-related disputes, Matthew Hockaday from Thynne + Macartney shows exceptional capabilities in handling marine casualty incidents. His expertise extends to clean-up and environmental responses as well as compensation claims.

Ian Maitland

For over 20 years, Ian Maitland of Wallmans Lawyers has been practising in the transport sector, focusing predominantly on the shipping industry. He is particularly well known for his excellent representation of marine insurance clients.

In a nutshell, the above professionals constitute a remarkable subset of the Australian legal fraternity, who with their robust skill set and immense knowledge, are willing to go the extra mile to ensure and protect the interests of their clients in the multifaceted shipping industry.