Shipping Law & Practice 2026: Shaping New Developments into Solution-Focused Advice for Your Clients
Court-Proven, Solution-Focused Answers to 7 Thorny Legal Questions: Directly from Highly Experienced KCs, Judges, Senior Juniors and Solicitors
Live Attendance
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Highly recommended
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Information you won't find elsewhere
Our experts talk under Chatham House Rule, so you get the best, most readily usable information they wouldn't share elsewhere
Programme
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09:30
Registration and coffee
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10:00
Chair's Introduction
Shipping Law & Practice: Shaping new developments into solution-focused advice for your clients
Chaired by David Pitlarge, Hill Dickinson
David “has excellent legal knowledge and the depth of experience needed for strategically complex cases.” His expertise covers maritime casualties, charterparties and shipbuilding contracts.
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10:10
Late redelivery
When does late redelivery genuinely cause market loss following the Skyros case [2025], and how should you change your client advice?
Answered by John Russell KC, Quadrant Chambers
John acted in The CMA CGM LIBRA litigation, Volcafe, The Pacific Voyager and Lila Lisbon. "He sees through the fog, identifies the key issues, provides excellent advice," and is a Shipping Silk of the Year.
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10:45
Anti-suit injunctions
With anti-suit injunctions becoming harder-edged and more adaptable, how do you deploy them in litigation to secure a tactical advantage?
Answered by Neil Hart KC, Essex Court Chambers
Neil is a “supremely effective advocate, tactician and team player.” He acted for victims of the Beirut Port Explosion of 4 August 2020 and is an editor of Arnould’s Law of Marine Insurance and Average.
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11:20
Morning coffee
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11:35
Conditions precedent & debt obligations
How — in practice — do you now establish that a condition has been satisfied so that a debt obligation arises following King Crude Carriers SA v Ridgebury?
Answered by Richard Southern KC, 7KBW
Richard is a “top-notch KC who handles the most complex shipping disputes.” He is “tactically astute, unquestionably brilliant and hugely experienced, with an instinct for where a case is going to go.”
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12:10
Lila Lisbon
How far can you push the court on loss-of-bargain compensation under standard form ship sale contracts, as the Lila Lisbon litigation continues to bubble away?
Answered by Sean O'Sullivan KC, 4 Pump Court
Sean is “one of the most outstanding commercial barristers at the Bar.” His expertise includes shipping, commodities and contractual matters, and he sits as a Deputy High Court Judge.
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12:45
Overrun
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13:00
Lunch
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13:45
Force majeure
How far can parties stretch force majeure and reasonable endeavours arguments following MUR Shipping BV v RTI Ltd and the latest lower-court decisions?
Answered by Sara Masters KC, Twenty Essex
Sara is a “superstar” with extensive experience in international arbitration as both counsel and arbitrator. Her practice covers shipping and commodities disputes, shipbuilding and jurisdictional issues.
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14:20
Letters of indemnity
In disputes involving letters of indemnity, where are the courts now drawing the line on liability where undisclosed principals sit behind the contract?
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14:55
Crewing & Unseaworthiness
Following The Happy Aras [2026], when does crew incompetence cross the line into unseaworthiness — and how is this impacting jurisdictional strategy in disputes?
Answered by Lara Hicks, 33 Bedford Row
Lara acted in The Happy Aras litigation. She specialises in charterparty and commodity disputes and wet shipping matters, appearing regularly in LMAA arbitrations and the Admiralty Court.
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15:30
Over-run
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16:00
Close of conference
Live Attendance