About

Provided by Bowmans

For over a century, we have met the demands of the industry by providing shipping and logistics services to our extensive range of local and international clients.

Our lawyers have been involved in many of the most significant local casualties over the past two decades, recently including the collisions involving the “Chemstar Jewel” and the “Sunrise Jade”, the fires aboard the “Tai Shan” and the “Maersk Londrina”, the sinking of the “Kiani Satu”, the grounding of the “Smart” and the loss of containers overboard the “Seroja Lima”.

In addition to our casualty work, we regularly conduct litigation to enforce maritime claims on behalf of our clients. Recently we represented the successful appellant in the “Seaspan Grouse” before the Supreme Court of Appeal, in a matter concerning the status of protective writs under South African law and following from the financial collapse of Hanjin Shipping.

According to a client quoted by Chambers & Partners, our team was “excellent”, “very practical” and “helped us get done what we had to get done in the most efficient way possible”.

Our specialist services include casualty response, shipping litigation, commercial shipping and finance and logistics.

In addition, our Ports Terminals and Logistics Corridors Sector Group has extensive expertise in the ports, terminals and logistics corridors sector across numerous countries on the African continent.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Shipping - South Africa

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Bowmans is a shipping law powerhouse in South Africa that services P&I clubs, charterers, owners and banks on an array of wet and dry work. The firm's diverse client roster benefits from its profound expertise in mortgage foreclosures, ship arrests, vessel collisions and maritime disputes, with extensive experience concerning London-based arbitration. In addition, the team possesses considerable strength in casualty matters. The department is also well equipped to handle port infrastructure mandates, including ports development. The team has an active practice representing underwriters and cruise line operators, with notable strength outside of South Africa, including in Namibia.

Work Highlights

Provided by Bowmans

  • Bowmans successfully represented the defendant in a case regarding the arrested vessel 'MV Morges' as security for counterclaims brought against the claimants in arbitration proceedings.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Andrew Pike
1
Andrew Pike
1
Band 1
Andrew Pike is involved in the firm's key mandates and heads the firm's ports, transport and logistics team. Based in Durban, he is regularly instructed to handle casualty and cargo disputes.

Andrew Pike is a market leader in his field.

Andrew Pike has a very practical approach to situations.

He is very good at seeing the big picture. He understands the industry and what is important for clients.

Craig Cunningham
1
Craig Cunningham
1
Band 1
Head of department Craig Cunningham possesses a deep roster of P&I club clients and a wealth of shipping arrest experience, as well as a thorough grasp of the field's regulatory regime. He frequently advises clients on claims for damages and collisions. He operates out of the firm's Cape Town office.

Craig Cunningham is an absolute market leader.

He is responsive and commercially minded.

He is a very safe pair of hands and a super-efficient lawyer.

We get very quick, prompt and efficient advice from him and he has a good grip on the commercial aspects of cases.

Jeremy Prain
2
Jeremy Prain
2
Band 2

Jeremy Prain operates a practice which encompasses a broad range of shipping issues, such as search and rescue and collisions, in addition to the financing and sale of vessels. He acts for a number of P&I clubs and financial institutions, and is based out of Cape Town.

The most important thing for us is that he is responsive, always there to update us, to respond and to agree on next steps.

Mark Van Velden
2
Mark Van Velden
2
Band 2

Mark Van Velden is well versed in commercial transactions in the shipping space, as well as in contentious mandates, such as arrests, charter party disputes and matters relating to environmental damage. He provides counsel to his clients from his base in Durban.

He offers very prompt and thorough replies.

I am impressed by Mark Van Velden's vigour in getting up to speed and pressing matters forward.

He is a capable lawyer who knows what he is doing. He is accommodating and sharp.

Lana Stockton
3
Lana Stockton
3
Band 3
Lana Stockton is recognised as a growing force in South Africa's shipping space. She has experience advising on casualties and collisions as well as on insolvencies in the sector. She is based in Cape Town.

She is able to provide a fast response and she is a safe pair of hands in urgent matters. She is extremely knowledgeable and understands the local requirements.

She is approachable and efficient.

Lana Stockton's advice is practical, and turnaround times have never been an issue.

Ranked Lawyers at
Bowmans

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

South Africa

Shipping

Andrew Pike
1
Andrew Pike
1
Band 1
Craig Cunningham
1
Craig Cunningham
1
Band 1
Jeremy Prain
2
Jeremy Prain
2
Band 2
Mark Van Velden
2
Mark Van Velden
2
Band 2
Lana Stockton
3
Lana Stockton
3
Band 3

Clients

Provided by Bowmans

Credit Europe Bank N.V.

Gard

HSBC Bank plc

Holman Fenwick Willan

Ince & Co

North of England P&I Club

Reed Smith

UK P&I Club (aka Thomas Miller)

Watson, Farley & Williams

Industries

Provided by Bowmans

Aerospace & Defence

Automobiles & Parts

Banking

Construction & Materials

Energy

Financial Services

Government

Industrial Engineering

Insurance

Mining & Metals

Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

Retail

Telecommunications

Transportation