Chris Sacré

Practice Areas

Chris Sacré is a leading transport and trade lawyer with extensive experience in shipping, international trade and marine insurance. He is English and Australian qualified having practiced in London, Hong Kong and Sydney, including time in-house with a ship management company and P&I insurer.

Chris’ experience ensures a deep understanding of all aspects of shipping and trade as well as the insurance that underpins it. Chris advises corporates on the transport and supply of goods globally, covering both pre-transportation contractual advice and the resolution of disputes arising out of the carriage.

View Chris' full bio here: https://hallandwilcox.com.au/people/chris-sacre/

Professional Memberships

Shipping Australia Ltd

Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand

Work Highlights

Leading Australian Marine Insurers:

Constructive total loss of dredging barge while under tow from PNG to Australia;

Non-disclosure defence to cargo claims arising out of international courier network;

Damage to $25 million superyacht while being carried on a heavy lift vessel. Coverage issues concerning double insurance and recovery claims against shipowners;

Cargo losses by wetting arising out of insufficiency of packing;

Subrogated recovery claim against electricians in respect of the total loss by fire of a commercial tourism vessel in northern Queensland;

Defence of numerous personal injury claims arising out of shipboard operations, yachting collisions and pleasurecraft accidents

Container Lines/P&I:

Handling all cargo claims arising out of the total loss of forty containers at sea in heavy weather;

Investigating the deaths of two crewmembers onboard a vessel in Kiribati;

Advisng on wreck removal liabilties and executive orders following the sinking of a domestic commercial vessel off NSW;

Defending the Master of a product carrier prosecuted for navigating within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

LNG: Advising ship owners on all regulatory aspects of the two FSRU projects planned for Crib Point (Victoria) and Port Kembla (NSW);

Oil and gas: Advising one of the world’s largest trading houses on petroleum and LNG sale, purchase, carriage and storage agreements;

Fuel retail: Advising one of the worlds largest owners/operators of retail fuel sites on all issues arisng out of the operation of service stations and the supply of petroleum products in Australia.

Iron ore trader: International trade dispute concerning a contract for the supply of iron ore valued in excess of US$750 million and the associated letters of credit. Freezing injunctions in the Supreme Court and ICC Arbitration in Geneva;

Grain trader: Representing one of Australia’s largest grain traders in GAFTA Arbitration arising out of the non-performance of a contract for the sale of wheat to China;

NSW oil spill response, evidence gathering, minimising liabilities and handling the resulting prosecution; and

Ship Arrest: Representing ship owners in arrest proceedings in the Federal Court.