Joseph O'Keeffe

Practice Areas

Joe is a recognised leading lawyer operating at the legal interface between marine and energy insurance and international trade. He has acted for many years for insurers, brokers, traders, banks and end-users and energy companies, many of whom are household names.

His marine insurance practice spans the full range of sub-classes, including hull and machinery and increased value, war, builders’ risks, loss of hire, yachts, MII, aquaculture, cargo and specie, P&I and other marfine liabilities.

He has been instructed on many of the largest and most complex losses and claims that have impacted the marine and energy insurance market over the past 15 years, including the Buncefield Explosion (the largest peacetime explosion in Europe), the Costa Concordia (the largest ever navigational loss to hit the market), the Qingdao metals frauds, the Tianjin explosion and the collapse of Hanjin.

He has particular experience of fraudulent claims, total loss work and war detainment claims arising in challenging jurisdictions. He also has very extensive experience of advising P&I insurers in relation to both coverage matters and claims issues.

He advised underwriters in the seminal Supreme Court fraudulent devices case of Versloot Dredging and acted for the successful underwriters in The Galatea, superyacht avoidance case based on undisclosed over-valuation.

His work in the international trade sector involves advising traders, banks, end-users and their insurers across the full spectrum of losses, claims and disputes that arise under sale contracts, contracts of carriage, COAs and insurance policies.

Legal 500 UK 2021 described Joe and the marine insurance team as ‘a very strong professional group who know their subject matter and the applicable law’.