Nicholas Phillips
Maritime Commercial and Dispute Resolution Solicitor
With over 40 years of experience in maritime litigation and international arbitration, Nicholas Phillips advises clients across the global shipping and superyacht sectors.
About Nicholas Phillips
Nicholas Phillips is a London-based solicitor with over four decades of experience in maritime law. As a seasoned litigator he brings deep expertise to complex international shipping, superyacht and aviation disputes, offering clients strategic advice, tailored representation, and discreet counsel.
He has a broad and highly reputed clientele consisting mainly of Shipowners, Charterers, Shipyards, Oil Traders, Freight Forwarders and Insurance Companies.
Nicholas has contributed to and helped build successful shipping practices at two well-known City law firms and is widely respected in his field. His career includes landmark cases, and industry recognition from Legal 500, and membership of institutions such as the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.
Practice Areas
Nicholas has extensive experience of drafting building contracts and advising either the shipyard or the buyer during the course of construction. He has acted for many European yards during his career, and has also represented numerous buyers and therefore understands the issues from both perspectives. This includes acting for superyacht purchasers whose standards can be very exacting. Casework has encompassed, for example, purported cancellations, issues regarding damages for delay, disputes regarding hull coatings, farce majeure delays and warranty claims.
Nicholas has experience of dealing with both buyer and seller in relation to S & P disputes.
Nicholas has considerable experience of drafting and dealing with issues arising under the various forms of time, voyage and bareboat charters. This includes, by way of example:
-Withdrawal and termination
-Early and late delivery
-Demurrage
-Off-hire
-ICA claims
-Unsafe port/s
-Speed and performance
-Bunker quality
-BrokerageActing for either carrier or cargo interests in respect of both wet and dry cargoes.
Acting mainly in respect of oil trading disputes.
Nicholas has considerable experience of advising in relation to the effect of UK, EU and US sanctions, and its impact on the shipping sector.
Experience includes not only the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) based in London, but also foreign institutions such as the ICC, Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC).
Global Reach
Although Nicholas is an independent practitioner he can call on a network of foreign lawyers to ensure that the global interests of his clients are fully met, whether that be merely seeking advice, or arresting/releasing a vessel or attaching/releasing assets abroad.
A Recognised Voice in Maritime Law
Having helped build and lead successful shipping practices at top-tier firms including Stephenson Harwood and Hill Dickinson, Nicholas is widely respected in the field. His career includes landmark cases, industry recognition from Legal 500, and leadership within institutions such as the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and founding member of the LCIA.
