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Claims Handling
Absolute Confidence for Our Members:
An English-qualified Maritime Lawyer’s
Perspective
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An English-qualified Maritime Lawyer
with a Global Background
As an English-qualified lawyer specializing in maritime law, I’ve had the opportunity to work all over the world. My career started at a maritime law firm in London for five years, followed by a move to Shanghai for three years where I worked in the English law department of a leading international firm. I have handled a wide range of cases, from representing clients in the High Court and London Arbitrations to conducting face-to-face mediation and preparing witness statements for high-profile cases across West Africa, Southern Europe, and China.
I joined Japan P&I Club in 2016. I was drawn to the opportunity to work in a Japanese organization and to directly assist Members with their needs. After three years at the Tokyo Principal Office, I was transferred to the Singapore Branch in April 2019 to further support the FD&D team, where I continue to serve today.
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Contributing to Members
as an English Law Specialist
Since joining the Club, I’ve been keen to use my legal knowledge from a commercial perspective. My aim has always been to help our Members achieve negotiated settlements for their charterparty disputes. I strive to provide legal advice that is both concise and facilitates commercial settlements, which often provide a more efficient solution than lengthy legal proceedings.
On an average day, I receive a high volume of legal inquiries from our Members. I try to respond to these requests promptly and concisely, always working to bring about the best possible outcome for them. This might involve a negotiated settlement or, in some cases, pursuing a claim through arbitration. I work closely with our claims handlers to understand our Members’ needs and often draft messages for them to send to their counterparties.
One particularly memorable case from a few years ago involved a monkey that was discovered on board a container ship off the coast of Singapore. It took the owners a considerable amount of time to catch the monkey, leading to arguments over who should bear the responsibility for the time lost and the related expenses. With our assistance, our owner Members were able to negotiate a commercial solution with the charterers, allowing the vessel to continue its journey without the uninvited passenger. This case highlights the importance of finding flexible, commercial solutions from a business perspective, rather than just through legal proceedings.
I also contribute to our Members by giving presentations and writing articles. In the past two years I have been excited to give presentations to our members alongside both BIMCO (*1) and INTERCARGO (*2). In addition, I write articles on legal developments that are relevant to our Members’ business, striving to always provide them with the latest information.
(*1) Baltic and International Maritime Council
(*2) International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners
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Japan P&I Club’s Unique “Hybrid Service”
A large part of my role at the Club is to assist Members with their FD&D coverage. I do this by supporting our claims handlers and advising them on the English law aspects of contractual disputes. Since I joined the Club, I’ve seen the quality of our FD&D service improve significantly as the knowledge and skills of our claims handlers have further developed.
Our FD&D service’s greatest strength lies in our unique “hybrid service,” which merges global expertise with meticulous Japan-based service standards. One of the Club’s core strengths is our ability to provide high-quality claims handling services that reflects the working practices of the Japanese market. While most of our claims staff are fluent in English, as native Japanese speakers, they can also communicate with our Members in Japanese when necessary. This is particularly helpful in complicated disputes where complex concepts and arguments need to be explained. Furthermore, the Japan P&I Club is the only International Group club with its headquarters in the Asian time zone, giving us an advantage in our ability to respond swiftly to cases arising in this part of the world.
We have very experienced and knowledgeable claims handlers who possess an in-depth understanding of charterparty disputes, with skills honed through our in-house training programs. A key area we have focused on improving is the speed at which we respond to our Members’ inquiries. We understand that the shipping industry operates 24/7 and that our Members often require urgent legal advice; therefore, we ensure we are always available to assist, including during evenings and weekends.
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Strengthening the Structure
to Meet Global Needs
With various risks, such as geopolitical risks, increasing globally, we understand the importance of providing accurate legal advice in complex situations that are often moving very quickly. I have been involved in many cases and delivered seminars for our Members on issues relating to geopolitical risks, especially in the Middle East and concerning the transit of the Red Sea.
In recent years, the Club has also started to engage more closely with international organizations such as INTERTANKO (*3), INTERCARGO, and BIMCO. We are currently working with BIMCO to deliver the latest information to our Members regarding the latest clauses.
Strengthening our structure to meet these growing global needs is an urgent priority. To this end, the Japan P&I Club will increase the number of highly skilled lawyers with deep expertise in maritime law to further solidify our unique hybrid service, which integrates a profound understanding of Japanese business culture.
As a long-term partner for our Members, we will continue to solidify our presence and provide high-quality insurance services based on a stable and robust financial foundation as well as consistent underwriting results.
(*3) International Association of Independent Tanker Owners
