Led by ‘the leading maritime lawyer in Ireland’
European Legal 500 2010
Our Shipping Law Group advises an Irish and international client base on all aspects of shipping and related transport law. We advise borrowers, lenders, lessors, ship-owners, ship managers, charterers and marine insurers in relation to their contentious and commercial shipping requirements.
Led by Helen Noble, a shipping lawyer with many years' experience practising in Ireland and the UK, the group draws on a broad range of legal experts who are leaders in their respective fields, such as asset finance, tax, competition and dispute resolution. In 2011, Helen won “Best in Shipping and Maritime” at the Euromoney Legal Media Group’s inaugural European Women in Business Law Awards in London. Based on research covering 21 jurisdictions, these awards celebrate the achievements of women leading the field in the legal sector across Europe.
We advise our clients on:
Shipping Disputes
We regularly advise on all aspects of Admiralty Law. We act for clients in relation to the arrest of ships in Ireland and have significant experience in advising clients on enforcement of security, repossession and arrest issues.
We have represented shipping companies and the leading P&I and Defence Clubs in relation to all types of shipping disputes including charterparty, bill of lading, contract of affreightment, shipbuilding disputes, salvage and collision disputes. We also have significant experience in advising on intermodal transport disputes, in particular CMR disputes, and regularly acts for freight forwarders, road carrier and underwriters and liability insurers.
Commercial Contracts
We have extensive experience in the drafting and negotiation of various shipping contracts including; charter parties, bill of lading contract, ship management agreements, crewing agreements, supply vessel agreements and shipbuilding contracts.
Ship Finance
The firm’s Asset Finance Group has extensive experience in asset and structured finance. We have acted for a number of lenders in relation to recent ship finance transactions. We advise on the acquisition of new buildings and the sale and purchase of second-hand tonnage. Most recently we acted for an Irish bank in relation to its financing of five cargo vessels and in the financing and leasing of a number of oil and gas exploration vessels.
Inward Investment
With its in depth knowledge of the industry, members of the group have particular expertise in advising shipping companies looking to structure operations in Ireland on the advantages Ireland has to offer the shipping industry and on the legal and tax aspects in establishing business in Ireland.
Tax
We advise clients specifically on Ireland’s highly competitive tonnage tax regime and related taxation issues.
Regulatory
We regularly advise clients on maritime regulatory issues to include the registration of ships in Ireland and other issues arising under the Mercantile Marine Acts and marine related legislation.
Environmental and Pollution Issues
We are a member of the Emergency Response Unit for a major oil company.
Matheson Ormsby Prentice's team is led by the highly regarded Helen Noble
Maritime and Shipping: European Legal 500 2011
Matheson Ormsby Prentice has built up a strong shipping practice under Helen Noble, commended as "the leading maritime lawyer in Ireland" for her "years of experience in all facets of the maritime field".
Maritime and Shipping: European Legal 500 2010
This team is "commercial in approach" and "looks to find solutions that work for the business without exposing it to undue legal risk".
Banking and Finance: European Legal 500 2009
Commentators laud this team as "practical, pragmatic, succinct and commercial in its outlook". The team is also strong in securitisation and asset finance, and the department's international capacity is key to its strong showing in aviation financing, it is also attracting an increasing number of clients looking to buy assets abroad. Sources were keen to praise the service on offer here, and especially appreciate that the lawyers "structure their advice clearly, with simple explanations of legal issues."
Banking and Finance: Chambers Global 2009
