Associate - Shipping

Role Overview

This prominent position offers the opportunity to join Hill Dickinson LLP's esteemed Shipping Team within the Liverpool office, part of the broader Marine Business Group. The team enjoys a strong reputation, recognized in the Legal 500, for expert handling of diverse contentious and non-contentious shipping legal issues.

The team provides comprehensive advice on a variety of wet and dry shipping disputes, international trade, and marine issues, serving a broad client base across the global maritime sector.

Responsibilities

• Pursue recovery actions related to unpaid shipping invoices and bunker claims.
• Manage vessel arrest procedures and associated Admiralty law matters including strategic advice for enforcement.
• Advise lenders regarding vessel recovery and disposition under security agreements.
• Handle disputes involving bills of lading, charterparty arrangements, and wider contractual disagreements.
• Support cases within the English High Court's Commercial and Admiralty Courts, and engage in international arbitrations such as LMAA.
• Assist with disputes arising from marine accidents including collisions, grounding, fires, explosions, container issues, wreck removals, and salvage.
• Participate in complex, multi-party claims and General Average disputes.
• Advise on contracts of affreightment, vessel sharing agreements, and commercial maritime contracts.
• Advise on matters following fatalities at sea including public inquests, jurisdictional concerns, and indemnity/contribution claims.
• Provide guidance on ship sales, terminal and port operations, and European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIGs).
• Prepare and assess standard commercial terms and documentation.
• Offer practical, commercially oriented advice during emergency maritime situations under pressure.

Candidate Requirements

• Must be a qualified solicitor or hold an equivalent legal qualification such as Legal Executive.
• Prior experience within maritime and contentious law is preferred.
• Capable of working both collaboratively and autonomously.
• Strong interpersonal skills and effective communication ability.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively and perform under pressure.
• Excellent organizational skills and punctuality.
• Business development skills aimed at promoting the firm and maritime legal services through networking.
• Strict compliance with deadlines, internal guidelines, and client protocols.

Additional Information

Working hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, totaling a 37.5-hour workweek. The firm supports flexible working arrangements to promote a balanced work-life environment and is repeatedly recognized as a leading employer for working families.

Hill Dickinson LLP is dedicated to equality, diversity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds and all routes of legal qualification (both SRA and CILEx). The firm is a Disability Confident employer and commits to accommodating candidates needing assistance during the recruitment process.

All hires undergo standard pre-employment checks including basic criminal record screening through the Disclosure and Barring Service. Early application submission is advised as vacancies may close ahead of scheduled deadlines due to volume of applicants.