From the damaged container to the arrested ship: we litigate cargo, charterparties and casualties — and we act within hours when the ship will not wait.
Cargo damaged, wet, lost or stolen under a bill of lading: we claim against shipping lines and NVOCCs under the Hague-Visby Rules and the Spanish Maritime Navigation Act (LNM), challenging the application of foreign jurisdiction clauses where appropriate.
Demurrage and detention, charterparty disputes, arrests: we claim and we defend, in Spain and in coordination with London arbitrations.
Defence against attempts to equate the agent with the carrier, collection of port-call accounts, liner agency agreements.
Defence of claims for damage during cargo operations and terminal liability disputes.
Recoveries, coverage defence, security (LOIs, average bonds) and major casualties.
One year — and under a bill of lading the Spanish Supreme Court treats it as a strict time bar, not subject to interruption: emails and formal letters of demand do not stop it. The only options are to issue proceedings or to agree a time extension in writing before it expires. If your claim is already months old, move it today.
The mandatory Hague-Visby regime (Article 277.2 of the Spanish Maritime Navigation Act (LNM)): 666.67 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per package or 2 SDR per kilo, whichever is the higher. The limit can be broken, although in practice only with considerable difficulty.
Fast, if it is done properly: for the maritime claims listed in the 1999 Arrest Convention it is enough to allege the claim and its basis (no full proof required), the risk is presumed, and the court requires security starting at 15% of the claim (Article 472 LNM). The ship is immobilised in port within hours. We also act to obtain release from arrest — and we know why arrests fail.
When the ship suffers a major casualty (fire, grounding) and property is sacrificed or salvors are engaged for the common safety, ALL cargo interests contribute. Until the average bond and the adjuster's security are signed, the shipping line will not deliver. We advise on what to sign, on what your policy covers and on how to challenge the adjustment — we did so in one of the largest containership fires of the decade.
Demurrage and detention are calculated by the charterparty "clock" (laytime, NOR, exceptions). We examine the charterparty wording and the agreed terms in depth, and we claim and defend in any dispute.
ship detained, cargo held or casualty: protest, surveyors, security and interim measures within 24–48 hours.
Spain, London, arbitration: we choose where your case is worth most, with first-rate correspondents.
we negotiate with the other side, from shipping lines to P&I clubs. If there is no deal, we litigate.
judgments and awards, foreign ones included, through to collection.
Not necessarily: those clauses may not be valid, and it may well be possible to bring the claim in Spain. We analyse your case and assess your options.
Yes — for maritime claims, whatever the flag; and if the ship flies the flag of a State that is not party to the 1999 Convention, she can be arrested even for any other claim (Article 473.3 LNM).
Reservations make any claim easier, but their absence does not always make it impossible; the specific case needs to be assessed.
Yes: reports, contracts and claims, daily.
A Letter of Indemnity (LOI): security given for delivering without the B/L or for re-routing the cargo. Essential to have a lawyer review it before signing.
"Your cargo emergencies don't wait. Neither do we.." — 24/7 emergency response