Senior in-house positions are rare and highly sought after. Accordingly, we are very excited to present an opportunity to join an IG P&I Club as a Senior Claims Handler in their Hong Kong Office.

Our client has significant tonnage from China. As a result, you will be advising charterers and traders within that market. Your scope of work will primarily be dry shipping, specifically FD&D with some exposure to P&I work. You will also be expected to train newer members in this regard.

Additionally, due to the seniority of your role, you can expect significant exposure to major members of the Club. Your job is to manage those relationships while traveling with and working with underwriters to develop new relationships.

From our discussions with the hiring manager, the key highlights of this role include:

• Prestige. Even amongst the IG Clubs, our client stands out in terms of tonnage and reputation.
  
  
• Significant remuneration. Our client pays at the top end of the market.

As the position is relatively senior, you will have at least 5 years of experience in dry shipping law, with a proven track record of operating within the Chinese market and across shipping. Our client has also shown a preference for England & Wales, Hong Kong or PRC qualified lawyers. Proficiency in mandarin is a prerequisite considering our client’s members.

If this position is of interest, do get in touch for a discreet discussion about this opportunity.

Wadkins Associates has been instructed on a rare new role for our longstanding client.

Our client is a top 20 law firm with a strong reputation across shipping, energy insurance and trade. We have supported the firm’s international growth over the last few years and have been asked to assist the London office in hiring a legal executive/ senior paralegal into the international arbitration team.

The role has many benefits to offer those that have gained an LPC and experience within commercial litigation including:

• A broad workload. As well as managing your own portfolio of claims you will be assisting in the coordination of the international arbitration team, getting involved in client meetings, managing caseloads and drafting legal agreements.
• Flexibility: Keen to secure the right individual the firm are very open to discussing flexible work arrangements around working from home.

For more information on the role, what is on offer and what you can expect please get in touch.

Wadkins Associates has been instructed by a major player in the commodities trading industry to find an experienced shipping and or trade litigation lawyer for an in-house counsel position in their Singapore office.

Your primary scope of work will be to provide legal advice relating to shipping and trade litigation.

This is also an opportunity to broaden your skill set with more general commercial responsibilities. These include providing advice on legal and regulatory compliance issues for a variety of internal departments. You will also be drafting, reviewing and advising on contracts related to shipping and trade

From our discussions with the hiring manager, the key highlights of this role include:

• Prestige. This is an opportunity to do some truly international work for one of the biggest commodities traders in the world.

• Greater commercial focus. This job allows you to develop a more commercially focused outlook working alongside various business units within the company.
  
  
• Work life balance. In this role, you will not have billable hours targets or related Private Practice demands.
  

Singapore qualified lawyers will be at an advantage, although our client will consider common law qualified lawyers. Due to the relatively independent nature of the work, you will need at least 3 years of contentious shipping or trade law experience.

If this position is of interest, do get in touch for a discreet discussion about this opportunity.

A boutique private practice, specialising in shipping law, located in Paris is looking to expand their practice in France with the addition of a mid to senior associate. We are working with the Managing Partner to find the best fit for the firm and advise you throughout the interview process.

You will be joining a small but close-knit team. The partners are well-regarded and have a wealth of experience in all aspects of contentious wet and dry shipping. You will have the freedom and flexibility to work on either depending on your client base.

In our view, the main draws of this job are:

• The Managing Partner. You will be working closely with one of the most eminent shipping litigation partners in France. In addition to his various international accolades and impressive client base, he previously co-founded and managed one of the biggest law firms in the country.
  
• Support for business development. The Managing Partner is a strong believer in developing and maintaining client relationships. As such, you can expect strong support in relation to your business development strategies.
  
• The remuneration. You can expect a large percentage of the fees you bring in each month. Thus, associates with a following can benefit from a perk usually reserved for Partners.

You will be either French or England & Wales qualified with experience in shipping law. There are no restrictions on PQE per se, but lawyers with a following will benefit more from the remuneration structure.

If the above position has caught your interest, do get in touch for a discreet discussion about this opportunity.

Our client is an international top-tier commodities firm with a strong reputation within shipping and trade. The team leads the industry rankings within commodities and is known for representing the largest trading houses internationally.

They have asked for our assistance in hiring a mid-level commodities litigation lawyer. We have worked closely with both the hiring partner and the overall team previously and so we have a good understanding as to what benefits the role offers, some of which we have included below:

• Business Development Opportunity: The team has a focus on bringing in new clients and continuing its expansion. You will therefore be involved in business development from a junior level and have the opportunity to meet both current and prospective clients; attend industry events and undertake marketing for the team.
  
• High Quality Work: You will be working on high value commodities and derivatives litigation. The team have been noted for their work on high profile cases. These include a recent landmark decision in the supreme court.
  
• Court Exposure: Another offering of the role is the amount of court exposure you will be given. Recently noted as one of the most active litigators in the English Courts the partner has been noted as a leader in his profession. This role offers the opportunity to be exposed to international and complex litigation regularly.

The aim for the next hire is to bring in a talented litigator who is keen to get immediately involved in cases and business development. For more information about the team, the firm and the partner please get in touch. We would be happy to have an in depth discussion about the role and the benefits.

We are working with an established client, an IG P&I Club, that is looking to welcome a Claims Executive into their Hong Kong office. We have previously recruited lawyers into this team and have an in-depth knowledge of their work culture and hiring preferences.

You will be advising members on FD&D with some exposure to P&I work and the focus will be on the Chinese charterer market. The team has developed a collegiate, friendly and open atmosphere. They will guide you through your transition from private practice to in-house.

From our discussions with the hiring manager, the key advantages of this opportunity include:

• An opportunity to be closer to the market. You will be the first port of call for our Client’s members handling matters in ‘real-time’.

• Competitive Remuneration. While the Hong Kong office is one of the busier offices within the Club market and is responsible for a significant tonnage, the job pays above market and provides benefits commensurate with the level of work and prestige of an IG P&I Club.

• Supportive work environment. You will be working closely with a friendly, diverse and collegiate team in one of the largest P&I Clubs in Hong Kong. Furthermore, our client has an established framework for training and development avoiding the pitfall of slow or stagnant career development seen in so many other Clubs.
  

You will be PRC, Common Law or Hong Kong qualified with between 2 to 6 PQE in shipping law. Fluency in English and Mandarin is essential.

If the above position is of interest, do contact us for a discreet conversation about this opportunity or the market in general.

The Melbourne office of one of our oldest clients is looking to welcome a Senior Associate of at least 5 PQE into their shipping litigation team. We’ve had regular contact with the hiring partners in their Australian offices and are happy to guide you along the interview process.

Our Managing Consultant, James, has previously visited Melbourne on several occasions and considers it a vibrant, culturally enriched city full of open-minded people, music and art. As the second largest city in Australia, it houses the offices of many of the world’s leading international private practices.

You will be exposed to wet and dry shipping disputes, advising both shipowners and other businesses in some of the biggest cases in the region. You will be working with a highly experienced Partner and several other experienced lawyers in a collegiate and well-run team. As befitting of a more senior position, you will be expected to foster and generate client relationships and business develop frequently.

The hiring partner has highlighted several advantages of joining the team.

• Career advancement. The partner is looking for someone who is gunning for partnership. Furthermore, the firm provides a structured approach to career development. Opportunities to business develop will be given and talent and ambition will be rewarded.

• Remuneration. The firm pays in between the market and magic circle firms. In addition, the work life balance in Australia is slightly better than London or Singapore. They also have good bonus payments commensurate with large international private practices.

• Opportunity to be at the forefront of the firm’s expansion. Our client is looking to lead the transport and offshore sector in the region. This is an exciting opportunity to get in early and build a practice with the support of a team of highly capable and experienced lawyers.
  

If the above position is of interest, we will be happy to discuss the specifics of this opportunity or similar opportunities. If you’d like to know more about the team or the APAC market in general, do contact us for a discreet discussion.

We are currently assisting a longstanding client with the hire of Senior Compliance Counsel for their London office. A multinational shipowner and operator the business does significant work in the offshore oil and gas space.

The business has experienced steady growth over the last 5 years. They have a growing legal team scattered globally and following a recent appointment of a new General Counsel, a Compliance Manager is their next key hire.

The role:

You will be working closely with the General Counsel in the planning and implementation of current new compliance policies. The role involves leading and managing ethics functions, CoBE related systems and corporate compliance review and ensuring continuous improvement of implemented systems.

The scope:

You will be a key figure in pushing this side of the business internationally, working closely with teams in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Due to the seniority of the role, our client is keen to hold conversations with senior lawyers qualified in England and Wales, who have gained compliance experience within an international establishment. Those with experience within the shipping and offshore sectors will be at an advantage.

For a detailed conversation about the intricacies of the compliance role and the nuances of the client please get in touch.

Our client, a leading boutique firm in the shipping sector, has experienced significant success and growth within the last year. Having hired new partners the firm is now looking to add to the shipping team in London.

Our client specialises in all areas of litigation in the shipping sector and has developed an excellent reputation within the industry.

Traditionally, the focus has been on dry shipping though recently the partners have been involved in increasing amounts of admiralty, trade and superyacht work.

Due to the close-knit nature of this firm, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to work directly alongside multiple partners, many of whom are ranked highly by both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

A little more about the team and the role;

• The work; with clients including clubs, shipowners and trading houses you will be exposed to high quality work across both dry and wet shipping.
  
• The team; a smaller firm, the team has cultivated a friendly and sociable environment.
  
• The benefits; the firm has reasonable billable hours targets yet are able to match and sometimes exceed the salaries of international law firms.

For more information on the position, the firm and the culture, please get in touch.

We are currently supporting a long standing client to continue the expansion of their transportation group. We have successfully hired a number of partners and associates for the team in the past and are able to provide detailed advice to help you decide if this firm is right for you.

Our client is a global international law firm with a long established marine and energy team. Operating across litigation, finance and projects on behalf of an international marine and energy client base, the firm is keen to further strength their team with the hire of a partner with expertise in offshore oil & gas.

The firm is able to offer the incoming partner a platform from which to strengthen an existing client base. They have institutional clients and the opportunity to benefit from instructions sent to London from their international offices. This firm are known for their generous remuneration packages at both fixed share and equity partner level.

For a detailed insight into the firm, the partnership team and remuneration, please get in touch.