Sector Bench · Maritime & Shipping
Shipping disputes, handled by people who know ships and cargo
Charterparties, bills of lading, demurrage, marine insurance, shipbuilding and regulation create disputes where speed and specialist practice matter. UNIONE™ brings maritime expertise to prevention, evaluation, arbitration and enforcement.
Disputes that move with the cargo
Maritime and trade disputes link physical movement, documents, time, security and several countries, often while the cargo or vessel is still moving. Choose where to start.
Contract intelligence
Review your charter, cargo, notice, security and dispute clauses.
Independent assessment
Map records, causation, quantum and available security before choosing a process.
Arbitration
Shipping, cargo and technical expertise on the tribunal where your contract calls for arbitration.
Before You Enforce
Link your award or claim to the vessel, cargo, guarantees, entities and jurisdictions.
The disputes we know
These are the disputes, records, contracts and commercial decisions that shipping teams deal with every day.
Charterparties
Hire, off-hire, performance, safe port, employment orders, speed and consumption, and redelivery.
Laytime and demurrage
Validity of the NOR, when time starts, exceptions, interruptions, calculation and documentary evidence.
Marine insurance and P&I
Questions of coverage, causation, seaworthiness, liabilities, club response and recovery.
Shipbuilding
Disputes over specifications, delay, variations, testing, acceptance, defects, refund guarantees and termination.
Bunkers and environment
Quantity or quality, MARPOL-related issues, emissions duties, fuel compliance and bunker payments.
Port State and regulation
Detention, sanctions, port access, licensing, customs and other regulatory effects on performance.
Before You Sign, Before You Arbitrate and Before You Enforce
Start with the decision in front of you. We will match it to the right service.
Before You Sign
Test your contract while you can still change it. We look at clause and escalation structure, governing law, seat and where you may need to enforce, sector triggers and evidence, DPC™ or Standing Neutral design where it fits, and contract and operational risk.
Before You Arbitrate
Separate the legal position from the commercial decision before proceedings eat up time and capital. This covers claim and counterclaim framing, evidence and quantum review, specialist neutral evaluation, expert determination where agreed, and arbitration readiness.
Before You Enforce
Plan recognition, assets and execution before enforcement becomes urgent. This covers target-country guidance, the route to assets and recognition, issues with States or State-owned companies, Enforcement Readiness Note for relevant awards, and ERR where the applicable process provides for it.
Try the lightest step that will work first
Arbitration is not the only answer. Each step below can resolve or narrow the dispute before you move to the next.
Prevention and DPC™
Test NOR, laytime, off-hire, safe port, performance, cargo, evidence and dispute clauses when you fix or sign.
Neutral evaluation
A focused maritime view on charter wording, laytime, performance, cargo, casualty, bunker or insurance questions while commercial options are still open.
Expert determination
Where the contract allows, a specialist decides defined technical, quantity, quality, performance or valuation questions.
Arbitration
When arbitration is needed, we match the procedure, tribunal expertise, maritime evidence and urgent interim needs to your dispute.
In shipping, hours, notices and records become money
We test operational triggers and document requirements when the contract is fixed, before voyages, delays and gaps in evidence create avoidable arguments.
DPC™ helps you find weak points and plan escalation before a dispute arises. It can’t guarantee that a dispute will be avoided or that a particular result will follow.
NOR and laytime
Clear rules on validity, place, timing, readiness, commencement, exceptions, interruptions and documents.
Hire, off-hire and performance
Define triggers, evidence, weather routing, speed and consumption warranties and how amounts are calculated.
Safe port and employment orders
Split navigation, port, berth, sanctions and operational risk clearly between owners and charterers.
Cargo and quantity evidence
Plan bills, surveys, measurement, contamination, shortage and how evidence is kept.
Insurance and casualty
Coordinate notice, survey, mitigation, security, recovery and dispute routes where a casualty or insured loss is possible.
Escalation and forum
Align expert questions, maritime arbitration, court and interim relief, and enforcement destinations with the deal.
Expertise in the contracts you use
Sector Bench members know the contracts, regulation, evidence and commercial mechanics behind your dispute.
- Charterparties: time and voyage charters, hire, off-hire, laytime and demurrage.
- Bills of lading and cargo documents: title, delivery, shortage, damage and surveys.
- Marine insurance and P&I: cover, notice, security and recovery.
- Shipbuilding contracts: specifications, testing, acceptance and refund guarantees.
- Regulation: MARPOL-related issues, emissions duties, sanctions, port State control and customs.
Who we work with
Each party comes with a different decision. Here is where we can help you, whether or not your matter ever reaches arbitration.
Shipowners and operators
Disputes over charters, hire, performance, casualties, bunkers, ports and regulation.
Charterers and traders
Laytime, demurrage, safe port, cargo, delivery, sanctions and voyage performance.
Cargo interests
Claims under bills of lading for shortage, damage, delay, title, delivery and recovery.
Shipyards and buyers
Disputes over construction, specification, testing, delay, acceptance, defects and guarantees.
P&I clubs and marine insurers
Coverage, liability, security, casualty, recovery and joined-up dispute strategy.
Ports and maritime businesses
Access, operations, services, regulation, detention and infrastructure disputes.
Sector Bench members bring real expertise
Every arbitral, neutral, expert or other appointment is decided separately, based on the applicable procedure, the needs of the matter, independence and conflict checks, party choice where relevant, and suitability.
Qualification
A relevant qualification in law, maritime practice, naval architecture, marine engineering, surveying, insurance, commercial shipping or a related profession.
Experience
Real experience in shipping, chartering, cargo, shipbuilding, insurance, ports, regulation, casualties or maritime disputes.
Sector knowledge
Proven familiarity with maritime contracts, operational evidence, shipping practice or technical and insurance issues.
Specialism
A defined maritime or shipping specialism, not just general commercial dispute experience.
Independence
Able to meet the conflict, independence and impartiality rules for any role they are considered for.
File from anywhere, with local counsel where needed
UNIONE™ works across borders. Some steps must happen locally, through local counsel and local courts.
We work wherever you are
Online filing, secure document exchange, video meetings, central case management, specialist review and country-by-country guidance all work across borders.
Local law stays local
Advice on local law and representation in court stays with qualified local counsel. We will tell you when you need them.
Active all year, between appointments
Fellowship keeps you engaged all year through knowledge, programmes and visibility.
Join real cross-border conversations
Fellows may contribute to sector, country and Business Corridor programmes where their expertise fits. Taking part brings visibility, not referrals or leads.
Barcelona → Circuit → Paris
The 2026 Assembly took place in Barcelona. The UNBOUNDED™ Global Business Circuit runs all year, leading to the next Assembly in Paris in 2027.
Where are you now?
Start with the business problem. The process comes second. These options point you to the best place to start; they do not decide anything about your rights.
Contract still open
The risk can still be designed out or better documented.
Live dispute or claim
You need an independent view before choosing a process.
Binding decision needed
Your matter is ready for arbitration.
Award or recovery
Recognition, assets, security or where to enforce is now the main issue.
Read your dispute clause before the dispute starts
Bring us a contract, a dispute, an enforcement question or your expertise.
Where to go next
Sector Benches
Specialist Sector Benches for technology, energy, construction, finance, maritime, M&A, life sciences, ESG and investment treaty disputes worldwide.
Financial Services & Banking Disputes
Specialist resolution for banking disputes over facilities, payments, guarantees, trade finance, derivatives, accounts, valuation and regulated services.
Insurance & Reinsurance Disputes
Specialist help with cross-border policy, reinsurance, aggregation, contribution, subrogation, specialty-line and recovery disputes, one layer at a time.
Technology & AI Disputes
Dispute support for software, AI, data, APIs, cyber incidents, tech M&A and digital infrastructure, from contract design to urgent relief and arbitration.
Global Trade Recovery
Recover unpaid trade debts by linking receivables, cargo, title documents, guarantees, insurance, awards and the countries where you can actually enforce.
Trade Documents & Digital Evidence
Keep contracts, invoices, bills, electronic transport records, EDI messages, timestamps and signatures linked to their source, so they stand up as evidence.
International Sale & Incoterms® Disputes
Resolve cross-border sale disputes over delivery, risk, title, quality, quantity, documents, inspection, payment and damages under Incoterms® rules.
AI Liability Allocation
AI Liability Allocation maps who is responsible across model providers, deployers, data sources, integrators and users, so failures don’t become blame games.
SaaS & AI Contracts
Draft SaaS and AI contracts that cover service levels, model changes, data rights, AI output, security, exit and evidence before a dispute arises.