AKD appoints new partner to Transport & Energy team

Leading Benelux law firm AKD has appointed Vivian van der Kuil a partner in its Transport & Energy team with effect from 1 June 2018.

Vivian joined AKD in 2015. She is an international litigation specialist with wide experience as a lawyer of complex proceedings in the Dutch Civil and Criminal Court. She is also a former judge and public prosecutor. Before joining the legal profession, Vivian completed officer training at the Royal Dutch Institute for the Navy and subsequently worked as an officer in the Operations/Navigation Service with the Royal Dutch Navy.

Vivian specialises in emergency response in the shipping and energy sectors, including salvage, total loss, collisions, fire and explosion, limitation of liability, wreck removal, piracy, ship arrest and both civil and criminal pollution liability involving seagoing vessels, inland waterway vessels, and yachts. She acts for charterers, traders, shipowners, hull & machinery underwriters and P&I clubs on charter party, bill of lading, offshore and general maritime issues. Vivian deals with insurance coverage and other shipping and energy-related commercial and contractual disputes. She also advises on public international law including the law of the sea.

Vivian is a Legal 500 first-rate recommended lawyer and a member of the legal committee of IVR, the international association of national organisations representing, among others, the inland navigation, insurance and surveying sectors. She says, “Transport and energy are volatile and complex areas, and I have been able to use - and to add to – my experience of these sectors since joining AKD. I am delighted to have been made a partner and to continue my development as part of an outstanding team.”

Jos van der Meché, head of AKD’s Transport & Energy team, says, “Vivian will be a great asset to our partner team. She has a wealth of experience of different areas of the industry at the highest level, as well as an impressive pedigree as an advocate and judge. She has all the experience and expertise necessary to improve still further the ability to find innovative solutions to complex issues which is the hallmark of the AKD Transport & Energy team.”

AKD’s Transport & Energy team provides a full range of legal services. AKD is a full-service Benelux firm with over 250 lawyers, civil-law notaries and tax advisers.

AKD: Law Firm of the Year: Benelux | The Lawyer European Awards 2018

www.akd.nl

AKD appoints new partner to Transport & Energy team

ROTTERDAM-based law firm AKD has appointed Annemieke Spijker a partner in its Transport & Energy team with effect from 1 June, 2016.

Annemieke joined AKD in July 2006, and became a member of the firm’s industry-leading Transport & Energy team in January 2008. She specialises in disputes involving road carriage and multimodal transportation, and has particular experience in drafting and negotiating logistics contracts. Annemieke is also involved in litigation, focusing on international transportation law disputes and recoveries.

Annemieke, who is a Legal 500 first-rate recommended lawyer and a member of the Dutch Transport Law Association, as well as being actively involved in the Transport Law Commission of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA), says, “I am delighted to have been made a partner at AKD, where I greatly enjoy my role as part of a top-tier team of lawyers working on issues in the logistics, shipping & offshore, aviation and international trade sectors.

Jos van der Meché, head of AKD’s Transport & Energy team, says, “At AKD Transport & Energy, we come up with unconventional solutions where necessary, based on expertise and creativity. We are able to do that by recruiting and retaining people with the highest level of legal expertise combined with an in-depth knowledge of the markets and industry sectors in which our clients operate. Annemieke is a perfect example of that.”

AKD’s Transport & Energy team provides a full range of legal services. AKD is a full-service firm with over 220 lawyers, civil-law notaries and tax advisers. It was named Benelux Law Firm of the Year for 2016 by The Lawyer.

www.akd.nl

Piracy and terrorism specialist partner joins Tatham Macinnes from Ince

Stephen Askins, a leading expert on piracy and terrorism issues, is joining the specialist maritime law firm Tatham Macinnes LLP from Ince & Co LLP as a partner in its London-based offices.

Stephen, a former Royal Marine, is well-known as one of the leading experts on casualty response and in particular piracy, maritime terrorism and the use of armed guards at sea. He has managed many of the more serious piracy and hostage incidents in recent times. He was also part of the drafting committee which produced GUARDCON, the BIMCO standard contract for the employment of security guards on board merchant ships - widely recognised as contributing to a significant reduction in piracy incidents around the world

Stephen is also acknowledged as an expert adviser on the legal and practical issues arising out of operating in complex environments, including Libya, Crimea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea. More recently, he has been dealing with the issues arising out of trading to Ebola-affected areas - helping to develop specific charter party clauses to cover the risks associated with the virus.

Stephen says, “I am delighted to be joining Tatham Macinnes. It’s a great team with a surprising depth of legal and technical knowledge. The legal market is changing rapidly. The chance to provide innovative and flexible solutions and services to our clients is very exciting.”

Tatham Macinnes partner Simon Tatham says, “Stephen’s reputation speaks for itself. His energy and enthusiasm, combined with his all-round shipping experience is a perfect fit for us. Tatham Macinnes has gone from strength to strength over the last three years, and we are very proud that Stephen recognises that and has taken the decision to join us.”

Tatham Macinnes LLP is a London-based maritime law firm set up three years ago, specialising in maritime law and, in particular, in large-scale casualty response. In that time it has dealt with numerous collisions, groundings, wreck-removals and pollution incidents. www.tatham-macinnes.com

For more information:
Simon Tatham
Tatham Macinnes
Tel: D. +44 (0)20 7469 2553
simon.tatham@tatham-macinnes.com