Chums on Seats - Stephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood

ELENA Herrero-Visairas has joined Stephenson Harwood's office in Madrid. Herrero-Visairas, who has considerable experience in transport-related matters, is joining the firm to deal with shipping litigation, admiralty matters and ship finance. She previously worked for a leading London law firm and an international shipowner in the US. Set up in 1996, Stephenson Harwood's Madrid office now comprises four qualified lawyers.

Ince & Co

LONDON-based Ince & Co has welcomed Graham Crane to its maritime team. Crane joins Ince from Constant & Constant ,where he had been a partner since 1978. Highly regarded in the field of dry shipping, Crane has particular expertise in trade disputes, P&I and defence club matters. He has been involved in a number of high-profile cases, including the recent grounding of the Vikartindur off Iceland. A fluent French speaker, Crane also specialises in French practice and procedure and is an overseas member of the Association Francaise du Droit Maritime.

Holmes Hardingham Walser Johnston Winter

HOLMES Hardingham Walser Johnston Winter has made three new appointments. Andrew Large joins as an assistant solicitor with the cargo and transit team. He has broad experience of shipping litigation, having previously practised in London and Hong Kong. Judy Jones, a qualified South African attorney who is also admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales, has joined the yacht team as an assistant solicitor. Joining the cargo team, meanwhile, is Lisa Purdy, who is a trainee legal executive and has experience in general litigation.

Watson, Farley & Williams

WATSON, Farley & Williams has opened a new office in Bangkok. Heading up the team at Watson, Farley & Williams (Thailand) is Steven Burkhill. "We are delighted to have a practice in Bangkok," says Burkhill. "Thailand has long been a very significant market for us as a firm. The decision to open an office in Bangkok was taken primarily in response to the needs of our clients in Thailand and the wider region."

WFW's London-based shipping litigation team has also expanded with the arrival of Nigel Waterson. Formerly senior partner at Waterson Hicks, Waterson specialises in shipping, international trade, insurance and energy- related disputes.

The Swedish Club

CHRISTER B Olsson, vice-chairman of Wallenius Lines, has been elected chairman of The Swedish Club. He succeeds Carl-Axel Psilander of Stena Maritime. Olsson, who has been a member of the club's board since 1999, also serves on the boards of The Swedish Shipowner's Association, Stolt Nielsen, B&N and Atlantic Container Line. He is, in addition, chairman of United European Car Carriers (UECC). Sun Shengjun, executive director and vice-president of Sinotrans in Beijing, and Liu Lianan, deputy managing director of Cosco Bulk Carriers in Tianjin, have been elected board members.

Roschier-Holmberg & Waselius

ROSCHIER-Holmberg & Waselius has changed its telephone and fax numbers. The new numbers are as follows:

Helsinki Tel. +358 (0)20 506 6000 Fax. +358 (0)20 506 6100
Oulu Tel. +358 (0)20 506 6020 Fax. +358 (0)20 506 6021
Tampere Tel. +358 (0)20 506 6030 Fax. +358 (0)20 506 6031
Vaasa Tel. +358 (0)20 506 6010 Fax. +358 (0)20 506 6011

Bond Pearce

BOND Pearce has strengthened its maritime sector expertise with the appointment of Nick Horton as partner, and solicitor Tracey Martin. Horton is well-known for his marine insurance expertise and litigation and arbitration services for clubs and underwriters. He was most recently associated with the Factortame litigation in the European Court of Justice and UK courts. Horton and Martin will be working closely with Nicky Nelson, who recently joined Bond Pearce from Norton Rose.

Sinclair Roche & Temperley

SINCLAIR, Roche & Temperley has recruited shipping and energy specialist Russell Ridley, and maritime law specialist Balvinder Ahluwalia. Ridley has considerable experience in the shipping and tanker market as well as sound market knowledge of the marine and energy insurance sectors. Among his clients are Bergesen, Odfjell Tankers, Fortnum Gas Ltd , and a number of London and Scandinavian underwriters. Along with Ridley, senior solicitor Ahluwalia joins the firm from Middleton Potts. Ahluwalia has recently been involved in a number of major high court and arbitration cases involving tanker shipments of bulk liquid cargoes.

Clyde & Co

ANDREW Simpson has joined Clyde & Co's shipping litigation and marine insurance practice as master mariner. Simpson joins from a Liverpool law firm where he was involved in a number of contentious and non-contentious international projects. He has spent many years serving on containerships, bulk carriers, product tankers, VLCCs and freight ferries as well as technical surveying and consultancy with the Caleb Brett division of Inchcape in Singapore.

John P Palmer

NEW York arbitrator John P Palmer, a member of the Society of Maritime Arbitrators for 25 years, is to marry Pepsi Cola PR executive Elaine Franklin on October 7 at Lake George, New York. Manfred Arnold will be best man. Fittingly, the ceremony takes place on board the vessel Lac Du Saint Sacrement.

LMAA

CHRISTOPHER Moss has been elected president of The London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) for a two-year term. He succeeds Mark Hamsher.