We have tried to cover the international spectrum of maritime law

In this issue, as always, we have tried to cover the international spectrum of maritime law. For example, Joe Hurley of Norton White brings you up to date with recent legislation down under, and Olga Baglay explains why ship arrest in Russia can be a lengthy business.

Freele Kunst provides some interesting insights into the new civil code in the Netherlands Antilles. Jumoko Akindjide-Balgun discusses the current difficult state of affairs facing the Nigerian maritime industry and outlines some solutions, while Mfon Ekong Usoro explains the legal requirements for establishing a shipping company in Nigeria.

Our cover story by Aurelio Fernandez-Concheso makes a case for Venezuela being the leading maritime law centre in Latin America.

In this issue we also have a London focus, featuring the Admiralty Solicitors Group. Suzanne Starbuck interviews its chairman since 1992, Richard Sayer of Ince & Co. And Simon Tatham of Stephenson Harwood talks about the pros and cons of operating internationally with London as a head office.

Our people profiles include London based Diana Noronha, managing director of AL Shippping In Camera. Well-known and larger-than-life London lawyer, Tim Taylor, a founder partner of Hill Taylor Dickinson, is featured in At the Bar.

Both Diana and Tim have a lot to say about understanding people, managing their expectations and motivating them to achieve results - whether they be clients or internal staff. The Times recently published an arresting article by a disillusioned young solicitor entitled, 'A brave new world that poisoned an office culture'. People generally are not motivated by grand projects and PR bluff, but by those around them valuing their contribution and treating them with respect. "It is these mundane factors that underpin organisations but are increasingly in short supply," explained The Times article.

Tim Taylor described how a senior partner at an early stage in his career gave him the chance to "chase the rabbit". He now tries to do the same thing but says, "You have to be quite grown-up about letting your team do the running". This picks up the theme of an earlier interview with Ole Lund of Norway in The Maritime Advocate, in which he encouraged partners to "polish the diamond" of their bright young assistants. If you create a carrot-and-stick environment in the workplace, you tend to end up with donkeys. Don't just look at the current performance of your young lawyers. Take a look at what their potential could be if they were allowed to use their initiative in an environment that was not overly target-driven.

Diana Noronha also has some pearls of wisdom for maritime lawyers. She likes working with lawyers who give her the chance to make a decision, rather than being so pernickety that they kill a deal, or scoring points for the sake of being clever. Rather be clever in private, she advises. "Lawyers, like everybody in business, need to put across a human face and be aware that their persona across the table is being carefully read and interpreted by their client," she says.

Food for thought for us all. Enjoy this issue of The Maritime Advocate.

Georgina Noakes