The team is led by Chris Dunn, formerly head of Kennedys' marine practice. Chris joins DWF today, Thursday 1 May, alongside fellow partners Jonathan Evans and Andrew Purssell. Partners Michael Biltoo and Mark Lloyd will join later this summer.
The partners specialise in marine insurance litigation including coverage disputes and recovery actions, charterers' liability claims, reinsurance, commodities, freight liability and international trade disputes. They have acted on some of the market's most complex and high-profile claims and marine casualties including salvage, General Average, piracy, pollution and collision liability and have extensive experience of ICC, LCIA and LMAA arbitrations.
Marine insurance is a globally significant market and this move strengthens DWF's ability to support its clients globally, including from London, Canada, Dubai, France, Italy, Spain and Hong Kong.
It is the fourth notable team hire to DWF's Insurance Services division in the past eight months. It follows the arrival in February of 62 people to its Australian insurance business from the law firm, Hall & Wilcox. In January, 28 people from Quebec-based law firm Belanger Sauvé, established Montreal as the firm's 4th Canadian office, while last September it completed the acquisition of Australian claims management business Proclaim, resulting in the arrival of a team of 60 people.
Commenting on his joining DWF, Chris said: "I am delighted to be joining DWF today at a time when it is growing its insurance offering across multiple locations and areas of expertise. My fellow partners, team members and I were clear that by joining DWF we can bolster the firm's global capabilities in marine insurance and offer existing and new clients the support they need, wherever it is needed. We are excited to get started."
Also joining DWF today are:
- Freddie Mehlig, Legal Director
- John Langley, Director of Marine
- Marco Pedretti Senior Associate
- Sam Butler, Associate
- Dries Deschuttere, Associate
- Eleanore de Montule, Associate
Other team members will join later this summer.
