Aceris Law is pleased to announce another success, having represented a Middle Eastern energy transport company in arbitration under the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) Rules. The case, based on a charter party agreement governed by English law, involved claims brought by a shipping company for port overstay charges and demurrage.
The claimant alleged that the respondent, Aceris Law's client, was responsible for significant delays in port operations and sought damages corresponding to overstay and demurrage charges. The respondent, however, contested liability and advanced counterclaims concerning contamination of the cargo transported by the claimant. Such issues are common in charter party arbitrations, where questions of contractual risk allocation, port operations, and cargo handling often give rise to complex factual and legal disputes.
The case was handled by William Kirtley, founding partner of Aceris Law, and Sidney Larsen, associate at Aceris Law. Both lawyers have extensive experience in multi-jurisdictional disputes and have acted in arbitrations under numerous institutional and ad hoc rules, including the LMAA, ICC, LCIA, SIAC, UNCITRAL, and ICSID.
Aceris Law guided the client through multiple rounds of submissions, ensuring that both the defence and the counterclaims were fully developed. The team relied on its specialised knowledge of shipping law and English contract law, while also maintaining a pragmatic approach designed to achieve a commercially sound resolution.
The LMAA is a leading association of maritime arbitrators whose rules are widely adopted in disputes arising under charter parties, bills of lading, and maritime service agreements, particularly those governed by English law. Common issues include:
- Liability for demurrage and port charges
- Cargo contamination or damage disputes
- Breaches of charter party obligations
- Questions of delay, laytime, and risk allocation
By achieving a cost-effective resolution of the dispute, Aceris demonstrated not only a mastery of the technical issues but also an ability to provide clients with practical solutions aligned with their commercial interests.
This latest success adds to Aceris Law's long list of victories in international arbitration for clients across the energy, transport, and shipping sectors. With a global client base and expertise spanning multiple arbitral rules and jurisdictions, Aceris has consistently delivered favourable results, whether through arbitral awards or through strategically negotiated settlements.
Aceris Law's mission is to offer world-class international arbitration representation at transparent and reasonable fees, ensuring clients achieve both excellent outcomes and value for their legal costs.