Becca Cawley

Managing Associate

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Rebecca is qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales, and has previously worked in a leading international shipping firm.

She has a broad experience of both wet and dry shipping cases and is regarded by clients for her particular expertise in dry work, having advised in relation to a range of contractual disputes arising out of COAs, charterparties and bills of lading. Rebecca successfully acted for the owners of the Amalie Essberger in the High Court, securing a decision in which the court rejected the charterer’s attempt to time bar the owner’s claim for demurrage.

Rebecca handles arbitrations on a wide range of matters, including most recently disputes involving the construction of a Letter of Indemnity, a cargo contamination, and an unsafe port claim.

Rebecca regularly leads on responses to complex multi-jurisdictional incidents. When every hour is critical in the immediate aftermath of an incident, she is decisive and solution focused with a keen ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders. If litigation ensues, clients can rely on her pragmatic and sharply analytical approach.

Becca's Career Highlights

Emergency Response PlusMinus

Becca has handled the following major incidents:

    • The grounding of a laden VLCC in the Karimata Strait.
    • A major fire and subsequent sinking of a car carrier and associated pollution-response efforts.
    • An explosion and fire on board a chemical tanker.

Disputes PlusMinus

Examples of disputes handled by Becca:

    • “Amalie Essberger” Tankreederei GmbH & Co KG v Marubeni Corporation [2019] EWHC 3402 (Comm).

    • Multi-million-dollar LMAA arbitration proceedings relating to an allision between an offshore supply vessel and an oil platform.

    • High Court proceedings arising out of a claim for contribution in General Average following a grounding.

Investigations PlusMinus

Becca has led the following investigations:

  • Investigation into cause of the contamination of a high value oil products cargo.

  • Investigation into cause of an engine room fire on board a laden bulk carrier.

  • Investigation into the cause of a grounding under pilotage of a laden bulk carrier.

Advisory PlusMinus

Example’s of Becca’s work in this area:

  • The drafting of various bespoke clauses and agreements, including charterparty terms; assignments and novation agreements.

  • Advising on various sanctions issues, particularly those arising in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

  • The negotiation and drafting of a substantial contract for the removal of waste from a vessel following a fire.

 

Consulting and Projects PlusMinus

Becca’s work in this area includes the following:

  • Update of sanctions policy for a large shipowner and operator.