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Portrait of Richard Johnson-Brown

Profile

Richard is a partner in the marine, trade and aviation team, specialising in shipping, commodities and yachting disputes. In terms of dry shipping, he handles disputes arising from shipbuilding, ship sale and purchase, ship management, charterparties, booking notes and bills of lading while his wet shipping expertise covers disputes linked to collisions and general average. Richard also advises on marine insurance coverage matters and in the commodities field handles issues relating to contracts of sale and letters of credit. His yachting law practice comprises disputes arising from yachtbuilding, sale and purchase, financing, charters, collisions and insurance.

Richard’s clients include shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, commodities traders, an international oil major, freight forwarders and logistics providers. He also regularly acts for yacht owners, charterers, managers, brokers, financers and designers.

Recommended for his expertise in the shipping sector by The Legal 500, Richard is based in the Piraeus office and speaks Greek, French and German. Prior to joining Penningtons Manches Cooper in 2024, he trained and spent many years at another leading shipping law firm before becoming a partner in 2020.

Recent work highlights

  • Acting for an oil major and seller of an oil cargo in a London arbitration arising from a transaction involving allegedly off-spec cargo.
  • Representing a commodities trader in a High Court action over the cancellation of a Gafta sales contract.
  • Advising a multinational freight forwarder and ship charterer during a London arbitration against a shipowner and sub-charterers following a chain of booking notes.
  • Advising a yacht charterer during a London arbitration against a yacht owner arising from an unsatisfactory yacht charter holiday.
  • Representing a yacht buyer in a London arbitration against a yacht seller arising from a failure to deliver the yacht in accordance with the memorandum of agreement.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP