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Portrait of Mark Sachs

Profile

Mark has a broad practice in shipping, commodity and commercial litigation. He has conducted arbitrations in London, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Stockholm, either as counsel or lead partner, and has expertise in trade and commodity finance and hedging.  A fluent Mandarin Chinese speaker, Mark studied in China and is adept at working with Chinese evidence, both oral and written. He was one of the first foreign maritime lawyers to work in China in the late 1980s. 

He also has considerable wet shipping experience, having handled all types of casualties around the world, and has litigated shipbuilding, construction and mining disputes. For over 25 years, Mark has acted for Japan-based marine insurers and has been instructed in several high-profile marine casualties in South Africa (collision and total loss) and recently at Suez (multi-vessel collisions).

His first degree was in Chinese literature (first class) from the University of British Columbia followed by an LLB. He is qualified as a barrister and solicitor in British Columbia and was admitted as an English solicitor in 1998. Mark opened the firm’s Singapore office in 1996.

Recent work highlights

  • Lead partner in Pacific Pearl Co Ltd v NYK Orpheus Corp [2023] EWHC 2828 (Admty) - Suez Canal collision.
  • Counsel in LMAA arbitration through to award in respect of multiparty term petroleum import contract (2023).
  • Counsel in London ad hoc arbitration through to award in respect of a commodity trade finance dispute (2022).
  • Advising on many LMAA arbitrations involving a variety of shipping issues.
  • Acting as arbitrator in two Hong Kong arbitrations.
  • Defending anti-suit injunction proceedings in Essar Shipping v Bank of China [2016] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 427.

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