Simon Tatham

Simon is a partner based in the firm’s London office. His practice lies within the shipping and offshore fields with broad experience of dispute resolution, mediation, commercial litigation and arbitration. Simon handles both dry shipping and wet cases including collisions, salvage, towage, total loss, wreck removal, groundings, fires, pollution, significant cargo damage, limitation of liability, insurance coverage, marine inquiries/official investigations and seafarer prosecutions. Simon has coordinated cross jurisdictional and forum shopping litigation, travelling extensively. He is a trained and active mediator and a keen sailor.

Curriculum Vitae

Relevant experience:

• "Petragen One"/"Companavia" – destructive explosion and fire at Cepsa terminal, Algecieras
• Gulf War – rocket attacks leading to salvage claims against numerous ships
• "Braer" – grounding and oil pollution, Scotland
• "New World"/"Ya Mawlaya" - collision, fire and loss of life
• "Sea Empress" – grounding and pollution Milford Haven, GA claims
• "Mount I"/"ICL Vikraman" – collision and loss of life Malacca Strait, cargo claims
• "Norwegian Dream"/"Ever Decent" – collision English Channel
• "Kodima" – grounding Cornwall, loss of cargo, salvage and pollution claims
• "Rocknes" – capsize near Bergen, salvage and Scopic claims
• "Tzini" – grounding and salvage, Taiwan
• "Team Anemonia"/"Madrisa" – collision Conakry, hull and cargo claims etc
• "Federal Kivalina" – grounding and LOF salvage, Norway
• "Heavylift Ancora" – loss overboard of heavylift cargo in mid-Atlantic
• "Vallermosa"/"BW Orinoco"/"Navion Fennia" - multiple-ship collision Southampton
• "Thor Ace" – foundering off Taiwan, salvage
  

Work experience:

• 2010 Partner Wikborg Rein LLP London
• 2003-2009 Partner Bentleys, Stokes and Lowless
• 1995-2003 Partner Stephenson Harwood
• 1989-1995 Partner Sinclair Roche & Temperley
• 1980-1989 Assistant solicitor (1984-6 Sinclair’s office in Hong Kong)
  

Publications:

Simon has written articles on the assessment of values in salvage cases, the ISM Code and the handling of marine casualty cases and lectures on issues such as dispute resolution and mediation, pilotage law, unsafe ports, salvage, collisions and arrest. He regularly chairs shipping law and shipping trade seminars and provides seminars and workshops for clients.

Education:

• UWIST - LLB / Guildford College of Law