Matt Berry

Specialist Counsel and Admiralty Manager

About Matt Berry

Matt Berry is a Specialist Counsel and Admiralty Manager at Wikborg Rein's London office. He is an experienced shipping lawyer with a strong international shipping background. Drawing upon seafaring experience from the oil and gas industry and provides technical and legal advice to clients.

He is a former mariner and a qualified solicitor specialising in maritime casualties and claims. He began his career at sea with James Fisher, working on coastal product tankers, trading between the UK and Europe. In 2003, he joined Shell, and spent the next seven years sailing on product tankers, VLCC’s and LNG vessels up to the rank of Chief Officer. Matt also worked ashore in Shell's Operation Department.

As a member of the firm's Maritime and Offshore Emergency Response team, he is primarily involved in the investigation and handling of casualties worldwide and regularly advises ship owners, P&I clubs and H&M insurers in the aftermath of collisions, groundings, fires and pollution, as well as other major casualties. He regularly acts for clients on collision claims providing advice on liability and quantum.

He also handles both salvage and General Average matters, as well as unsafe port claims and a broad range of dry shipping disputes. More recently he assists clients with sanctions related issues using the latest technologies and vessel tracking software.

He travels widely on a variety of matters, including collisions, groundings, salvage, fire and pollution incidents.

Speak to Matt about:

• Incident Investigation

• Incident Reconstruction

• Collision Liability & Quantum

• Sanctions – Vessel Tracking & Advice

• Cargo shortage & contamination claims

• Tankers – Oil & Gas

• Unsafe Port

• General Average

• Salvage

• Pollution

• Fire & Explosions

• MARPOL Investigation

Work experience

  • 2021 -

    Specialist Counsel and Admiralty Manager, Wikborg Rein, London

  • 2020 - 2021

    Admiralty Manager & Solicitor, Ince LLP

  • 2015 - 2020

    Senior Marine Manager, Ince & Co LLP

  • 2010 - 2015

    Marine Manager, Ince & Co LLP

  • 2003 - 2010

    Navigation Officer, Shell International Shipping

  • 2007

    Operations Assistant, Shell International Shipping

  • 2000 - 2003

    Navigation Officer, James Fisher

Education

  • 2014 - 2016

    LPC, BPP Law, School London

  • 2013 - 2015

    GDL, Middlesex University

  • 2009 - 2010

    Bsc (Hons) Nautical Science, Middlesex University

  • 2008 - 2009

    HND Nautical Science, Fleetwood Nautical College

Selected projects

  • Shinyo Ocean c/w Aseem – Collision off Fujairah, UAE, 2019 - Constructive Total Loss, liability and quantum

  • Kaami – Grounding off Minches, Scotland, 2020 – Cargo claims

  • Korona D c/w NSU Carajas, 2020 – Collision off Brazil – Security, liability and quantum

  • Calypso.GR c/w Z18 Soetkin, 2021 – Collision off Dover Straits, UK - Incident investigation, liability and quantum

  • APL Los Angeles – Grounding off Fuzhou, China, 2018 - General Average

  • Cyclades c/w Ceylon Breeze – Collision off Singapore, 2021 – Incident Investigation, liability and quantum

  • Erbil c/w Harrison Bay – Collision off Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2021 - Incident investigation, liability and quantum

  • Sevan Driller / T16 c/w SCF Pacifica – Collision off Indonesia, 2021 – Incident investigation, liability and quantum

  • Bulk Shenzhen c/w RB Lisa – Collision off Baoshan, China, 2021 – Incident Investigation, liability and quantum

  • Navios Amaryllis – Grounding off Maldives, 2021 – Incident Investigation, claims

  • Singapore Pioneer c/w Sea Ploeg, Singapore, 2022 - Liability & quantum

  • Helge c/w Wild Cosmos - Off Denmark, 2022 - Incident Investigation, Salvage and GA

  • Seattle Express - FFO damage, Vancouver, Canada, 2022 - Unsafe Port Advice

  • Flecha - FFO damage - South Korea, 2022 - Unsafe Port Advice