Hill Dickinson adds master mariner to legal team

A master mariner and solicitor with 30 years’ experience in the shipping industry, Peter-Davies specialises in wet and dry shipping matters that have a technical nature.

She has investigated a number of casualties and handled cases through to resolution, including Lloyd’s Salvage Arbitration, LMAA Arbitration, High Court, Court of Appeal and mediation proceedings.

She also advises on policy and procedural issues concerning the UK Ports and Terminals industry.

Peter-Davies has firm sea legs, beginning with a cadetship at the age of 17 and a further 12 years of seagoing experience as a deck and engineering officer on a variety of vessel types, including VLCCs, product tankers, LNG carriers, container ships, oil field standby/anchor handling vessels, high-speed craft and Ro-Ro vessels.

One back on land, she oversaw the vessel vetting and approval processes for an oil major and lectured in Maritime Law at the then Glasgow College of Nautical Studies (now Glasgow College).

She was awarded the Victoria Drummond Award by Nautilus International in 2019 for her mentoring work and the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service in 2020 for services to Women in Maritime.

“We are very pleased to welcome Helene to the team,” said Hill Dickinson partner and master mariner Phil Haddon. “She is well known to us from her years of work in the industry including on high value, multi-jurisdictional and complex cases.”

Hill Dickinson has been responding to emergency situations arising out of major marine casualties and disasters for over 200 years. Its team of mariners, all of whom are qualified lawyers, provide assistance in every type of casualty situation to clients around the globe, from offices in Europe and the Far East.

The company urges early stage intervention whenever an incident occurs, quickly identifying the potential legal issues, preserving and captuiring relevant physical, electronic and witness evidence.