Who we are

Chris joined Tatham & Co in 2022, from Ince & Co, as a Partner specialising in Admiralty matters. He is a Master Mariner and, prior to qualifying as a solicitor in 2006, spent 17 years at sea on a variety of vessels including LPG, product and crude oil carriers, container ships and cross-channel ferries.

As a member of the firm’s emergency response team, he is involved not only in the investigation and handling of casualties worldwide and their immediate aftermath but also in the handling of the legal issues arising post a casualty.

Chris acts for shipowners, P&I Clubs and hull underwriters, advising on collisions, groundings, salvage and total losses as well as limitation actions and wreck removal contract negotiation. On dry shipping issues arising out of a casualty, he advises on cargo claims and charterparty disputes, and is also particularly experienced in relation to bunker quality disputes and losses resulting from fire, liquefaction and unsafe ports.

Chris has worked on many high-profile casualties often in difficult jurisdictions. Cases include the collision involving the American warship the “USS John McCain” off Singapore, the fire on board the car carrier “COURAGE” in the English Channel and the “Khalijia 3” salvage and subsequent major collision with “MSC Chitra” off Mumbai.

He advises on cases in the English Courts and London arbitration, as well as international litigation. He has particular expertise in dealing with casualties in India and has been involved in some of the largest casualties in that jurisdiction over the years.