‘Top-tier firm‘ Bowmans garners praise for its ‘deep jurisdictional expertise‘. The ‘responsive‘ team has an excellent reputation for advising on a broad spectrum of shipping, aviation, and transport matters. Andrew Pike is a highly regarded practitioner in the port infrastructure and development space, and is regularly instructed by international port and terminal developers; Craig Cunningham brings over three decades of experience in shipping law, and acts for shipowners, financiers, marine insurers, charterers and suppliers in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious maritime work. Heather Manson, who leads the aviation group, fields expertise in aviation insurance, disputes and regulatory issues; Claudia Jackson has ‘a very impressive intellect and knowledge of the law, as well as strategic insight‘. Lana Stockton‘s workload includes shipping litigation and cross-border shipping insolvency issues, and Jeremy Prain‘s broad practice takes in ship finance, rail and road transportation work, and marine insurance cases.  Bills of lading and charterparty matters are core areas of instruction for Mark van Velden, and Shanae Durman lends support on aviation insurance and dispute resolution matters.

The shipping practice at Webber Wentzel has extensive experience in advising on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious maritime work. Insurers, shipowners, charterers, port owners and operators, and agents are included in the client base, and the team regularly assists with, among other areas, international trade issues, ship arrests, maritime casualties, enforcement of maritime claims and commercial shipping transactions. The practice is jointly led by Patrick Holloway, the ‘technically outstanding‘ Andre Bowley and Gavin Fitzmaurice, ‘one of the most commercially-savvy maritime lawyers in the international market‘. On the aviation side, the group is jointly led by Neerasha Singh, who is well versed in handling aviation finance, and Scott Edmundson, who has a solid track record in assisting banks, export credit agencies and airlines with a broad range of financing matters. The team is equally strong at advising on the import and export of aircraft among other aviation regulatory issues.

At Cox Yeats, ‘the entire team works as a well-oiled machine‘. Led by marine insurance expert Andrew Clark, the group has a strong track record in advising on cargo recovery claims, charterparty disputes, marine insurance claims and claims under bills of lading, to name a few areas. The department reports an uptick in work concerning ship arrests, a key area of instruction for Tamryn Simpson, who is equally adept at advising on international trade issues, vessel collision claims, cargo recovery claims and marine insurance matters. Aideen Ross‘ workload includes liability and marine insurance issues and cases involving maritime casualties. Slindokuhle Ngwenya, made partner in March 2025, has extensive experience in acting for cargo owners, ship owners and insurers in contentious matters.

At ENSafrica, practice head Michael Tucker is well-versed in acting for the owners and operators of vessels and marine insurers in defence disputes and marine insurance cases. The firm reports an uptick in cases involving maritime casualties, which are a key area of instruction for maritime law specialist Tony Norton. Jacqui Kaufmann has extensive experience in handling High Court litigation, and represents agents, marine insurers, and vessel owners and operators in charterparty disputes, litigation arising from ship arrests and attachments, and cargo disputes. Kate Pitman is highly-regarded for her expertise in advising on charterparty issues, bills of lading, and contracts of affreightment, as well as representing owners and operators of vessels in cases involving maritime casualties.

With experience in marine insurance, international trade matters and maritime casualty cases, Malcolm Hartwell heads Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc‘s practice. Andrew Robinson has an excellent reputation for his extensive experience in handling port regulatory issues, and Carol Holness is a key contact for maritime litigation. Peter Lamb‘s workload includes contentious admiralty matters, international trade cases, and marine insurance issues. Alongside the group’s strength in shipping law, the firm is ‘the gold standard in aviation law‘ for some; Paul Cartwright regularly handles disputes in the aviation sector, and is equally adept at assisting with insurance, leasing and regulatory matters in the space.

The shipping and marine practice at Clyde & Co LLP has an excellent reputation for handling marine and cargo insurance matters, both key areas of instruction for the team leader Arthur James – while Nick Veldman acts as a key contact for vessel operators, insurers and owners concerning collision and demurrage matters. Thomas Henstra‘s workload includes assisting with marine cargo policies. Tilly Seboko left the firm in May 2024 for an in-house role at P&O.