Trade & Commercial
Beaufort Litigation acts for traders, banks, technical suppliers, agents and the industrial sector. We know the market you are in and are keen on getting to know your company and business interests.
As Dutch shipping and trade litigators we are well-known to be hands-on and tough professionals. Not easily impressed by the size of a claim, the complexity or internationality of an issue, the number of lawyers brought forward by an adversary or (most certainly not) by threats of arrest of assets, we draw the map and simply deal with the situation to your best advantage. We know and are able to quickly decide on whether or not you are best catered for in the Netherlands or elsewhere, both in contract and in court.
This practical no-nonsense approach makes us attractive sparring partners for the trade and commercial markets. And generally our rates are more favorable than large full service firms.
We assist you in:
- contract negotiations – either in the background or alongside you;
- contractual disputes – in an advisory role and/or as your out of court counsel;
- dispute resolution – in arbitration proceedings (ICC, NAI, UNUM), before the Netherlands Commercial Court or in the regular Dutch court system.
On the one hand, our clients have affinity with the shipping and transportation world. We act for traders, technical suppliers and agents in a large variety of commercial matters.
On the other hand, our clients are in the industrial sector, such as the technical manufacturing industry, are managers of industrial complexes, are banks and financiers or holders of security rights.
Defence counsel for the Russian-Cypriot holder of security rights in >100 containers to be sold per judicial auction.
Advising a major owner/operator on sludge disposal per MARPOL and Dutch port standards.
Defence counsel for Swiss industrialists in a technical dispute. On the basis of a battle of the forms-defence, the case was dismissed in the Netherlands with highly favorable effects for clients.
Defence counsel for vessel owner re an unjust and contractually exonerated demurrage claim.
Advising German industrialists in a European tender procedure.
Acting for vessel owners in a technical dispute regarding vices in a bow thruster installed in a new-build seulting in extensive hull damage.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners in an extensive allision (barge – quay) case.
Drafting of T&C for vessel managers, surveyors and shipyards.
Acting for vessel owners in a new-build dispute over hidden vices in a non-return valve resulting in extensive hull damage.
Acting for vessel owners against a shipyard in a dispute over contractual scope, performance and pricing.
Advising major shipowners on forum and choice of law clauses in contracts of affreightment.
Advising shipowner on a Maritime Labour Convention claim for death of a seafarer.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners in a collision between a pushtrain and a pleasure craft.
Acting for major maritime traders in an international asset recovery matter against a former contractual partner.
Acting for shipowners in a collision between a tanker and a pushtrain.
Acting for insured interests of an antiques estate in an insurance coverage dispute in an extensive fire damage case.
Defence counsel for insurers of cargo interests in a CMR theft case, in which carriers have launched negative declaratory (limitation) proceeding in the Netherlands.
Acting for shipowners regarding a claim for hull damage following high-pressure water blasting.
Defence counsel for barge owner in extensive limitation of liability proceedings following an allision with a bridge. Bridge owners and pushboat owners launched the claim that the barge was a seagoing vessel. This claim failed, leading to new case law on topic.
Acting for shipowners in a limitation of liability procedure following an oil spill.
Acting for barge owners regarding a hull claim following a three-party collision.
Advising industrial complex managers on facilities contracts and drafting contracts.
Advising and acting for shipowners following an allision with a bridge.
Acting for industrial complex managers in a pricing dispute.
Acting for an international bank in a major international asset recovery matter.
Acting for shipowners regarding hull damages following a three-party collision.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners and operators in a canal collision between a pushtrain and an inland vessel, which collision was caused by suction and lead to extensive damage.
Defence counsel for pushboat owners in an allision between a bridge and a barge following the anchoring of the barge by the pushboat.
Defence counsel for shipowners encountering an unjust collision claim (no liability).
Acting for pushboat owners and operators in a major limitation of liability case following the collosion of an inlang barge with a pushtrain.
Acting for barge owners in a dispute over hull damages against the barge’s carriers.
Acting for major maritime traders in an international asset recovery matter against shipowners.
Advising and drafting SPA of a vessel.
Advising on lease of property for major German industrialists and drafting the relevant contracts.
Acting for major maritime traders in an international asset recovery matter against former contractual partner.
Acting for maritime agents of a vessel sold per judicial auction.
Advising shipowners in allision matter in the Dutch Antilles following a hurricane.