UK
Following a career in the police force in his native Newcastle, Peter studied law at Durham University before joining a leading marine liability mutual. He joined Thomas Miller in 1995 and became an Area Director of the UK P&I Club, before creating Thomas Miller Claims Management in 2007 and taking up the post of CEO. Peter led the development of Davies Johnson as its CEO, overseeing its opening in 2015.
After an active career in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Patrick spent several years in the offshore supply sector before qualifying as a solicitor with a major UK marine firm. After working with a leading marine liability mutual, Patrick started a successful claims and casualty management company, handling caseloads for both the mutual and commercial markets and working on several high-profile casualties, before joining Thomas Miller in 2007. He is the Head of Legal Practice for Davies Johnson and is also an accredited Mediator.
Andrew’s career in shipping started with several years in the operation and management of dry bulk, container and tanker vessels, taking him to Liverpool, London, Piraeus, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. After switching to law in 1991, Andrew qualified first as a barrister, and then as a solicitor with Davies Johnson in Plymouth. He has long experience of all classes of shipping work, particularly P&I, FD&D, collision and salvage work, as well as international trade. Andrew has acted successfully in the Supreme Court and has been involved in numerous high-profile arbitrations.
Having obtained his first degree, Charles spent five years working on square rig vessels and superyachts worldwide. Qualifying as a solicitor in 2003, Charles has built a broad practice of both contentious and non-contentious work. He has acted in major litigation and arbitration for leading P&I Clubs and commercial insurers, on behalf of shipowners, charterers and commodities traders, as well as handling sale, purchase and boatyard transactions for sailing and large yacht owners.
Paul joined Davies Johnson in 2018 to lead the personal injury litigation team, bringing over 25 years’ experience of handling personal injury claims and insurance disputes on behalf of insurers, corporate clients, government agencies and local authorities. His experience includes EL, PL, transport., logistics, motor and industrial disease claims, as well as policy coverage issues. He has handled a number of high-profile matters including complex, catastrophic and psychiatric injury, and costs disputes. He is a qualified Mediator and was a member of the Law Society’s Civil Justice Committee.
Tristan joined Davies Johnson’s Marine Team in 2020, and handles a range of contentious, technical and regulatory work, as well as marine mortgages and high-value sale and purchase.
As well as advising vessel owners, charterers, P&I Clubs and commercial insurers, Tristan handles corporate criminal matters involving maritime and port safety, environmental damage and fisheries regulation. As a Barrister, Tristan has represented clients at the Admiralty Court, The High Court, Coroners’ Inquests and prosecutions brought by the MCA, HSE, EA, IFCA and MMO. He holds an MSc in Marine Safety, completed partially at the IMO.
A keen sailor, with RYA Yacht Masters and Powerboat certificate and an International Certificate of Competence, he has owned and refitted a number of yachts and provides technical advice on building and management disputes. He is a board member and legal adviser of Dartmouth Harbour Authority, and a member of the RYA standing committee for the South West region.
Paul has been a solicitor since 2006 and is qualified in both England and Australia (New South Wales). He joined Davies Johnson in 2018 having been Owner-Principal of a firm in England and Practice Manager of a specialist transport firm in Australia. His main focus has been on employer liability, road traffic, transport demurrage and insurance litigation. Paul has significant experience of complex and high value litigation in both jurisdictions.
Fiona is a Chartered legal executive, specialising in injury and occupational disease claims. Based in Newcastle, Fiona handles caseloads for EL and PL insurers, run-off vehicles facing long-tailed legacy liabilities, and commercial operators in the industrial, transport and logistics sectors. Fiona also specialises in cross-border claims, handling matters in Scotland and Northern Ireland at the pre-litigation level.
A Chartered Legal Executive, Robert has over 15 years’ experience in Legal 500 law firms and the insurance industry. He has specialised in injury and occupational illness claims and advises on all aspects of employer, public and travel liability.
Francesca Koenders
Solicitor (NZ Qualified)
+44 (0) 7385 468771
Francesca joined TM Law in 2021 and is based with our marine team in Plymouth. A holder of degrees in both Law and Commerce in her native New Zealand, Francesca was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 2020 and will shortly become a Solicitor in England under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. Her experience to date includes litigation and legal publishing.
Simon is an experienced shipping and insurance litigator admitted in London and Hong Kong. He qualified in England in 1994 and Hong Kong in 1996 with a major international marine firm, and has handled a variety of complex litigation in shipping, international trade and professional indemnity. Simon spent a year studying at Beijing Normal University and a further year in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China, and speaks conversational Mandarin Chinese.
Iain qualified as a solicitor in 2003, following a long career at sea which saw him rise to the rank of Chief Engineer. As one of very few Chief Engineers to move into legal practice, Iain is uniquely placed to guide ship owners and underwriters on casualties, equipment failures and other technical claims. He has attended several high-profile casualties and acts as an expert witness on marine technical matters.
A Maritime Studies graduate from Cardiff University, Stephen worked in engineering and telecoms in the UK and Australia before joining Thomas Miller in in 2003. After six years with the UK P&I Club, Stephen joined Thomas Miller Claims Management in 2008 and was appointed Director in 2013. He has been a Director of Davies Johnson since 2015.
Specialist Advisers
Stephen has over thirty years shipping experience which started in the dry bulk sector. Ten years ago he moved onto the commercial desk of a British shipowner dealing with a wide variety of matters including charter party, bill of lading and cargo issues. He was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers in 2002 and more recently read for a degree in Maritime Law, followed by a Master's degree in International Trade Law at Northumbria University.
Adèle qualified as a solicitor in 1977 and brings with her a wealth of experience in risk and professional compliance. As a former Managing Partner, she has, in the past, taken responsibility for quality, client care and business/risk management and now advises Davies Johnson on all these aspects.
She has lectured widely to the profession and is also a consultant for the Law Society's Risk and Compliance Service and a Lexcel accredited consultant.
She also advise firms on the optimum structure for their development and future growth and undertakes regulatory due diligence checks for those involved in the legal sector.
Nick studied medicine at London University and, after qualifying, spent 10 years as a junior hospital doctor, predominantly in the North East of England, before reading law at Newcastle University. Admitted as a solicitor in 1998 he practised for 15 years in the field of clinical negligence at two leading law firms in Newcastle. Nicholas is a member of The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and the Newcastle upon Tyne Incorporated Law Society.
Finance & Support
Jill joined Davies Johnson in 2018 as an accountant in the Finance department, where she supports the management team on a range of finance matters. Previously, Jill worked in the finance team at the Jesmond Trust, a local charitable organisation, for fourteen years.
Stephen qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2009. After working in a leading Newcastle accountancy practice, Stephen joined Davies Johnson in 2017.
