UK
Jessica Maitra
Senior Director of Legal Services
+44 (0)7442 764 768
Jess qualified into marine law over 20 ago and has spent over 10 years as a partner at global law firms specialising in shipping, trade and insurance. Jess has advised clients on numerous marine-related issues, both contentious and commercial, but with a particular focus on dry shipping litigation and arbitration (LMAA and other rules) and P&I coverage issues. She has acted for different types of marine clients, including owners and charterers, ship-managers, pools, and leading marine insurers, including on commercially important, high value and novel claims.
Jess has chaired and spoken at various industry courses and events, including Lloyds Maritime Academy and BIMCO courses. She has also provided bespoke training for clients on a variety of shipping, trade and marine insurance topics.
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 Court of Appeal and has been involved in numerous high-profile arbitrations.
Charles has built a broad practice in P&I and FD&D over 20 years as a solicitor; having previously spent 5 years at sea. He has acted in major litigation and arbitration for leading P&I Clubs and commercial insurers, on behalf of shipowners, charterers and commodities traders.
Peter studied law at Durham University before joining a leading marine liability mutual. He joined Thomas Miller in 1995 and became an UK P&I Club, Area Director, 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, from 2015 until 2023. Peter remains a member of the senior management team; responsible for developing business for Davies Johnson internationally with particular reference to North and South America, Canada and the Caribbean.
Noé joined Davies Johnson in 2021 where he has been focusing on P&I and FD&D matters (cargo claims, charterparty disputes, collisions and general average amongst other matters). Noé regularly advises clients in LMAA arbitrations, where he represents shipowners, charterers and P&I Clubs.
Noé studied French law at Paris II Panthéon Assas and Aix Marseille Universities, where he specialised in international law and transport law, before completing a master in maritime law degree at the University of Southampton. He registered as an avocat at the Paris Bar in 2016 and obtained a qualification as a solicitor of England and Wales in 2022.
Noé‘s past experience includes working as a P&I executive with a leading marine mutual liability insurer. He also has in-house claims handling experience gained at a major container carrier. A native French speaker, Noé is also fluent in Greek.
Tristan joined the Davies Johnson Team in 2020, and advises vessel owners, charterers, P&I Clubs and commercial insurers covering the full spectrum of contentious and non- contentious Marine and Shipping law. His work involves charterparty disputes, cargo claims, Tug and Tow, Bunker disputes, General Average claims, collision, limitation issues and sale agreements.
Tristan also manages corporate criminal matters involving maritime and port safety, vessel detention, environmental damage, crew immigration issues and fisheries regulation. Tristan’s specialisms mean that he is unusually qualified to manage interviews with investigating authorities to assist Masters and mariners aboard ship and in port.
As a Barrister, Tristan has represented clients at the Admiralty Court, The High Court at Coroners’ Inquests and in prosecutions brought by the MCA, HSE, IFCA and MMO. He holds an MSc in Marine Safety, completed partially at the IMO.
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.
Mike is a senior solicitor with over 20 years’ experience handling and litigating a wide range of insurance disputes, with particular focus on defending personal injury claims. He joined Davies Johnson in 2022 having previously practiced at international insurance and shipping law firms. He specialises in high value litigation, covering marine, occupiers’, public and employers’ liability as well as insurance coverage disputes. He is instructed on matters involving complex issues of law in the County, Admiralty, High and appellate Courts.
Francesca joined Davies Johnson in 2021 and is admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales as well as being admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand. She advises on a range of P&I and FDD matters including collisions, defence of cargo claims, offhire disputes, underperformance and costs. Francesca also holds degrees in both Law and Commerce.
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
Stephen qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2009. After working in a leading Newcastle accountancy practice, Stephen joined Davies Johnson in 2017.
