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Specialist Areas:
Bruce specialises in Maritime Law in the following areas:
- Commercial: Charter Agreements, Trading Terms & Contracts,
Construction / Sale of Vessels, Advice to Ports, Major Marine Logistics
and Project Work
- Contentious: Marine Insurance Claims, Admiralty - Ship Arrests, Collision, Damage & Pollution Investigation & Claims and Cargo and Trading Disputes
He also has experience in Local Government including Public & Professional Liability Advice, Commercial Dispute Resolution and Asbestos Related Liability Claims.
Career Summary:
Following initial training in commercial law, Bruce engaged in general legal practice for a number of years in North Queensland developing a greater interest in both commercial dispute resolution and general maritime and shipping matters.
Bruce has practised extensively in the maritime area for the past 15 years. In that time, he has acted for a large number of the marine tourism and service providers to the famous Whitsunday region and marine operators in Australia and internationally. More recently he worked exclusively in maritime – or shipping and transport - law for 5 years in Scotland, where, in 2002, he was regarded a leading shipping lawyer. He advises in high value and complex marine matters, both commercial and contentious, for large public and private corporations as well as international P&I Clubs.
Bruce has been engaged in major projects in areas of international vessel / fleet acquisitions and flagging, vessel construction, operational/management structuring, complex / heavy cargo logistics and other charters. His special interests extend to other ports and transport issues, oil spill response and local government advice in public liability and professional negligence issues.
Whilst practising in Scotland he also provided advice to various maritime and marine insurance entities in response to asbestos related compensation claims.
He maintains an affiliation with the Defence forces as a Captain in the Australian Army Reserve Legal Corps.
Qualifications:
• Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High
Court of Australia
• Queensland Law Society Approved Mediator (1994 – 2006)
• Queensland Law Society Approved Arbitrator
• Admitted as a Solicitor of England / Wales
• Admitted as a Solicitor and Notary Public in Scotland
Memberships and Appointments:
• Member of the Queensland Law Society
• Member of the Law Societies of Scotland and of England / Wales
• Member of the Queensland Law Society Senior Solicitors Panel (2006)
• Member of the MLAANZ
• Member (& Past Secretary) of the Marine Discussion Group of Qld
• Former Member of the BMLA (UK) & its Sub Committee on Anti-Piracy Laws
• Companion of the Nautical Institute
• Member of the International Bar Association
• Vice President (& a coach) of the Kenmore Centenary Rugby Union Football
Club
• Member of the North Queensland Club
• Clubhouse Life Member of the Mackay and District Rugby Union Football
Association.
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