Mr Alexander John Penberthy is a Partner in Birketts LLP Solicitors Shipping and International Trade Team -Bristol office and joined Birketts in September 2023 from Ince & Co.

Alex is a specialist in marine insurance claims with a particular focus on marine related casualties. He handles a wide range of personal injury claims involving passengers, crew and shore side workers engaged in all areas of the marine industry including fishing. He has extensive experience advising on marine litigation, Athens Convention claims and Admiralty Court procedure. Alex is also regularly instructed to carry out accident investigation and provide support in the immediate aftermath of a marine casualty.

Alex also advises on policy coverage disputes as well as regulatory matters. He works with insurers, P&I clubs and passenger and ferry operators as well as private yacht owners. Alex has further experience in cross jurisdictional claims including providing opinions on English Law for the benefit of foreign courts.

Mr Alexander John Penberthy is Host of the 48 Session North Sea Operators' Claims Conference 2026 Bristol.

Mr Antony Duncan Reed joined recently Birkeets LLP Solicitors as Partner in its regulatory and corporate defence team, based in the firm’s Bristol office, the first hire for the team in the region.

With over 20 years’ experience, Duncan has a wide practice area spanning health and safety law, dealing with commercial regulatory compliance, product liability, food safety and consumer protection issues and trading standards and advertising and promotions. He provides both contentious and non-contentious advice and, as a Solicitor Advocate, represents clients facing regulatory prosecutions and investigations. He also supports individuals and organisations at Inquests and Public Inquiries.

He regularly advises on matters with a cross-border element and has previously worked in Brussels and the US. He provides training for directors on liability and risk and is a regular speaker at relevant industry events and conferences.

Duncan has led on a number high-profile and complex instructions for core participants to public inquiries along with representing major global corporates in enforcement actions and criminal investigations. Recent work highlights: Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Supermarket underage sale. CMA (the Competition & Markets Authority) Green Claims investigation.

Mr Thomas Bjørn Larsen started his contact with the maritime world at A.P. Møller-Mærsk as a Shipping Trainee and assistant - bunkers brokering in 1981-1984, attending A.P. Møller Shippingskole, class of 1983. 1985 Rederiet J. Lauritzen A/S, Copenhagen - Purchasing Department.

Thomas finished Law studies (Master) at Københavns Universitet in 1989 and after attending University College London (UCL) Carriage of goods by sea etc. etc. he was recruited as Lawyer at Assuranceforeningen SKULD Copenhagen in 1991. Stationed in SKULD Hong Kong in 1999. He also commenced in SKULD Copenhagen the underwriters function (UW) in the Middle Eastern market.

Since 2009 has been Senior Vice-President at SKULD and Head of office SKULD Germany GmbH (Hamburg).

Previously, Thomas had attended Takoradi International School, class of 1973-1974, has been Ekstern Lektor at Københavns Universitet - EU ret og Sø og Transportret in the period 1992-2007 and holds a Master Degree from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, class of 2014-2016. And since 1996 has been Speaker at the annual November course “Tanker Chartering and Documentation” - Cambridge Academy of Transport, UK.

Thomas has been Sergeant, Patruljekompaniet Danish Territorial Army 1997-2009

In the period 2003-2013 Mr Thomas Bjørn Larsen was Chairman of the North Sea Operators' Claims Conference.

Mr David Richards returned to law work and joined Shearwater Law team in 2025 bringing more than two decades of expertise in maritime law and P&I claims management. He was previously a Partner at Ince & Co and later the Deputy Head of P&I claims & Head of Legal & Expertise at NorthStandard (Newcastle).

David specialises in trade, dry shipping, and admiralty disputes. His extensive experience also spans complex maritime casualties, cargo, maritime security, sanctions and pollution.

David is the author of "Cargo Claims - The Essential Guide" (March 2026) and co-authored the 4th Edition of "Bills of Lading: A Guide to Good Practice" (2024). He has also completed the Negotiation and Leadership program at Harvard Law School.

Capt Adrian Scales is a Chartered Master Mariner (CMMar) and Fellow of the Nautical Institute (FNI) - Current Chairman of North-West and Wales Branch. With extensive maritime expertise, he joined Brookes Bell as a Marine Consultant in January 2007, following 18 years at sea as Master with P&O Ferries (Irish Sea) Ltd. on Class 7 Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax and High-Speed Passenger Craft (HSC) - Cairnryan-Larne route and Chief Officer with Interocean Ugland Ship Management - on the two modern reefer/container vessels serving the South American/European trade and West Coast of the US.

In November 2015, Adrian was appointed to the Lloyd’s Salvage Arbitration Branch SCR Panel as Special Casualty Representative (SCR).

Adrian was appointed Director of Nautical at Brookes Bell in 2021 and subsequently Director of Europe in 2024.

Adrian is passionate about the topic of crew safety on Ro-Pax, Ro-Ro and Container ships. He has presented on the topic of Li-Ion safety at various international conferences in the hope of raising the profile of the challenges that could be faced by seafarers.

He also holds membership as Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners (HCMM) - Currently elected as a Court Assistant, and is Younger Brother of Trinity House.

Mr David Handley started career in the merchant navy in 1996 as a deck cadet, rising to Senior First Officer at P&O Cruises and in 2008 he stepped ashore for the final time, concluding his 12-year seafaring career as a Chief Officer holding a full Master Mariner's certificate.

David built his early ashore career working in shipping law and insurance across firms including Hill Dickinson, where he qualified as a solicitor in 2014; Steamship Mutual, Reed Smith, Gard AS and Clyde & Co.

In 2020 David Handley was Senior Associate / Of Counsel in London at Watson Farley & Williams.

Since David's first steps into law in travel and personal injury, he has since practiced in wet and dry shipping, ship finance and delivery, handled hull and machinery disputes, and much more. From 2023 he is part of NorthStandard FD&D team, Nordics & Northern Europe.

Mr Lucas Alexander Low Petersen is Manager, Maritime Contracts & Clauses at BIMCO in Copenhagen and sits at the BIMCO subcommittee developing Standard Clauses for Carriage of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Batteries: This project aims to develop a suite of dedicated standard clauses for the carriage of electric vehicles and batteries onboard RoRo and container vessels. The initiative responds to growing industry demand for clear, practical and balanced standard terms addressing safety, operational, and commercial challenges in EV, HEV, PHEV and battery (BESS) transport. The subcommittee brings together shipowners, charterers, car and battery manufacturers, P&I Clubs and legal experts.

He serves as a lecturer too at BIMCO Training Summer Shipping School, instructing global maritime participants on the fundamentals of shipping contracts and BIMCO’s standard development processes..

Lucas Alexander holds a Law degree from Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen 2020–2026 and in 2024 attended University College Cork.

Commander Tue Lippert (Navy Reserve) has built his career at the intersection of offshore wind energy, critical infrastructure security, and defence. With a background as an officer in the Royal Danish Navy, he developed expertise in leadership, strategic planning, and operations management. His naval career included roles in special forces operations, maritime security, and intelligence—experience that laid the groundwork for his transition into the renewable energy sector.

After leaving active military service, Tue assumed project management roles in offshore wind development. He played a central role in the construction of large-scale offshore wind farms, including the Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm, where he oversaw the construction phase and coordinated operations with stakeholders. He later contributed to the development of the Deutsche Bucht Offshore Wind Farm, ensuring its technical and logistical readiness for financial close.

His work extended beyond project execution to leadership positions in consultancy and engineering firms. As Director of Offshore Wind Engineering at Worley and Director of Offshore Installation at K2 Management (now Rambøll), he led teams responsible for installation logistics, risk assessment, and operational execution across multiple offshore projects. His ability to navigate the regulatory and technical complexities of wind energy established him as a trusted advisor in the field.

More recently, Tue founded Heimdal Critical Infrastructure, providing strategic consultancy services focused on offshore wind development and security. His expertise in integrating defence considerations into energy infrastructure planning has been recognized through advisory roles with organizations such as WindEurope and the European Defence Agency.

Tue remains an active Reservist with the Joint Arctic Command in Greenland and hold the rank of Commander (Navy Reserve), serving as liaison officer to the UK and US. He has continued his military education and involvement in strategic defence planning, completing the Advanced Command and Staff Course (Reserves) at the UK Defence Academy in 2023, where he also serves as the first international Directing Staff. He remains actively engaged in discussions on offshore wind policy, project execution, and the security of critical infrastructure.

Based north of Copenhagen, Denmark, Tue enjoys running, mountain biking, hiking, and sailing. He is also an avid reader of history and contemporary literature.

Mr Andy Macrow is the Chairman of the Review & Update Panel NSOCC Green Card & North Sea Freight Conditions of Carriage, as P&I expert and as 2013-2018 Chairman NSOCC.

Andy started his career in 1973 working for the Prudential Assurance Company as a trainee in the Fire & Accident department, dealing with travel insurance, Fidelity Guarantees and Public and Employers’ Liability covers.

In 1974, he moved into the marine sector with W.K.Webster & Co, initially as a cargo claims adjuster and then for some 16 years dealing with Salvage, GA, Collision and Fraud claims for Cargo owners and Insurers based worldwide.

In 1993, he joined Birketts Solicitors, where he benefitted from an extensive introduction to the Courts and added legal knowledge and experience. He continued to deal with Insurers internationally to handle casualty business and to advise on cargo liabilities. In addition, he began handling claims for and against road hauliers and freight forwarders and developed a very successful maritime debt collection practice.

Subsequently, Andy worked at Hardwick Stallards and Hill Dickinson, continuing to build on his knowledge and experience, adding a number of trading houses to his clients.

In 2002, he joined the West of England P&I Club as a claims handler working mainly with Scandinavian, British and French shipowners. In addition to his existing skills, Andy added dealing with personal injury (passenger, crew and others) and industrial disease claims to his CV. He developed a particular knowledge and understanding of the ro-ro business.

Following his official retirement from WEST, Andy joined EC3 Marine as a claims consultant in February 2021.

Andy has travelled extensively, lecturing on many topics, and became an integral part of the training process for a leading ro-ro operator. In addition, reflecting his desire to share knowledge and experience, he was the WEST Club mentor for those studying for the P&I Qualification. He is a Qualified member of the Chartered Insurance Institute and the Society of Claims Professionals and is a member of the Nautical Institute.

He represented WEST at the North Sea Operators’ Claims Conference from 2003, where he was a Board Member for many years.

In the period 2013-2018 Mr Andy Macrow was Chairman of the North Sea Operators' Claims Conference.

Prof Dr Frank Stevens (Erasmus School of Law - Rotterdam. Associate professor Commercial Law) is Legal Expert member of the Review & Update Panel NSOCC Green Card & North Sea Freight Conditions of Carriage.

Associate Professor Dr. Frank Stevens obtained his Law Degree from the University of Leuven (Belgium) in 1991. He also holds an LL.M. in Admiralty from Tulane University (1992), a "Special Degree in Maritime Sciences" from the University of Antwerp (1993) and a Doctorate in Law from the University of Ghent (2017). He is Associate Professor of maritime and commercial law at Erasmus School of Law.

Frank Stevens joined the Antwerp Bar in 1993, and has been practising transport and maritime law since then. Since 2016, he is an Associate Professor at the Erasmus School of Law in Rotterdam, and of counsel to a maritime law firm.

He is the author of textbooks on Carriage of Goods by Sea and on Limitation of Liability, and regularly publishes and speaks on issues of transport and maritime law.  He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal for International Trade and Transport Law ('Tijdschrift voor Internationale Handel en Transport') and is on the Board of Editors of two other legal journals.  He is a member of the Belgian Maritime Law Association, and has served as its President from 2015 till 2019.

Mr Matthew Wilmshurst (HFW - London. Partner) is Legal Expert member of the Review & Update Panel NSOCC Green Card & North Sea Freight Conditions of Carriage.

Chief Officer Mads Kyrkjebø-Urheim (Sea-Cargo AS - Bergen. Marine Assistant) is Operator Expert member of the Review & Update Panel NSOCC Green Card & North Sea Freight Conditions of Carriage.

Ms Sarah McDaid (DFDS A/S - UK Branch. Customer Claims Manager - North Sea & Channel) is Operator Expert member of the Review & Update Panel NSOCC Green Card & North Sea Freight Conditions of Carriage.

Ms Jutta Seppänen (Finnlines Plc - Helsinki. Senior Legal Counsel) is Operator Expert member of the Review & Update Panel NSOCC Green Card & North Sea Freight Conditions of Carriage.

Mr Andrew Glynn-Williams (SKULD - Oslo. Vice President, Head of FDD & Casualty, Skuld Nordics and Eastern Europe) is P&I expert member of the Review & Update Panel NSOCC Green Card & North Sea Freight Conditions of Carriage.