We deal with all aspects of International Trade and Shipping - whether you have a smaller claim or a major dispute, we are always on hand to guide you through.

We act for a variety of clients, including Shipowners, Charterers, Cargo Owners and Insurers on a variety of international trade and shipping matters, including contentious and non-contentious work.

Some of the work we regularly undertake are cases of unpaid hire and freight, demurrage claims, and general breaches of contract leading to loss. We also deal with cargo claims, and with all aspects of trade and shipping including insurance matters.

M Taher & Co, lawyers of choice for EU/UK Sanctions, Compliance and Regulatory matters

We have unrivalled expertise in representing clients who are the subject of restrictive measures imposed at EU, UN and UK level.

M Taher & Co has brought numerous successful actions challenging the applicability of European sanctions to its clients. The European General Court has consistently ruled in favour of our clients and held that the sanctions against them were unlawful. None of these landmark decisions has been appealed.

More recently, M Taher & Co brought an action for over £570 million against the EU Council for damage suffered by its clients as a result of their unlawful designation pursuant to the EU’s restrictive measures concerning Iran.

Examples of recent and ongoing work include:

• Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and Others v Council of the European Union [Case T-489/10 – Application for the Annulment of EU Council Implementing Regulation No 668/2010 and Decision 2010/413/CFSP];
• Good Luck Shipping LLC v Council of the European Union [Case T-57/12 and Joined Cases T-423/13 and T-64/14-ongoing];
• Nabipour and Others v Council of the European Union [Case T-58/12];
• Ocean Capital Administration GmbH and Others v Council of the European Union [Joined Cases T-420/11 and T-56/12 here and Case T-332/15-ongoing];
• Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and Others v Council of the European Union [Case T-434/15 – Claim for non-contractual liability pursuant to articles 268 and 340 TFEU].

In addition to heavy duty litigation before the European General Court, where we currently represent the largest number of applicants, we undertake a considerable amount of work outside a conventional legal context, for example, lobbying and advocating our clients’ cases in negotiations with various EU institutions, law enforcement bodies and governmental departments in the UK, the USA and other countries. M Taher & Co provides comprehensive advice to clients considering contracts with sanctioned entities or in jurisdictions subject to sanctions on the interpretation of EU, US and UK sanctions.

We have the expertise and an international network of lawyers on hand to enforce your English law judgment or arbitration award in foreign jurisdictions.

We have over twenty years' experience in litigating and arbitrating under English law, and we know how important it is for our clients to be able to collect what they are owed under a judgment or award. This is why we have long-established links with local lawyers across the globe to be able to advise on enforcement in other jurisdictions.

We will see your case through from start to finish, right up until you collect on that judgment or award.

Whether you are a Shipowner, Charterer, Cargo Owner, or Insurer – we are able to assist you in the most disastrous events.

We have a network of specialist investigators worldwide who are ready to assist in emergency situations. We understand this can be a stressful time when events move quickly. We are able to take some of that stress away from our clients by coordinating between salvors, the vessel, the insurers and any other parties involved. We will always keep our clients involved and updated, but we deal with the stress of coordinating all parties involved so that our clients don't have to.

We have experience in dealing with vast and complex fraud cases including bill of lading and insurance fraud. The task requires dedication and exceptional attention to detail. Our approach is thorough and meticulous at every stage of the investigation and the legal process. Our clients trust that we explore all relevant avenues and gather the required evidence to establish the true facts. In order to facilitate this, we have good relationships with trusted private investigators who are able to assist us in gathering evidence.

We understand the commercial needs as well as legal obligations of our clients. When dealing with potential fraud cases, we are on hand to advise and guide our Clients through what can also be a commercially sensitive time. If you think you may have been subject to insurance fraud, you should not hesitate to contact us as we will need to start collecting information and evidence as soon as possible.

We can assist with:

• Investigating, bringing and defending complex multi-jurisdictional fraud proceedings;
• Multi-jurisdictional asset-tracing and international enforcement orders and judgments;
• Worldwide search and seizure and freezing orders.

Being based in the City of London, and only a stone’s throw away from the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, we have gained many years of valuable insight into the insurance and reinsurance industry.

We regularly act for insurers, reinsurers and assured interests, and of course, with our strong shipping practice we undertake work for shipowners and P&I Clubs in relation to Club claims.

Our clients have included a variety of insurers and reinsurers, amongst which are XL, Amlin, Zurich, Travelers and QBE. We have also represented brokers, recovery agents and average adjusters, as well as insured entities in various disputes.

Our energy practice covers a wide range of matters from providing general advice on contracts to representing clients in multi-million dollar disputes.

Having a strong shipping background means that we are well-placed to advise on contracts for carriage of project cargo, as well as issues in relation to rigs, FPSOs and other industry equipment. We understand the commercial concerns of our clients and tailor our advice with this in mind.

We are able to advise clients on a variety of matters ranging from general contract advice to insurance and reinsurance liability and other disputes.

The firm has advised in multi-million dollar and multi-jurisdictional disputes. For example, Maryam Taher has been heavily involved in major cases such as the US$800m “Kuwaiti Airways” case following the invasion of Kuwait by the Iraqi Government.

We work closely with clients to develop investment and financing structures that are Sharia-compliant. This is both in domestic and cross border transactions especially within the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) member states. Our expertise includes advising on both real estate Murabaha financing arrangements and refinancing a variety of mezzanine loans in complex off-shore structures.

Our expertise in this area spans over 20 years in both contentious and non-contentious matters. We have completed numerous instructions involving inventory (marine and non-marine) and receivables for both banks and independent financial institutions. Our contentious expertise encompasses fraud, asset tracing, credit insurance coverage/claims, guarantor actions and collections.

We have also drafted bespoke factoring, confidential and disclosed invoice discount documentation including inter creditor, subordination, waiver, participation agreements and a range of security documents that supports this type of financing.

In the Trade Finance sector not only have we drafted the underlying documentation but have also been in the forefront of developing products specifically to be used by internet based platforms facilitating the flow of international trade.

Our connections in the US and Europe with both recovery specialists and lawyers are both extensive and strong.

We possess considerable expertise in the hospitality area. This ranges from drafting licence and managements agreements to the sale and acquisition of hotel groups internationally. We have particular expertise in advising investors, participators and management companies on a range of commercial and legal issues.