shipping specialist sails ahead to scoop Scottish Legal Award

24th March 2010

Ed Watt, partner and head of HBJ Gateley Wareing’s shipping and transport department in Edinburgh, sailed ahead to scoop the Specialist Lawyer of the Year award at this year's Scottish Legal Awards.

International shipping lawyer, Ed Watt, sailed ahead to scoop the Specialist Lawyer of the Year award at this year's Scottish Legal Awards. The partner and head of HBJ Gateley Wareing’s shipping and transport department was recognised for his dedication and expertise in shipping law at a ceremony at the EICC on Friday 19th March. A specialist in the sale, purchase and registration of ships, Ed has advised in this capacity in relation to more than 110 ships in his international role.

In the course of 2009 he advised numerous oil industry businesses upon their corporate and shipping contract structures including the comparative advantages and risks of registration in each of the coastal regions of the Caspian Sea. In the past 12 months he has also advised clients on the sale and purchase of new and second-hand ships in locations as diverse as Singapore, Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey and Bahrain. Ed, 35, is also the co-author of ‘Ship Registration: Law and Practice’, an authoritative international guide to the theory and worldwide practice of ship registration. Based in Edinburgh he joined HBJ Gateley Wareing’s shipping department in 1997.

Managing Partner Malcolm McPherson said: “I’m delighted that Ed has been recognised for his expertise in what is such a niche area of the law. He is an asset to the firm and his ability to operate on an international scale with such ease in an inspiration to us all.

We are incredibly proud of Ed’s achievements and know he will continue to flourish and offer unique, imaginative solutions to our clients’ requirements."

Ed Watt said: “I am absolutely delighted to be recognised as Specialist Lawyer of the Year for my expertise in shipping law. It is a specialist area which has seen significant growth in our shipping offering with an increase in international sale and purchase projects as well as the domestic vessel market.”

The firm also was also short listed for the Litigation Team of the Year award.