International Trade, Transport and Insurance Law Firm in Amsterdam

Law Firm Overview

Wiersma Mensonides is active in all transport modalities, but has a focus on shipping and road carriage (CMR). The firm represents transport companies, cargo interests and their respective underwriters in all aspects of transport law. We are one of the few listed P&I Club lawyers in the Netherlands. Our work may vary from issues involving damage to cargo or to the means of transportation, its crew and/or the environment, including maritime incidents such as collisions and personal injuries. We are also experienced in the drafting of and advising on contracts, clauses and general conditions for all transport modalities and related areas such as warehousing, stevedoring and freight forwarding. In our transport law practice we regularly handle cases on the following subjects:

• cargo damage
• arrest of vessels and release proceedings
• global limitation of liability
• collisions
• drafting charterparties and resolving disputes (from slot to bareboat C/P’s)
• personal injuries
• freight forwarding and physical distribution (3PL, 4PL, SLA’s)
• stevedoring
• warehousing
• general-average
• pollution (civil liability and criminal prosecution)
• defense against prosecution for violation of Maritime Conventions in Dutch waters

The firm also acts as advisor to parties involved in mergers between and acquisitions of trade and transport companies. We know how to act when negotiating deals or going through a due diligence process.

We represent a number of banks, other lenders/arrangers, ship owners/lessees and shipyards in a wide variety of ship finance transactions. Our expertise consists of structured lending (bilateral and syndicated) and leasing (including Ijara and Istisna’a structures). Whether it concerns second hand tonnage, new build tonnage, private yachts or off shore hardware, we can assist from term sheet to delivery.

We combine our documentation skills with in depth knowledge on ship and mortgage registration procedures in a number of popular (open) ship registers. Through our network of local correspondent firms we can assist in ship and mortgage registration and deletion in almost all jurisdictions. We also regularly advise on disputes regarding loan defaults or non-performances under ship sale & purchase agreements. If required we can also assist in foreclosure or workout arrangements.

Areas of Law

Areas of Law Description

The scope of our practice includes:

- Banking & Finance

Our firm represents lenders and borrowers in matters such as:

• drafting and negotiating loan and security documentation for:
• asset based (including leasing) finance and related collateral packages (vessels, real estate, airplanes, industry etc.);
• commodity trade finance, such as non-recourse or limited recourse financing, pre-export financing, warehouse financing, export credits, barter and countertrade;
• corporate finance transactions;
• restructuring and/or termination of loan agreements, insolvency of the borrower
• forced sale of collateral, such as mortgaged real estate, vessels, airplanes and pledged or assigned moveables (including pledged/assigned claims).

- Litigation and Arbitration

Our firm handles litigation and arbitration proceedings on commercial disputes, such as:

• contractual disputes such as non-performance or quality/quantity disputes under sale and purchase or construction contracts
• non-repayment under loan agreements
• disputes amongst stakeholders in insolvency related matters
• banking litigation
• ship arrest and ship auction
• attachments and garnishments
• enforcement of arbitral awards
• enforcement of foreign Court judgments
• cross border debt collection

- Shipping & Logistics

Our firm represents and advises ship owners, transport companies, cargo interests and their respective underwriters, P&I Clubs, Hull & Machinery underwriters, warehouses, stevedores and freight forwarders in all aspects of transport law, including the drafting of contracts and general conditions. In our transport law practice we regularly handle cases on the following subjects:

• cargo damage/bill of lading disputes
• ship arrest
• global limitation of liability
• collisions
• charter disputes
• personal injuries
• freight forwarding and physical distribution
• stevedoring
• warehousing
• general-average
• pollution (civil liability and criminal prosecution)
• ship sale and purchase
• shipbuilding & -repair
• road transportation

- Corporate and Contract Law

Our firm advises and represents various stakeholders in general corporate law matters, such as:

• directors’ liability
• shareholders disputes
• (inter)creditor agreements
• debt restructuring in pre-bankruptcy situations
• enforcing security interests in bankruptcy situations
• general corporate law issues

Our firm drafts contracts and general conditions for a variety of commercial transactions, such as agency and distribution, sale and purchase, brokerage, construction, joint ventures and partnerships.

Lawyers

Mr. Hans Mensonides Co-Founding Lawyer Commercial Law, Finance, Insolvency, Litigation

Mr. Taco Wiersma Co-Founding Lawyer Admiralty and Maritime, Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration, International Trade, Transportation

More Information on Wiersma Mensonides

Shipping Law Firm in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands Banking Lawyers
Litigation Law Firm in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam, Netherlands Corporate Lawyer
Lawyer Wiersma Mensonides Profile
Profile of Lawyer Taco Wiersma
Lawyer Hans Mensonides Profile