What Clients Have Said

The Situation

A Penang-based shipping agent received notification of a cargo claim from a consignee following a delay at the port. The agent was uncertain about their exposure under the charter party and whether the claim had been properly notified within the required timeframe.

What Harbour Law Did

Reviewed the charter party and notice documents. Provided written preliminary advice within six working days identifying the relevant notification provisions and the agent's likely position.

The Outcome

The client was able to respond to the claim from an informed position, with a clear view of the arguments available and the appropriate documentation to produce.

The Situation

A Malaysian exporter was finalising a sales contract with a new buyer based in Thailand. The buyer had proposed a standard-form contract that included an arbitration clause in an unfamiliar jurisdiction and broad indemnification language.

What Harbour Law Did

Reviewed the proposed contract and produced written commentary flagging five provisions of concern, with suggested alternative language for three of them. Commentary was structured for sharing with the buyer's legal team.

The Outcome

The exporter negotiated amendments to two of the flagged clauses before signing. The buyer accepted one of the suggested alternative phrasings directly from the commentary.

The Situation

A freight operator had submitted a marine insurance claim following a loss during transit. The insurer's response was delayed and did not address the substantive points raised. The operator was unsure whether to escalate or whether there was a procedural issue with their claim.

What Harbour Law Did

Reviewed the policy and the claims correspondence. Identified that the original claim had not included a key supporting document required under the policy's notification conditions. Assisted in preparing a supplementary submission.

The Outcome

The insurer responded substantively within three weeks of the supplementary submission. The claim proceeded on the corrected basis. The operator commented that the earlier delay would have continued without understanding the procedural issue.