Geopolitical risk
Navigating Perilous Waters: Houthi Attacks, Global Shipping Turmoil, and Southern Africa's Bunkering Boom
13 February 2024
Nick's litigation practice specialises in insurance and admiralty law.
Direct Lines
+27 21 286 0371 +27 83 415 8713 nicholas.veldman@clydeco.comMain Office
Cape Town
966112532100Regional experience
Full Profile
Nick's has a split litigation practice specializing in both insurance and admiralty law.
Nick's insurance law experience includes providing advice and being instructed in relation to general claims advice, cover disputes, subrogated recoveries, broker liability and professional indemnity suits. Nick is regularly instructed by the London and South African insurance market and currently renders advice to leading insurance companies, locally and abroad. On the insurance front, Nick specializes in insurance matters pertaining to marine cargo, transportation, precious metals and fine art.
Insofar as admiralty law is concerned, Nick acts on behalf of the owners and operators of vessels as well as their insurers in the processing and defending of maritime claims in the High Court exercising its admiralty jurisdiction. Nick's admiralty experience also extends to protecting the interests of owners and operators of vessels in relation to collisions as well as claims for hire and demurrage.
Nick holds bachelor's degrees in law and commerce from the University of South Africa and was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2015. Nick is also a member of the Cape Law Society and Maritime Law Association of South Africa. He is recognized by Legal 500 as a recommended individual for Shipping and Transportation
Experience
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Shipping
- Representing vessel owners and their insurers in respect of cargo damage claims.
- Arresting and attaching bunkers, cargo, and other property followed by successful negotiations for security against the release of arrested and attached property.
- Advised a major petrochemical company on the arrest of bunkers aboard its Vessel.
- Defending a multinational commodity trading and mining company concerning a claim against it following an explosion aboard a vessel transporting its product.
- Representing a foreign government concerning damage caused to its navy vessel following a violent storm in October 2017.
- Conducting various LMAA and LCIA proceedings in relation to the recovery of outstanding demurrage.
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Marine Insurance
- Acted in a maritime insurance dispute following the theft by a criminal syndicate of imported consignments owned by a major South African retailer.
- Providing coverage advice and defending the interests of various insurers (including marine) in relation to claims arising from the July 2021 period of civil unrest in South Africa.
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Insurance
- Regularly providing advice to underwriting managers and insurers concerning South African based insurance claims.
- Successfully represented a major shipping company against an insurer in a cover dispute.
- Defended an insurance company facing a large fire claim, resulting in the claim being withdrawn.
- Advising insurers and London Underwriters concerning fine art, subrogated recoveries, and precious metals disputes, particularly a multi-billion rand coverage dispute about precious metals.