Bruce Virgo

Partner

London

contact details

• BVirgo@hbj-gw.com
• dt: +44 (0) 20 7653 1628
• df: +44 (0) 20 7653 1601
• m: +44 (0) 7595 205 795

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Expertise

Bruce is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales, Australia and Scotland. His expertise is in yacht related claims, marine insurance issues, construction and sale & purchase transactions across both the yachting and tug/workboat sectors of the industry.

Experience

Bruce has had considerable experience for the past 25 years advising on yacht related matters for marine insurers and owners/charterers in the Australasian region and the UK. He has worked on a wide range of insurance related yacht claims and disputes.

He also advises on contracts, charters, sale and purchase, construction and registration for owners, charterers and builders, domestically and internationally, in the yacht and tug/workboat sectors. Bruce also has considerable experience in resolving related complex or high value disputes in the UK and Australia, including acting for P&I clubs and other marine insurers.

Successes

Acting for a private Scottish owner assisting in registration and contractual arrangements to enter Greek bareboat charter operations.

Acting for purchasers of motor yacht including an investigation into the much publicised collapse in 2007-8 of Challenger Syndicateships, a shared yacht ownership venture.

Acting on behalf of Anglo-Irish marine services provider in the international purchase flag registration and bareboat charter of various tug and associated vessels in respect of new project developments in Kazakhstan, including the drafting of purchase and charter terms.

Acting on behalf of Scottish vessel operators in the negotiation of newbuild ship contracts for multimillion GBP Anchor handling/Supply vessels with international builders in Europe and South East Asia, and advising generally on maritime related contracts and projects within the UK.

Attending the delivery and closing meeting in Norway for Middle East based owners in respect of the purchase of a newbuild US$20 million Platform Supply Vessel to be deployed in the Azerbaijan region of the Caspian Sea.

Advising major logistics operator over four years in Australia in the preparation, negotiation and performance of contracts and tender documentation in respect of heavy and unusual sea transport projects within Australia and internationally including drafting or vessel charter terms, and as required acting in respect of the resolution of any disputes arising. Projects included - LNG 'production trains' (across four states); disassembled factory (to China); disassembled power station (to Africa); container or wharf cranes and a super yacht (both inter/intra State).

Interests

Bruce enjoys spending time with his family, rugby and food. He also enjoys history and associated trivia.