Delos Shipholding SA and Others v Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty SE and Others [2024] EWHC 719  In this case, the High Court found that the detention of a vessel in Indonesian territorial waters, due to the vessel anchored there without the permission of the Indonesian authorities, was a fortuitous event. Consequently, the Owners had a valid claim against the insurers under the war policy.  Background facts In late 2018 the Capesize bulk carrier WIN WIN discharged a cargo of iron ore at Bayuquan, China. The vessel then took on bunkers in Singapore and was ordered to find a sa ..read more

Ahead of Action for Brain Injury (ABI) Week, Headway – the brain injury association will promote its “Hats for Headway” day to highlight the charity and its work supporting people who have suffered brain injuries. Lester Aldridge couldn’t resist getting involved with this “hat-tastic” initiative, with our Personal Injury team donning hats of all descriptions and even getting their furry friends involved: Action for Brain Injury Week will take place from 20 May 2024. This year’s theme is “A life rewritten” and will focus on how a brain injury can affect anyone at any time. A life rewritten will ..read more

Lester Aldridge is delighted to announce its inclusion once again in the esteemed shortlist for The Lawyer Awards 2024 in the category of Law Firm of the Year: The Independents. This recognition underscores the firm’s commitment to excellence and its position as a leader in the legal industry. The Lawyer Awards, known for honouring outstanding legal talent and innovation throughout the UK, holds special significance for Lester Aldridge, especially considering its recognition as Highly Commended for Law Firm of the Year: The Independents at last year’s awards. “We are honoured to be shortlisted ..read more

All-Party Parliamentary Group report on Birth Trauma in the UK This report was published on 13 May 2024.  It is hard to read and the personal testimonies are traumatic but, in my view, this is essential reading for any lawyer undertaking birth injury work. For me, the sub heading to the report “Listen to Mums: Ending the Postcode Lottery on Perinatal Care” says it all. Women are consistently reporting that their concerns throughout the perinatal period (the time from becoming pregnant up to one year post birth) are not heard and had they been listened to they would have felt more cared fo ..read more

It is well known that those who suffer catastrophic, severe or life-changing injuries achieve the best possible outcome and recovery with the benefit of early rehabilitation. APIL has recently relaunched the Best Practice Guide on Rehabilitation. The 4th Edition was updated in May 2024. What is APIL? APIL stands for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. They are a not-for-profit campaign group dedicated to securing justice for injured people. Their statistics show that 690,000 patients were harmed in NHS safety incidents in 2021/22 (medical negligence), 551,000 road users were ..read more

Lester Aldridge and Mackrell.Solicitors are delighted to announce that they are to become one firm this year, to be known as Lester Aldridge incorporating Mackrell.Solicitors. The merger will take effect from September 2024 and result in a full-service firm with a combined workforce of over 400, with offices in Bournemouth, Southampton, London and Birmingham. Commenting on the merger, Matthew Barrow, Managing Partner of Lester Aldridge, stated: “We are excited to welcome Mackrell.Solicitors to the Lester Aldridge family. This merger aligns with our strategy, and brings together two t ..read more

There are 195 countries in the world today, and they all rely on good relationships with like-minded countries to trade. When they want to express displeasure with each other – sanctions are often the weapon of first choice. Sanctions are, by their nature, directed at the economic activities of other countries, whether that be against individuals, companies or assets. Shipping, aviation and logistics operators, as well as those involved in insurance, banking and legal services, invariably find themselves at the sanctions coalface. Sanctions re ..read more

Guarantees and bonds are common on many construction and engineering projects, both in the UK and internationally. They are often required by the employer as a means of security against contractor non-performance and, as such, are generally referred to as “performance security“. Although this note aims to give a comprehensive and practical overview of guarantees and bonds, they are complex security instruments, and it is good practice for parties to seek specialist legal advice before deciding which performance security is most appropriate and how to document ..read more

There are 195 countries in the world today and they all rely on good relationships, with like-minded countries to trade. When they want to express displeasure with each other – sanctions are often the weapon of first choice. Sanctions are by their nature directed at the economic activities of other countries whether that be against individuals, companies or assets. Shipping, aviation and logistics operators, as well as those involved in insurance, banking and legal services invariably find themselves at the sanctions coalface. Sanctions regulations vary significantly by country to country and ..read more

Lester Aldridge is delighted to have been named a finalist for Property Law Firm of the Year at the prestigious South Coast Property Awards 2024. This recognition follows the firm’s victory in the same award last year. The awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the property industry and recognise Lester Aldridge’s significant contributions to the region’s thriving market. Mark Benham, Partner and Head of Real Estate expressed pride in the nomination, stating, “Being recognised as a finalist after last year’s success is a testament to our team’s dedication and expertise.” Renowned for it ..read more