Maurice Thompson

Maurice is a shipping and trade law expert and leads the Firm's Maritime, Trade and Transport practice in Melbourne. His practice comprises a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters for clients in the shipping, commodities (hard & soft), port, oil & gas and insurance industries both nationally and internationally.

In addition to his Australian legal qualifications and experience, Maurice spent 8 years honing his specialist legal skills overseas, working for two 1st tier London based international maritime and trade law firms in their Dubai and Shanghai offices, and obtaining specialist Master of Laws degrees in shipping law from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and in admiralty law from Tulane University in New Orleans, USA. While at Tulane University, Maurice was the recipient of the Maritime Law Centre Fellowship Scholarship, the Harry F. Stiles Jr. Scholarship in Admiralty, and was awarded the Butterworth Award for “Carriage of Goods by Sea” and a USA wide CALI Excellence For The Future Award for “Carriage of Goods by Sea”.

Commodities: Trading & Logistics

Maurice has acted for national and international hard and soft commodity producing and trading companies, port facility operators and storage and handling companies, seafood, meat and livestock exporters, banks and export finance insurers in trade and maritime related litigation and arbitration in Australia, the UK, the Middle East, China, Europe and the USA (including GTA, GAFTA, FOSFA, LMAA, UNCITRAL and ICC arbitrations). In addition, he is frequently called upon to provide commercial advice work and drafting services in respect of sales contracts (e.g. FOB, CIF, CFR etc.), letters of credit, export licensing and accreditation, customs issues, Trade Practices Act and port/infrastructure access issues and storage & handling agreements, as well as specialist charterparty, bill of lading and other maritime law advice specific to commodities trading and shipping.

Energy & Resources

Maurice acts for clients in the oil, gas and resources industries in relation to drafting the commercial and maritime contracts necessary for offshore ventures (eg. FPSO operations, rig sale/purchase/modification etc.) and advising on multi-jurisdictional legal aspects of same, including conducting national and international litigation and arbitration arising out of such ventures and contracts. He has particular recognised expertise in relation to the JPDA in the Timor Sea, and has been on the Emergency Spill Response Team as legal counsel for oil & gas majors BHP, Saudi Aramco and Vela International Marine Limited.

Maritime

Maurice has acted for vessel owners, operators and charterers and their respective P&I, FD&D and H&M underwriters, terminal operators, supply boat operators, rig and FPSO operators, cargo interests, ship builders and repairers, stevedoring companies, logistics/freight forwarding companies, port corporations and oil & gas majors in local and international litigation and arbitration relating to COAs, charterparties, bills of lading, FPSO contracts, collisions, allisions, vessel arrests, oil pollution prosecutions, port/wharf access disputes and ship sale/purchase/registration. He is also frequently called upon to provide such clients with non contentious commercial advice and drafting services.

Publications and Seminars