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People

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022

Portrait of Tony Riches

Profile

Tony is a partner and ex-mariner in the London shipping team. He provides legal and practical advice to ship owners, salvors, charterers, P&I clubs and property insurers on marine casualties, salvage, collisions, charterparty disputes, general average, limitation and cargo claims.

He has particular expertise in advising on and managing complex casualty situations, drawing on his experience as both a mariner and a lawyer. He regularly conducts casualty investigations, including interviewing witnesses, obtaining VDR and documentary evidence and assisting owners and crew onboard in the aftermath of collisions and groundings. He is familiar with Admiralty and commercial High Court proceedings and London arbitration - including LOF salvage arbitration - and has extensive experience of cases involving multi-jurisdictional proceedings.

Tony was a Royal Navy officer for over eight years, during which time he served as Officer of the Watch on a variety of vessels including an aircraft carrier. He was involved in counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and has managed intelligence analysis teams. He is knowledgeable about cyber security procedures on board ships, having been the IT security officer in an aircraft carrier. He is a member of the Nautical Institute.

Recent work highlights

  • Acting for professional salvors in substantial LOF salvage claims against shipowners and cargo interests.
  • Assisting an oil major to defend a claim by a shipowner concerning a grounding at an oil terminal.
  • Advising a shipowner in the aftermath of a collision, including gathering evidence and advising on collision liability, damage causation, general average and jurisdictional issues.
  • Representing a shipowner who was being investigated by the MAIB, MCA and the police in the aftermath of a fatality.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP