Preston Turnbull

Preston Turnbull was established in October 2019 by five senior partners from Clyde & Co’s London Shipping Department and has since become a recognised name in the shipping and international trade sector. The firm advises leading participants in the global shipping market on high-profile political and economic developments, including issues arising from the Red Sea attacks and sanctions following the war in Ukraine. Its client base includes dry bulk, tanker, and containership owners and charterers, shipbuilding companies, and a wide range of insurers, including hull and machinery, charterers’ liability, project cargo, P&I, and FD&D. The firm is regularly instructed by the majority of International Group clubs.

In addition to shipping, the firm has significant expertise in commercial, trade, and commodities law, acting for major global traders and oil companies. Its services cover the full spectrum of dry and wet shipping matters, including charterparty and bill of lading disputes, bunker disputes, admiralty and casualty response, salvage, offshore matters, and shipbuilding disputes. The team represents clients before the courts of England and Wales at all levels, including the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, as well as in arbitration (ad hoc, LMAA, LCIA, ICC, SIAC) and mediation. It also provides strategic guidance on litigation in jurisdictions across all continents.

The firm is composed of leading practitioners supported by experienced lawyers with extensive in-house experience at trading houses, ship owners and operators, and P&I clubs. This background gives the team a strong understanding of the commercial needs of its clients and underpins its reputation for providing practical, commercially focused solutions.

Reflecting the international nature of its work, Preston Turnbull’s lawyers collectively speak nine languages, including French, Greek, Spanish, Turkish, and Swedish at native or bilingual level. The firm also emphasises diversity and inclusion, promoting a workplace culture where all team members are supported and valued, and where professional development and equal opportunity are prioritised.

Languages
French, Greek, Spanish, Turkish, Swedish

Staffing
35 fee earners
3 professional support staff
5 legal support staff