Gorrissen Federspiel’s Maritime Disputes group is the leading legal adviser within the shipping, offshore and transportation industries in Denmark. The group works closely together with the firm’s dedicated litigation group, combining the unique industry expertise with a strong specialisation in national and international dispute resolution.
We handle all types of maritime and offshore disputes subject to Danish and English law. The group has a strong network of international maritime lawyers, surveyors and other experts who can assist in connection with emergency matters. The partners also regularly act as arbitrators in maritime and commercial arbitration.
The group combines unique industry focus with strong specialisation within dispute resolution. We assist with all types of disputes in the maritime industry.
We assist with all types of disputes in the Danish court system. We regularly act as counsel before the specialised Maritime and Commercial High Court in Copenhagen, the Eastern/Western High Courts and the Danish Supreme Court.
Mainly acting on behalf of owners or the owners’ insurers, our litigation work primarily concerns cargo claims, charter party disputes, maritime accidents (such as collisions, cable damage and pollution incidents), personal injury and marine insurance matters as well as claims against yards relating to newbuildings, retrofitting or repair works. We also assist with administrative complaints and disputes relating to public tenders of ferry routes, the construction of naval vessels or other public contracts involving the maritime sectors.
Our Maritime Disputes group has vast experience in dealing with international arbitration within the maritime and offshore fields in ad hoc and institutional arbitration, including the Danish Institute of Arbitration, LCIA, LMAA and ICC. Our group also played an integral part in the establishment of the new Nordic Offshore and Maritime Arbitration Association (NOMA). Our arbitration practice includes large oil and gas and offshore wind marine construction disputes, predominantly under the ICC Rules.
Gorrissen Federspiel has extensive experience in marine insurance, including Protection & Indemnity, Hull & Machinery, War Risk, marine cargo insurance and specialty insurance such as professional indemnity insurance for naval architects. We are particularly proud to be the official Danish correspondents for several of the leading clubs within the International Group of P&I Clubs and to be closely collaborating with many of the leading defence clubs in Europe. We have thereby obtained broad experience in the Nordic Marine Insurance Plan, Lloyd’s London Market terms and other broadly used insurance terms.
We also act as the primary legal counsel to the Danish Shipowners’ Accident Insurance Association which provides cover for shipping companies’ personnel at sea for work-related accidents, giving us unique expertise in handling claims relating to seafarers’ compensation claims under Danish law. We also regularly handle ship passenger injury claims.
Gorrissen Federspiel’s Emergency Response Team is composed of highly skilled attorneys with vast experience and knowledge in handling marine casualties and other maritime emergencies, which usually require immediate action.
The team provides legal assistance in relation to, inter alia, arrests, collisions, groundings, fires, pollution, salvage and towage. The team’s assistance includes preservation of evidence, witness testimonies, communication with the relevant authorities and stakeholders as well as providing ongoing advice on the owners’ and other parties’ legal rights and obligations.
The Emergency Response Team is led by partner Peter Appel (pa@gorrissenfederspiel.com, (+45) 40 59 45 85) and senior legal counsel Thomas E. Christensen (tch@gorrissenfederspiel.com, (+45) 27 80 40 70)).
Gorrissen Federspiel is a Tier 1 law firm in both Shipping and Transport, Insurance and Dispute Resolution.
“Gorrissen Federspiel has excellent legal skills, a strong business understanding and always focuses on the best solution for the client.” | Chambers Europe, 2025
“The partners and lawyers at Gorrissen Federspiel have a really good commercial understanding and are always available and flexible.” | Chambers Europe, 2025