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Tom Walters

Partner

London
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+44 (0)20 7264 8285
Mobile
+44 (0)7811 214600
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About Tom

Before joining HFW in 2002, Tom worked for several years for a leading naval architecture practice on the UK’s south coast designing superyachts. Tom is part of the Shipping and Admiralty Crisis Management team and regularly deals with yacht casualties, insurance claims and transportation disputes. His background means that he has also been involved with a number of technical cases and construction disputes involving yachts around the world. Examples of recent cases he has dealt with include:

  • Salvage and management of several yachts after suffering fires on board and being abandoned by the owners and crew.
  • Management of two significant insurance claims following fires on board partially completed newbuilds in a European shipyard.
  • Collision claim between a large motor yacht at anchor and a bulk carrier.
  • Warranty and design defects claim for a newbuild yacht after the failure of its on board stabilisation system and launch and recovery system for the submarine.
  • Hull damage to a yacht after an aborted landing of a helicopter on deck.
  • Fatal injuries to crew members involved and a large round the world yacht race.
  • Insurance claim for lightning damage to a yacht.
  • Wreck removal and recovery of yachts in the Caribbean following various hurricane seasons.
  • Insurance claim for vessels damaged in dry tow after being transported on heavy lift vessels.
  • Claims for damage to standing rigging.
  • Warranty and insurance claims for various yacht tenders.
  • Engine damage warranty claims following refit and repair.
  • Paint claims following respray of hull, topsides and superstructure.

Tom is a member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA). He is also a member of the Society of Underwater Technology (participating in the Salvage and Emergency Subsea Response subcommittee), the Admiralty Solicitors Group, the International Salvage Union and the OPA90 Forum.

Tom also advises on the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) technology in response to the increasing demand for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) in both the private and commercial sector and is part of HFW’s Cyber Initiative advising on issues following the implementation of MSC428(98) by the IMO dealing with cyber security on board yachts. He is also involved in several projects advising on the legal and regulatory issues of adopting nuclear power in the shipping industry.