Helen is a dual Irish and English practising solicitor with over 30 years’ experience specialising in all areas of maritime and transport law. Helen is one of the first 17 solicitors in Ireland to be conferred a Patent of Precedence by the Government of Ireland and designated the title of Senior Counsel as proven capacity for excellence.

She acts for the P&I Clubs, their members and other interests in ship arrests, cargo claims, charterparty and bill of lading disputes and defending personal injury claims. She regularly advises of insurance issues.

Helen has acted in a number of collisions, groundings and casualties and has regularly advised on issues of port state control, marine casualty investigations by authorities and has routinely represented owners and crew in prosecutions.

Helen is regularly instructed to assist clients on commercial negotiations and the drafting of commercial agreements. She has drafted a wide spectrum of shipping and transport documents such as charterparties, bills of lading, MOA’s, terms and conditions of transport and management agreements.

Helen advises borrowers, lenders and lessors on ship finance transactions drafting both security documentation, legal opinions in relation to borrowers and drafting corporate filings. She advises on the acquisition of new buildings and the sale and purchase of second-hand tonnage.

Helen is a legal trainer on UNCTAD’s “Train for Trade” programme. She is a titulary member of the Comité Maritime International, a former Director of the Port of Waterford and the Irish representative for ForwarderLaw.com. She is an overseas supporting member of the LMAA.

Helen regularly lectures on international sale and carriage of goods and on maritime environmental issues.