We are specialists in maritime law. We advise and represent shipping companies, oil companies, port terminals, shipowners and charterers, foreign marine insurers, P&I Clubs, and other key market players. We have provided counsel on marine pollution, maritime casualties, maritime contracts, cargo claims and both national and international arbitrations, general average declarations, maritime investigations, and summary proceedings before the Maritime Authority, among other matters.

Key areas of our maritime practice include:

• Negotiation and disputes related to charterparties and Bills of Lading
• Purchase and sale of vessels and naval artefacts
• Handling of claims related to groundings, collisions, cargo loss, pollution, salvage, wreck removal, and unsafe ports
• Defence in Maritime Authority investigations
• Supply and storage contracts
• Litigation related to maritime traffic
• Marine pollution advisory
• Registration of vessels and naval artefacts
• Ship arrest proceedings, representing either privileged creditors or ship interests
• Maritime concessions

We have been ranked in Band 2 by the prestigious British ranking Chambers and Partners in the shipping area for 2025. They describe our firm as follows:

“Fernández & Leiva has a noteworthy shipping team in Chile, frequently sought out by clients for both the contentious and non-contentious sides of maritime law. The team often acts on cargo claims, P&I claims and wreck removals. The law firm has a wide client roster that includes insurance companies, shipping companies and oil companies.”