Shipping lawyers told to liaise more with clients

P&I CLUB: value for money initiative puts pressure on firms

Solicitors working in the shipping arena should liaise more closely with their clients at the beginning of disputes or risk losing future work to rival firms, the British Maritime Law Association (BMLA) warned this week.

Secretary and treasurer Patrick Griggs spoke out after the UK Protection & Indemnity (P&I) Club - the world's largest mutual marine protection and indemnity organisation - launched its 'value for money' initiative, aimed at encouraging its members to measure legal services against standards including resourcefulness, commercial wisdom, adding value and teamwork.

The programme was devised after P&I found that disputes were escalating into 'protracted legal battles', with clients frequently receiving over-optimistic advice at the beginning of their cases.

It said solicitors and other experts often showed inadequate understanding of clients' commercial needs and objectives, and called for more information sharing.

Lawyers also needed to make better use of available technology to cut down on the cost of carrying out routine or mundane work manually, it added.

Backing the initiative, Mr Griggs agreed that more could be done to deal with cases smoothly.

'All lawyer members of BMLA will welcome the prospect of discussing tactics and strategies with P&I clients and their members at an early stage in contentious matters,' he explained.

'No lawyer members of BMLA should be alarmed at the prospect of their performance being assessed - a lawyer who satisfies his client will receive repeat instructions; one who does not will see his case go elsewhere.'

Paula Rohan