Michael Allen

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Qualified: 
Mediator
Specialist Areas: 
Aviation and shipping
General Information: 
Solicitor
Chartered Engineer
Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology

1965–1976 Service in the Royal Navy as an Engineer Officer. BSc in mechanical engineering from the Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon, post graduate course in nuclear physics at the Royal Naval College Greenwich. Sea going service in nuclear submarines, aircraft carrier, frigate and minesweeper. Resigned commission at own request to study law.

1976–1979 College of Law and articles at Ince & Co.

1979 Qualified as solicitor

1979–1986 Assistant solicitor Ince & Co

1986–1987 Assistant manager General Average and Salvage department, W K Webster & Co

1987–1991 Partner William A Crump & Co

1991–1999 Partner Herbert Smith

1999–2005 Partner Curtis Davis Garrard

2005 Accredited Mediator

Areas of expertise
30 years litigation experience in:
 

  • Shipbuilding and ship repair
  • Offshore construction
  • Machinery breakdowns
  • Collision
  • Salvage
  • Marine insurance
  • Carriage of goods
  • Cargo claims
  • Charterparties

 Because of my seagoing engineering experience I have been involved in numerous technical disputes, starting with a claim for Sumitomo in 1976 over the construction of a ULCC ( Hull 1016) for Greek interests. The arbitration was successfully completed after a 76 day hearing. Shortly before retiring from private practice I spent two years working on the technical aspects of the Solitaire arbitration, the biggest marine arbitration ever. Closing submissions were completed on day 269 of the hearing.

I have collected evidence following a large number of casualties and taken the matters through to settlement or final judgment/award including attendance at Department of Transport Formal Investigations and flag state enquiries.

I chair the International Tug and Salvage Convention, a biennial 5 day gathering of the main players in the towage and salvage business including naval architects, builders, machinery suppliers, lawyers etc. I write regularly for various publications, including the Marine Engineers Review for which I did a series on “The Marine Engineer and the Law”.

I bring a practical approach to my mediation practice based on my management skills from my service in the Royal Navy combined with my technical and legal problem solving experience.