Trading Straits

In the second installment of our two-part series, international trade lawyer Philippe Heeren is joined by antitrust and competition lawyers Chris Brennan , Natasha Tardif , and Lucile Chneiweiss to discuss practical steps that companies operating in the United States and Europe can take to navigate antitrust risks arising from tariffs. Building on the themes explored in Part 1 , this episode offer...

In the first installment of our two-part series, international trade lawyers, Mike Lowell and Justin Angotti , and antitrust lawyers, Ed Schwartz and Michaela Westrup , team up to explore the antitrust risks that companies face related to tariffs. They discuss key themes and issues facing companies operating in the U.S. and Europe, and provide insights on what might be coming down the track on tar...

Reed Smith partners Tallat Hussain and Nick Austin and counsel Julie Vaughan discuss the evolving landscape of emissions trading systems (ETS) and their impact on the maritime sector. Key topics include the EU ETS, the International Maritime Organization’s carbon intensity rating scheme, and the UK government’s proposal to extend its ETS to maritime emissions. They explore the implications for shi...

A new generation of barcodes is enabling faster, safer and more transparent transactions across industries and regions. In this episode, Nicolas Frerejean , director of marketing and digital transformation at GS1, the global standards organization behind barcodes, tells Reed Smith partner Wim Vandenberghe how the next generation of barcodes can offer even more information and benefits to consumers...

Reed Smith partners Nick Austin and Alex Brandt explore today’s challenges faced by the shipping industry and discuss key areas where we are likely to see the most activity in 2025, including sanctions, decarbonisation and legal developments in the courts. ----more---- Transcript:  Intro: Trading Straits brings legal and business insights at the intersection of the shipping and energy sectors. Thi...

Drones can deliver goods faster, cheaper and more sustainably than traditional methods. But how are they shaping the global supply market and what are the benefits and challenges of using them? Reed Smith partners Laura-May Scott and Gregory Speier discuss the current state and future trends of the drone delivery market, the key drivers and barriers of its growth, and the legal and regulatory impl...

Reed Smith associates Emma Weeden and Charles Sauvage explore the impact of the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation's (CBER) expiry on the liner shipping industry and evaluate the potential of the Specialization Block Exemption Regulation (SBER) as a replacement. They also discuss the resulting changes, including legal adjustments, compliance considerations and the future landscape for competitio...

In part 1 of the series, partner Philip Thomas and associate Voirrey Davies highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in shipping. In part 2, they share tips on how to handle a breach, and provide their thoughts on the future of autonomous shipping. ----more---- Transcript:  Intro: Trading Straits brings legal and business insights at the intersection of the shipping and energy sectors. This pod...

Partner Philip Thomas and associate Voirrey Davies discuss the importance of cybersecurity in shipping. Some of the topics include the risks, examples of cyberattacks and tips on how to prevent them. ----more---- Transcript: Intro: Trading Straits brings legal and business insights at the intersection of the shipping and energy sectors. This podcast series offers trends, developments, challenges a...

Alice Colarossi and Julia Norsetter discuss how the Jones Act poses challenges for the development of offshore wind projects in the U.S.  They explain the contents of the Jones Act, provide commentary on its implementation, and discuss solutions that have been used to overcome its restrictions. ----more---- Transcript: Intro: Trading Straits brings legal and business insights at the intersection o...

Admiralty & casualty lawyers Richard Gunn (partner) and James Scott (counsel) discuss developments in relation to the 1976 Convention on limitation of liability for maritime claims. Richard provides analysis on the application of Articles 12 and 13 of the Convention and James talks on limitation of liability for indemnity claims for wreck removal costs.    ----more---- Transcript: Intro: Tradi...

Partners Nick Austin, Thor Maalouf and Alex Brandt bring us up to date with the latest shipping and trade issues; including sanctions, the geopolitical landscape's influence on the supply chain, and the shifting dynamics of decarbonization regulations. Following the industry panel discussion at the London International Shipping Week event hosted by Reed Smith in September, the three speakers offer...

The demand for large-scale offshore energy – including oil, wind and solar – is presenting opportunities for companies that supply vessels. Transportation lawyers Susan Riitala and Catriona Henderson discuss the unique dynamics of financing vessels for offshore energy operations, the special risks it presents, the importance of having trusted partners, and other solutions to major problems. Tune i...

Partners Nick Austin and Brett Hillis and counsel Julie Vaughan explain key features of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and how it is now to be applied to ships entering and leaving EU ports – and those sailing between them. In this podcast, they discuss the implications for charterers, possibilities for trading emissions allowances and the relevance of financial regulation.

Customs has taken on heightened significance with respect to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance and risk management for many global businesses. We are tapping the knowledge of two former federal prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department to help provide useful insights. Regulatory enforcement lawyers Daniel Ahn and Mark Bini discuss their experience in matters involving all...

Transportation lawyers Philip Rymer , Thor Maalouf and Romain Farnoux discuss issues arising from the incorporation of new technologies – specifically, ones designed to reduce carbon emissions – in superyachts, including the risks of new designs and their potential impact on construction terms and financing arrangements.

A new EU regulation will come into force on June 29, 2023, imposing onerous due diligence requirements for businesses buying and selling products made from seven common commodities: cocoa, coffee, cattle, soy, rubber, palm oil, and timber, or the raw commodities themselves. For timber, the regulation replaces an earlier law, but for the remaining commodities, it is cutting new ground. In this podc...

Transportation lawyers Mike Adamson and Laura Hyne discuss the use of alternative fuels in the maritime industry, including the potential challenges and benefits of using greener fuels, as well as new regulatory and legislative developments.

Partners Alex Brandt (London) and James Willn (Dubai) discuss how international sanctions against Russia are impacting the shipping and energy sectors. They cover the sanctions’ effects on industry, the situation’s impact on the Middle East, and the challenges of dealing with inconsistencies in the EU, UK, and U.S. approaches.  This episode was recorded on February 14 and does not take into consid...

Partners Kevin Keenan and Antonia Panayides discuss the market for bunkering facilities and vessels. LNG is poised to expand – thanks to technological advances and market demand for cleaner fuel. But that expansion must take into account international commitments to reduce CO2 emissions. Kevin and Antonia explain the latest developments in the space and the key points that shipowners, charterers,...

The legal and regulatory bars are getting higher around green finance and carbon finance. When seeking funding, industry participants must do more to prove their environmental achievements.  Susan Riitala and Rob Lustrin from our Transportation Industry Group, and Brett Hillis , from our Energy and Natural Resources Group, discuss green finance structures and substantiating environmental claims in...

In the final of three episodes on shipbuilding law, Sally-Ann Underhill  and  Thor Maalouf  discuss the circumstances under which a buyer can cancel a shipbuilding contract, as well as the options that are available for the yard. They also discuss warranty claims, including typical wording found in warranty provisions and time limits.

Partners Sally-Ann Underhill and Thor Maalouf discuss refund guarantees, why it matters whether you have a “true guarantee” or a “demand bond,” and attempts to delay payment by refund guarantors. They also discuss how integration of new decarbonization technologies may lead to delays during construction, how delays impact the legal framework under a shipbuilding contract, and the prevention princi...

Partners Sally-Ann Underhill and Thor Maalouf discuss the law on the initial stages of a shipbuilding project, including how new decarbonization technologies impact the documentation of specifications and performance criteria, the main types of contracts used to document shipbuilding deals, and how to record changes to a shipbuilding deal once it is signed.

Cross-practice partners Michelle Mantine , Carolyn Rosenberg, and Jennifer Smokelin discuss new legal, regulatory, and antitrust concerns relating to ESG programs. They examine the latest ESG-related greenwashing and competition litigation risks that businesses and organizations need to consider and the associated insurance protection implications.