Mike Lax

Mike has over 40 years’ experience in dealing with shipping and maritime law matters, including international trade disputes in court and arbitration, charterparty disputes, cargo claims, salvage, collision, marine insurance disputes and pollution claims. He also advises on shipbuilding contracts, ship finance and sale and purchase contracts.

 Mike continues to act in satellite litigation arising out of the Fiona Trust litigation. He has also found time to deal with some important cases involving insurance issues [TOISA PISCES] and a freight dispute concerning the transportation of oil [BP Oil Ltd v Target Shipping Ltd], both of which brought successes for our clients in the Court of Appeal. Most recent work includes acting in arbitration proceedings concerning ship repairs and the cancellation of shipbuilding contracts.

Clients worked for: VST Tankers, ER Denizcilik San Nak Tic A.S. Meyer Werft GmbH, Geden Lines, Macsteel International, MUR Shipping, CMB NV, Bocimar NV, Exmar NV, Euronav, Tankers International LLC, Steamship Mutual P & I Club and SR Navigation S.A.

Mike qualified as a solicitor in 1977, becoming a Partner of Lawrence Graham in 1979. Former Head of the Shipping and International Trade Department of Lawrence Graham before setting up Lax & Co LLP in May 2007.

Mike is recognised in The Legal 500, UK edition (2024) Hall of Fame with clients describing him as “The vastly experienced Mike Lax – one of the foremost shipping solicitors”. Clients also commented that “Mike Lax has an impressively pragmatic approach to resolving disputes combined with excellent commercial instinct, underpinned by a wealth of knowledge and experience producing highly satisfactory results”. The Legal 500 UK edition 2023, which also listed Mike in the Hall of Fame, described him as “by far one of the best shipping lawyers in London” and “a standout lawyer in the shipping sector who has decades of experience and successes behind him”.