Toby is a Partner in the Maritime Group.
He is a commercial lawyer, specialising in maritime law with an interest in logistics, SCM and space law.
Toby has a wealth of experience in the maritime sector advising shipowners, operators, private equity funds, investors and financial institutions across the full spectrum of non-contentious commercial shipping work.
His practice has a particular emphasis on commercial contracts ranging from newbuildings, sale & purchase, charterparties, ship management agreements and due diligence.
He is recommended as a transactional maritime expert by leading legal directory Legal 500 UK and praised for his “very broad experience” (2020), “looking out for his client’s best interests” (2020) and being “thorough and commercially minded” (2021). He is also recognised by Legal 500 UK as a key lawyer at WFW for shipping (2024, 2025).
Toby sat on the advisory board for the development of the ground-breaking Vessel Technology Assessment Project, an initiative of the Energy Technologies Institute to assist the maritime industry understand the benefits of investing in fuel efficient technologies.
He was also part of the core WFW project team helping in the development of the Poseidon Principles, providing legal oversight and drafting input to the group of major banks and other leading industry players to support the IMO’s goal to reduce shipping’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050.
Toby is admitted to practice in both England & Wales and Ireland, holding qualifications in maritime law, ship management and notarial practice. He has participated in courses run by the London Institute of Space Policy & Law and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs.
- Acting as lead due diligence counsel to United Overseas Group Ltd on the acquisition of United Arab Chemical Carriers Limited (as part of the WFW Global team). Toby led the due diligence process which involved co-ordinating cross-border legal teams across all subject matters and asset classes of the business. This deal won the IFLR Middle East Award for M&A Deal of the Year 2021.
- Acting as maritime counsel in partnership with a corporate colleague to a JV partner in a joint venture based in the Falkland Islands engaged in fishing around the Falkland Islands, in respect of fisheries licencing arrangements, catch entitlement agreements, agreements in respect of the marketing, distribution and sales of the catch, charter agreements and shipmanagement arrangements.
- Acting as maritime counsel in partnership with a finance colleague to Euronav in its US$1.15bn share purchase agreement for the acquisition of the cleantech maritime group CMB.TECH, the clean technology arm of its largest shareholder Compagnie Maritime Belge. Toby led on the commercial shipping due diligence process in respect of newbuilding contracts, charterparties, management arrangements, contracts for the purchase and installation of fuel efficient technologies and other commercial documentation.
- Advising an owner/operator on the installation of fuel-efficient technologies across their fleet including the provision of legal support in respect of a fuel cell trial.
- Acting as maritime counsel (as part of the WFW Global team) to InfraVia Capital Partners through its InfraVia European Fund VI, on its acquisition of a majority stake in Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, the French family-owned group specialising in high value- added industrial marine services. Toby led and co-ordinated on the commercial maritime due diligence aspects of this transaction.
- Advising an owner participating in a tender for the provision of LNG newbuildings to a major LNG charterer.
- Acting as maritime counsel to the vendor of its interest in a substantial LNG joint venture owning a series of LNG vessels on the water and under construction with the benefit of long-term time charters to major LNG charterers. Toby led the maritime due diligence aspects of the vendor due diligence report.
- Advising a shipmanager in respect of the revision of its suite of pro-forma shipmanagement and other related documentation to reflect current regulatory and market requirements.
- ArticleThe Strait of Hormuz: How to deal with contractual issues, rights and obligations
- PressWFW advises InfraVia on acquisition of majority stake in LDA
- PressWFW acts as maritime counsel to Euronav on purchase of CMB.TECH
- ArticlePoseidon Principles for Marine Insurance
- ArticleThe Clydebank Declaration: Green corridors kickstarting the adoption of long-term solutions
