David Steward
David is an arbitrator and mediator. He is currently winding down his practice, with a view to retiring, but please direct any inquiries to his clerk, Sanel Sonmezani. For over thirty years, David practised as a solicitor with an international firm in the City of London. David ceased practising as a solicitor in April 2011 and since then has been wholly independent. He now sits as a sole arbitrator or as a member of a tribunal on a range of commercial disputes, with a particular focus on maritime cases, including shipbuilding, and offshore energy contracts. He has experience of arbitrations under the terms of, among others, the ICC, the LCIA and the LMAA. He is the Immediate Past President of the LMAA. In that capacity, he liaised with the Law Commission on the review of the Arbitration Act 1996 and gave evidence on this to the Special Public Bill Committee of the House of Lords.
t: +44 (0)20 7583 4444
Experience
Experience
In private practice as a lawyer for over thirty years. David handled a range of commercial work, with a particular – but not exclusive – focus on the following areas. This experience is reflected in his work as an arbitrator.
Energy and construction
- Offshore procurement, design, fabrication, engineering, construction, consultancy and decommissioning
- The building, operation, repair and refit of ships and drilling units (including semi-submersible and jack-up rigs and drillships), FPSOs and vessels engaged in the processing, storage or carriage of LNG and other energy services, including renewables
- Charterparties (including Supplytime), new building, drilling and offshore service contracts, including knock-for-knock indemnities
- Accidents to offshore units
Dry shipping
- Shipbuilding and repair
- Charterparties for conventional and specialised ships
- All aspects of carriage of goods by sea
- Ship sale and purchase
- Yachts and superyachts
Mediation
David’s approach towards mediation draws on both his experience as a solicitor in private practice, when he was involved in numerous mediations as a party representative, and his expertise as a business coach. Being both a CEDR-accredited mediator and a graduate of the Meyler Campbell Business Coach Programme (as accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority), he can use his coaching skills to assist in understanding the parties’ positions and working with them to promote settlemen
Examples of Recent Cases as Arbitrator
- Claim by a buyer against a yard for alleged delay to and defects in a luxury motor yacht. (Tribunal of three.)
- Disputes under a charterparty of a multi-purpose offshore vessel for operations offshore Nigeria. (Tribunal of two.)
- Disputes relating to the purported termination of management and technical agreements for two ships, and related issues as to ownership and control of companies. (Tribunal of three.)
- Claims for alleged repudiation of a series of shipbuilding contracts. (Tribunal of three.)
- Disputes as to bunkering and demobilisation of an OSV operating offshore Namibia and Angola. (Sole arbitrator.)
- Multi-party disputes under charterparties and bills of lading arising from fires in a cargoes. (Tribunal of three.)
- Claims for alleged breach of warranties as to condition in contracts for the sale of cruise ships.
- Claims for alleged breach of a ship management agreement. (Tribunal of three.)
- Disputes as to an alleged right of equitable set-off under a contract for a vessel operating offshore the Republic of Congo. (Sole arbitrator.)
- Claim by charterers of a superyacht over allegedly deficient performance by the vessel and crew. (Tribunal of three.)
Memberships
- London Maritime Arbitrators Association, Full Member, Immediate Past President
- Baltic Exchange, London: Member
- The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators, Liveryman
- KCAB (Korean Commercial Arbitration Board) International: member of Panel of International Arbitrators.