Skip to content Skip to footer

What We Do

Close

Orka aims to reshape the conventional practices of traditional law firms. With a deep commitment to serving our clients, we recognize the need for change within the legal landscape. Rooted in London and extending our reach worldwide, we strive to offer a more adaptable, creative, and solution-focused service. Our aspiration is simple – to deviate from established norms by offering a more approachable service that prioritises clients’ business needs and desires, involving them at each step of the process and utilising fee structures that are predictable. We aim to redefine the client experience, ensuring a transparent, efficient, and reasonably priced approach to international legal and claims consultancy

We advise on and handle all types of dispute concerning charterparties and bills of lading. These include:

  • (Non-)payment of hire

  • Speed and performance

  • Seaworthiness / maintenance

  • Laytime and demurrage

  • Unsafe ports

  • Cargo damage and cargo operations

  • (Re)delivery

  • Bunkers

  • Cancellation

  • Ship arrest / obtaining security

  • Hague/Hague-Visby and Inter-Club Agreement liabilities

  • Collision / grounding

  • General average”

We have been involved in a large number of S&P and shipbuilding deals over the years. Where disputes arose, we advised on:

  • Whether the parties are bound by a deal

  • Remedies for failure to pay the deposit or take delivery

  • Rights as regards the condition of the vessel on delivery

  • Rescission or cancellation of the contract for delay

  • The refund of instalments and enforcement under refund guarantees

  • Conformity of the newbuilding with the specifications and validity of delivery

  • The warranty of quality, and the limitation of liability for post-delivery defects”

We advise and assist in all areas of marine insurance including:

  • Hull & Machinery

  • Protection & Indemnity

  • War risks

  • P&I

  • FD&D

  • K&R

  • Charterers’ liability

  • Trade disruption

  • Loss of hire

  • Terminal liability

  • Reinsurance

Our clients include producers, traders and end users whom we advise on the following areas:
  • Disputes under the arbitral rules of the ICC, LCIA and ICSID as well as the rules of trade associations such as GAFTA, FOSFA and the Refined Sugar Association
  • Drafting terms and conditions for supply contracts
  • Sanctions and other regulatory issues
  • Anti-suit injunctions
  • Trade finance
  • Force majeure claims