Waterson Hicks

What Waterson Hicks does

Waterson Hicks is a London-based boutique law firm founded in 1990, specialising in shipping and commercial law from its single office at 11 Bolt Court in the City of London. The firm operates across seven interconnected practice areas — Admiralty, Dry Shipping, Speed and Consumption Analysis, Ship Sale & Purchase, Insurance and Reinsurance, Commodities, and Transactional work — delivered by a senior-heavy team of approximately seven fee-earning and support staff. Its client base comprises major corporates, blue-chip companies, state-owned organisations, shipowners, oil companies, energy traders, insurers, P&I Clubs, financial institutions, and governments, served through both contentious (LMAA arbitration, High Court and Admiralty Court proceedings) and non-contentious (transactional, ship sale and purchase, contract drafting) engagements. The firm is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 8008381) and is privately held by its solicitor-partners, with no external institutional ownership or parent company identified.

The firm's principal differentiator is its practitioner expertise: Principal John Hicks has been listed as a leading individual in Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, and Super Lawyers, while Edward Bayliss holds a stated 100% success rate in obtaining antisuit relief in the High Court, and Stuart Parkin brings operational maritime experience from BP Shipping and oil trading dating to 1975. The only proprietary technology in use is a bespoke speed and consumption analysis software developed by Stuart Parkin to support vessel performance disputes, representing a narrow but distinct technical capability within the maritime practice. Revenue is generated through standard professional services fee models — hourly rates or fixed fees determined by matter complexity, scope, and seniority of personnel — with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers or financial statements, as is typical for private UK law firms.

Name

Waterson Hicks

Legal name

Waterson Hicks

Website

https://watersonhicks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Waterson Hicks is a London-based boutique law firm founded in 1990, specialising in admiralty, dry shipping, marine insurance, commodities, ship sale and purchase, and transactional work for shipowners, oil companies, P&I Clubs, and financial institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: Waterson Hicks generates revenue through professional legal services fees, typically charged on an hourly rate basis or fixed fee for specific legal matters. Services span litigation, arbitration, advisory work, and transactional matters in shipping and commercial law. Revenue is derived from serving a diverse client base including shipowners, insurers, traders, and financial institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Waterson Hicks is a London-based boutique law firm that provides specialist legal services in shipping and commercial law. Its offerings span admiralty litigation, dry shipping disputes, ship sale and purchase, marine insurance and reinsurance disputes, commodities and energy trading matters, speed and consumption performance claims, and non-contentious transactional work. The firm represents shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, insurers, oil companies, energy traders, financial institutions, and state-owned organisations in English High Court proceedings, LMAA arbitrations, and trade association arbitrations.

Product overview

Waterson Hicks is a London-based legal practice offering a unified suite of specialist legal services centered on shipping and commercial law. The firm's portfolio spans seven interconnected practice areas: Admiralty, Dry Shipping, Speed and Consumption Analysis, Ship Sale & Purchase, Insurance and Reinsurance, Commodities, and Transactional services. These practice areas are not separate product modules but rather complementary specialist legal services delivered by a single team, where cases often span multiple disciplines—for example, a ship sale dispute may involve admiralty and insurance expertise simultaneously. The practice has no software products or technology platforms; all offerings are legal advisory and advocacy services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Admiralty Legal services covering maritime law matters including collisions, strandings, salvage, total losses, vessel arrests, and other admiralty litigation. For shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, and insurers.
• Dry Shipping Legal advisory and litigation services for dry shipping disputes including charterparty disputes, bill of lading disputes, and cargo claims. For shipowners, charterers, and cargo interests.
• Speed and Consumption Analysis Specialist analysis service for vessel speed and fuel consumption performance disputes, utilising proprietary technical software for assessment. For shipowners, charterers, and P&I Clubs handling speed and consumption claims.
• Transactional Non-contentious legal work including commercial transactions, contract drafting, and negotiation. For corporations, financial institutions, and shipowners requiring marine and commercial contract support.
• Ship Sale & Purchase Legal services for the sale and purchase of vessels across newbuilding, second hand, and scrap markets, including shipbuilding contracts, MOA disputes, refinancing, and corporate registrations. For shipowners, buyers, and financial institutions.
• Insurance and Reinsurance Legal services for insurance claims and reinsurance disputes covering marine hull and liability, charterers' liability, P&I, and marine cargo. For insurers, reinsurers, P&I Clubs, and assureds.
• Commodities Legal services for commodity trading including physical commodity contracts, trade association arbitrations (GAFTA, FOSFA, LME, PORAM), sanctions compliance, and hedging advice. For oil companies, energy traders, and trading houses.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Reed Smith: Global law firm with a sizeable London shipping and maritime practice serving shipowners, charterers, insurers, and P&I Clubs. Provides broader geographic and practice coverage than a boutique like Waterson Hicks, but overlapping significantly in maritime dispute resolution.

Direct peers

• Stephenson Harwood: London-headquartered law firm with a recognised shipping and commodities litigation practice. Acts in LMAA arbitrations, High Court admiralty matters, and trade disputes, with overlap across dry shipping, commodities, and insurance.
• Clyde & Co: Major London-headquartered law firm with a dominant maritime, shipping, and marine insurance practice. Overlaps directly across admiralty, charterparty disputes, cargo claims, P&I work, and commodities, and serves a similar blue-chip shipping and insurance client base.
• Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW): London-headquartered international law firm with a market-leading shipping and maritime dispute resolution practice acting in LMAA arbitrations, High Court, and cross-border matters. Directly comparable core services (admiralty, dry shipping, commodities, ship sale & purchase) and target client base (shipowners, P&I Clubs, traders).
• Ince & Co: Historic London maritime law firm with a long-standing reputation in admiralty, dry shipping, marine insurance, and commodities. Directly comparable client base (shipowners, P&I Clubs, traders) and core services, making it a primary specialist peer.
• Hill Dickinson: UK-headquartered law firm with a substantial shipping and marine practice based in London, Manchester, and Liverpool. Directly comparable across charterparty disputes, cargo claims, marine insurance, and ship sale & purchase work.
• Thomas Cooper: London-based boutique maritime law firm specialising in shipping disputes, charterparty claims, and ship sale & purchase. Closely comparable in boutique scale, specialisation, and target client base to Waterson Hicks.
• Watson Farley & Williams: London-based international law firm with a recognised shipping and maritime finance practice. Directly comparable across ship sale & purchase, shipbuilding disputes, charterparty work, and maritime litigation, with a similar office geography and client profile.
• Campbell Johnston Clark: London-based boutique maritime law firm focused on dry shipping, charterparty disputes, and ship sale & purchase. Closely comparable in size, specialisation, and client base to Waterson Hicks, making it a particularly relevant direct peer.

Others

• Standard Club (NorthStandard) P&I Club: Major London-based P&I Club that is a key counterparty and frequent client of maritime law firms. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor; included to reflect the firm's deep client relationships with P&I Clubs in insurance and reinsurance matters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waterson-hicks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Waterson Hicks