Campbell Johnston Clark (CJC) - Experts & Thought Leaders

International maritime law firm - Campbell Johnston Clark (CJC) has added a senior member to its team in Singapore, following the appointment of Chua Aik Hui as Director. Joining the maritime law firm’s transactional team at the partner level, Aik Hui specialises in advising multinational financial institutions, sponsors, owners, and lessors on asset financing in the maritime and offshore oil and gas sectors. Extensive industry experience  Aik Hui also has significant experience in advising clients on shipbuilding contracts Key areas of experience include financing structures, such as secured, unsecured, ECA-backed, and sustainability-linked financings, pre-delivery financings, re-financings, sales and leasebacks, and JOLCOs. Aik Hui also has significant experience in advising clients on shipbuilding contracts, time charters, bareboat charters, sale and purchase agreements, and other commercial and project documents. She is qualified in both Singapore and England and Wales. Reinforcing CJC's global reputation "We are delighted to welcome Aik Hui to CJC’s growing team," said James Clayton, Director and Head of CJC’s Commercial and Finance Department, in London. James Clayton adds, "She will not only enhance the Singapore team, which has already established itself as a market leader in Shipping and Maritime law in Asia, but will also reinforce CJC's global reputation in complex transactional work." Regional focus The appointment brings a key addition to CJC’s Singapore-based expertise, providing a regional focus for transactional work that reflects the growing status of its London team and matches the company’s continuing ambitions for growth in Asia. Five directors of the London-headquartered firm are located in Singapore.

International law firm CJC has appointed Charlotte Ward to the role of Head of Marketing. Based in London, Charlotte will lead the firm's marketing, communications, and events functions. She joins the company with more than 13 years of marketing experience in the maritime and shipping industry, having held senior marketing roles with the Bahamas Maritime Authority, Braemar Shipping Services plc, and the BMT Group. Responsibilities Charlotte will be responsible for elevating the firm's brand positioning by strengthening relations with clients and key partners, developing impactful marketing campaigns, and focusing on awareness-driving strategies in line with the firm's continued plans for growth. A statement from Maria Borg Barthet, Director at CJC's London office said, “CJC is extremely excited that Charlotte has agreed to join us. Her experience and knowledge of the industry are unique and we are certain that she will be a great fit for the team. Very much look forward to her joining us in January 2024.”

Three senior appointments by Campbell Johnston Clark (CJC) have reinforced the international maritime law firm’s strategy to grow both its litigation and transactional activities. All three individuals joined CJC’s London office from another maritime law firm. Highly experienced dispute resolution specialist Chris Kidd has joined CJC as Director, at the Partner level, with immediate effect. In two further appointments, Stuart Plotnek has joined CJC’s transactional team as Managing Associate and Jeong-Sook Kim has joined the litigation team as Associate Solicitor. LEGAL 500 directory entry  Chris Kidd’s is well-known for his role in ship construction, ship repair and conversion work, with “vast experience in shipbuilding” acknowledged in his LEGAL 500 directory entry. He advises yards, buyers, banks and others on contract drafting/negotiation, refund guarantees, performance guarantees, consultancy agreements, design agreements and service agreements. Recent work has covered MODUs, LNG carriers, wind turbine installation vessels, offshore support vessels, cruise ships, passenger ferries, and superyachts as well as conventional vessels. Kidd offered consultation to BIMCO on the development of the standard form of industry contracts Kidd also offered consultation to BIMCO on the development of the standard form industry contracts NEWBUILDCON, CONVERSIONCON, SUPPLYTIME 2017, WINDTIME, refund guarantee, and novations for shipbuilding contracts and charter parties. His work covers complex and multi-jurisdictional disputes, and has included cases heard in the Commercial Court, Hong Kong Courts, and the House of Lords. Multiple industry disciplines CJC Associate Jeong-Sook Kim specialises in shipping, marine insurance, and trade, with a focus on contentious matters. She advises owners, charterers, P&I Clubs and insurers on a variety of matters, including contractual disputes arising under charterparties, bills of lading and insurance policies. With experience as a broker, and as an underwriting director at a pioneering P&I Club with responsibility for the Asian market, she has also established strong relationships across multiple industry disciplines.  Plotnek is experienced in drafting sale contracts, delivery documentation, and the closing procedure CJC Managing Associate Stuart Plotnek brings 33 years of experience as a non-contentious maritime lawyer to the firm. His expertise extends to all aspects of vessel sale and purchase, newbuilding resale contracts, bareboat charters, ship and mortgage registration, management contracts, and novations. Plotnek is highly experienced in drafting sale contracts, delivery documentation, and the closing procedure, and has contributed to “Strong & Herring–Sale of Ships: The Norwegian Saleform”. Author's quote “We continue to attract the most talented maritime lawyers to CJC, and we are looking forward to working with Chris, Stuart and Jeong-Sook as CJC grows both the litigation and transactional sides of its business,” said Alistair Johnston, Director, CJC. “We are delighted to welcome them to CJC.”   Johnston also took the opportunity to welcome two new trainees to the fold, with William Reed starting in CJC’s Newcastle office in October, and Dimitris Kroustalis confirmed as joining the London office this month. “Our commitment to new talent continues to be critical to the CJC success story,” said Johnston.